Chapter 88—The Reform Dress
In answer to letters of inquiry from many sisters relative to the
proper length of the reform dress, I would say that in our part of the
State of Michigan we have adopted the uniform length of about nine
inches from the floor. I take this opportunity to answer these inquiries
in order to save the time required to answer so many letters. I should
have spoken before, but have waited to see something definite on this
point in the Health Reformer. I would earnestly recommend uniformity
in length, and would say that nine inches as nearly accords with my
views of the matter as I am able to express it in inches.
As I travel from place to place I find that the reform dress is not
rightly represented, and am made to feel that something more definite
should be said that there may be uniform action in this matter. This
style of dress is unpopular, and for this reason neatness and taste
should be exercised by those who adopt it. I have spoken once upon
this point, yet some fail to follow the advice given. There should be
uniformity as to the length of the reform dress among Sabbathkeepers.
Those who make themselves peculiar by adopting this dress should
not think for a moment that it is unnecessary to show order, taste, and
neatness. Before putting on the reform dress, our sisters should obtain
patterns of the pants and sack worn with it. It is a great injury to the
dress reform to have persons introduce into a community a style which
in every particular needs reforming before it can rightly represent the
reform dress. Wait, sisters, till you can put the dress on right.
In some places there is great opposition to the short dress. But
when I see some dresses worn by the sisters, I do not wonder that
people are disgusted and condemn the dress. Where the dress is repre-
sented as it should be, all candid persons are constrained to admit that
it is modest and convenient. In some of our churches I have seen all
kinds of reform dresses, and yet not one answering the description pre-
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sented before me. Some appear with white muslin pants, white sleeves,
dark delaine dress, and a sleeveless sack of the same description as
the dress. Some have a calico dress with pants cut after their own
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