Evening star., 1896-07-04
WHEN WOMEN BATTLE
What They Wear and Something About
the Proper Materials
Silk and Satin Bathing Suits-White
ts the Color When 1t is
Not Prohibited.

The very incest material for bathing
suit is silk of some kind. The newest
suits are made Of faille silk. They are
very handsome and very serviceable, but
they are also very expensive. One that
was embroidered in silk feather stitch
was marked $27.5O.
material that Is much lighter and
mere graceful than faille silk is India
SILK. One would hardly think India silk
"cuio stand the ravages of salt water and
the eXert,on of swimming, but it has been
IL una 10 De very serviceable, and many of
tfe girls have chosen it for their suits.
RACK lndla silk trimmed with white braid
makes a very attractive costume
Gloria SILK is also a very nice material
ana the ingenious girl who can make her
own costume need not spend more money
lof II than for an ordinary flannel suit
one young woman who knows how tn use
her money to the best advantage has fash
Toned a suit out of gloria silk at a cost of
less than nve dollars. She made the bloom
ers empire STYLE" If one can use such
a term in such connection-that is. in
stead of gathering them into a belt at the
waist she continued them up to the lower
edge OF the yoke. The band Of the skirt
held the fullness in at the waist, which
was just as good as having two hands
Inc sleeves We're short puffs, which looks
more natural than the plain long sleeves
that We're worn on the old-f ashioned dress
es OF ten years ago. This suit was par
tlcularly pretty because 1t was black For
though red is both brilliant and pictur.
esque, and though blue is decidedly nauti-
cal ana suggests the sea, there is no color
winch Is SO satisfactory all around as
black. 1t keeps its color we'll If il is silk
much better than blue. Black silk has the
lurther advantage that it does not cling to
the body and weight one down as flannel
does.
A striking suit is made of red brlnantine
trimmed
Gus enough to please the most ardent lover
OF picturesque effect.
Caps, Shoes and Stockings.
Bathing caps are to be had to match
any costume. One can buy plain rubber
caps for twenty cents. Oiled silk ones are
marked thirty-fve cents. But the best
hats are the tight-fittirg rubber ones that
cover the hair completely from the edge of
the forehead to the nape of the neck. One
can put the head under water with one of
these on without wetting the hair a par
ticle.
Some suits are made with shoes and
stockings attached, but in general it is
found better to have them detachable. be-
cause the stockings usually wear out be-
lore the rest of the suit, and one often
likes to dispense with shoes as thew in
terfere with good swimming stroke
Bathing shoes with straps that cross
several times around the ankle are con-
sldered very artistic.
White bathing suits are prohibited at
some beaches, but notwithstanding this,
white is the newest thing. Some extrav-
agant damSels who like to make sensa-
ton are wearing white satin, out this has
almost nothing to recommend it, not even
beauty, after it has been worn once
White brilhantine is better than either
silk or satin, because it is not affected by
the water. With black trimmings 1t Is
very fetching Red or blue is also used
relieve Thn to,
OF course of white. and If the trimmings
are black, long black stockings are worn
with white canvas bathing shoes, which
are strapped on sandalfashion with white
ribbons.
The Use of Ribbons.
The sandal bathing shoe with straps is
the favorite this season. There Is a strap
across the instep, and two more up the
ankle. 1t has rubber sole, and comes in
white. blue ard black. The straps can
be removed and replaced by gay ribbons
to match the costume. These ribbons may
be wound around the ankle, Scotch fash
Ion, some distance up the leg and tied in
u gay bow-which, alas! will be gay but
once. But, then, there are other ribbons
and II one lays in a good supply early in
the season this need not deter the maid
of many shekels.
Some bathers find brilliantine and silk
too light for comfort, but there Is no rea-
son why they should load themselves with
heavy flannel suits on this account. A
light silk and wool shirt worn underneath
will be found great comfort, and will
insure the wearer against a chill. This
was safeguard adopted by the ingenious
maid before mentioned, who made her own
suit of gloria silk.
Very few women are willing to expose
their necks to the ravages of old Sol by
wearing a bathing suit cut low. They
are exceedingly becoming, however, and
II worn alternately with a high neck cos
tune the skin has a chance to recover it
self. They have the further advantage Of
less weight and greater freedom. and the
girl who actually goes in for the enjoy
ment Of swimming discards all the clothes
she possibly can, as she cannot afford to
waste her strength dragging very much
wet apparel through the water. For this
reason some girls discard the skirt alto
gether. and strike out in bicycle garb with
out the slightest qualm to their own mod
esty. Indeed, we are progressing so rap
idly In this direction that we need not be
surprised when the advanced woman takes