Chapter Seven: Dress as an Expression of the Pecuniary Culture
It will in place, by way of illustration, to show in some detail
how the economic principles so far set forth apply to everyday
facts in some one direction of the life process. For this
purpose no line of consumption affords a more apt illustration
than expenditure on dress. It is especially the rule of the
conspicuous waste of goods that finds expression in dress,
although the other, related principles of pecuniary repute are
also exemplified in the same contrivances. Other methods of
putting one's pecuniary standing in evidence serve their end
effectually, and other methods are in vogue always and
everywhere; but expenditure on dress has this advantage over
most other methods, that our apparel is always in evidence and
affords an indication of our pecuniary standing to all observers
at the first glance. It is also true that admitted expenditure
for display is more obviously present, and is, perhaps, more
universally practiced in the matter of dr