...of "vulgar indirect boasting" (Bridget D's lovely phrase) - and direct boasting too, comes to that (the barouche-landau). She is always showing off, always wanting to be no 1 while affecting humility. I still don't think we can conclude anything about Emma's style of dress based on Mrs Elton's speeches, but I cannot prove that. Bragging and showing off is one of Mrs Elton's core traits, regardless of Emma.

I do think Emma is simply and elegantly dressed without a lot of finery, but not because Mrs Elton is the opposite. That is just how I see Emma:) She is Highbury's leading lady (as she is well aware of), she can afford fine materials from London, and a lack of interest in clothes and fashion (and I agree with you that Emma is not very interested in this) does not necessarily mean that she wears old-fashioned, out-dated dresses. I see Emma as a beautiful young girl, simply and elegantly dressed without a lot of laces, pearls and whathaveyounot. Sort of like Miss Tilney in NA, I think:)

>She doesn't know that...and means to show off her superior knowledge.