2389. Never furbish up old finery, if you wish to appear really the lady. A clean, soft, white muslin gown is far more genteel than a tarnished brocade.
2390. Colors and Complexions.—The great art, as regards colors of dress, is to enhance the tints of the complexion, care being taken to let the flesh appear of a healthy natural hue, and to avoid wearing those colors which heighten or destroy either the red, yellow, or white, in the natural flesh tints.
2391. Primitive Colors.—Out of three primitive colors, red, blue, and yellow, there are endless mixtures and variations, and some of these can skillfully be adapted to any complexion; but to do so, these two rules must be observed: the rule of Harmony and of judicious Contrast.
2392. Decided Colors, or colors without mixture, are very unbecoming. A lady all blue in dress would be more disagreeable than a real bleu.
2393. Red, and its dark variations, may be worn by dark persons, and will harmonize with their complexion.