Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-20
BICYCLING COSTUMES
Wheelwomsn Who Gan Lock Well and Be
Comfortable
Many Designs for Roadvvear, but the
Average In the Best-Ma-
terials and COIors.

from darpers Bazaar.
Eccentricity in bicycle costumes has been
voted decidedly bad form. Women have
finally decided that 1t is possible to have q
costume for bicycling that will be becoming,
suitable and fnconspicuous; and. indeed,
anything smarter more becoming than
some OF the new costumes 1t would be ex-
tremely difficult to discover. 1t Is not in the
least necessary for a woman to ride phe-
Lomenaliy long distances at a frightful rate
Of speed in order to prove her ability as a
cyclfst. The successful cyclist Is she who
becomingly garbs herself in a trim. we'll
cut costume. and is always ready for a ride
Of moderate duration. She is then in good
health, good spirits and good looks
There are constantly being advertised
new styles Of bicycle costumes. Some
are good some very poor. and the happy
average is as hard to find as in anything
else. The proper length for the skirt is now
conceded to be about to the top Of the boots;
10 shorter, and for hall riding even longer.
The fullness is all in the back, but there is
SO much goring over the hips and width be-
low that the outlines of the figure are be-
oomingy hidden. On the correct cut of the
skirt depends the beauty of the costume,
Only 1t hang well. There are two ways
this season Of arranging the fullness of the
SHIRT at the back. One has 1t all beneath
the folded-over pleats which meet at the
like many Of the walking costumes.
The Proper Waists.
The most becoming style for the waist is
the Norfolk jacket, but this season the
| flled-in Eton jacket is more popular. The
Norfolk jacket has the pleats sewed down
land cut away underneath), and there is
1 one of the ugly bulkiness which formerly
condemned that garment for stout women
1t should be made to come quite below the
waist line and with full-skirt effect. AT
the neck 1t Is cut open just enough to show
the necktie-the forr-in-hand, fashionable
once again-and has small fiat revers. The
sleeves of a correct bicycle costume are
much smaller than for other gowns. and
are invariably of the leg-of-mutton shape.
When the Elton Jacket Is worn, 1t must
be very carefully fitted, and the front have
turned-back revers. which are broad at the
shoulders and taper In at the waist. full
silk front Is part of this costume, and Is
worn with a narrow turned-down collar.
supposed to be the same as boys wear with
their Elton suits. While the Norfolk jacket
can be made becoming alike to thin or
stout women. the Elton jacket Is never be-
coming to woman with short waist and
t1cad hips. Large hips may, according to
classic lines, be made very handsome; they
when riding Wheel and the costume that
will modify them is the best for women in
general.
There are many devices for the placket-
hole. and the skirts that quite do away
with 1t in the back and have the front
breadth button at each side are the smart
est In appearance as well as the most COM
Portable to manage. Where buttons are not
/ liked, invisible hooks and eyes on a flap
answer every purpose.
|. A linen collar looks very smart with a
wheeling costume at the start, but so
alarmingly soon willis that most women
prefer the pique stocks. which do not re-
Quire collar and launder well. These
ste cks are long enough to go around the
neck twice and tie in a full four-in-hand,
and retain the starch and fresh look a sur
prisingly long time. Tight lacing when
bicycling is quite impossible. and a short
corset Is necessary to comfort. The health
waists are liked, but, after all, they do not
support the figure we'll and require to be
worn with gowns that are heavily lined.
Leather leggins and low shoes or high
laced boots are the proper footgear: and
boots or shoes must be Of good shape.
There is very little chance for econt my In
a thoroughly ut bicycle costume, for every
detail is much en- evidence, end there
are no additions of trimming to cover up
defects of cut.
COlOrs.
The most fashionable color for a bicycle
costume is brown or mixed cheviot Light
cloths soil too easily. and solid colors show
dust in most discorraging way. The
! fashionable shade Of brown is a light chest
nut, which is relieved by yellow tie, or full
front Of yellow. and a feather in the soft
a-feH. hat. Tan leather leggins, tan shoes,
and gloves Of the same look uncommonly
smart with these brown costumes, giving
just that touch Of individuality that any
gown of the sort needs to relieve 1t Of its
too masculine effect.
/ The right sort of q hat is a soft Alpine
or Homburg hat, its only trimming one
small colorcd feather stuck at the left side
OF the ribbon band which encircles the
crown. In summer a perfectly plain sailor
hat can be worn. but for the greater part
Of the year the soft felt is the one to wear.
1t has a brim to shade the eyes, and fits
down ever the hair. so that naturally I'M
tidy locks can be kept in some sort of or
der. and Is now universally worn by young
and old. who have tested it to their salts
faction. Thoroughly we'll equipped, and
with the knowledge that both wheel ard
costume are the very latest thing the wo-
man cyclist is g charming object to behold,
and If she does not ride too far nor too
long at time, will find herself growing
younger every day. and will discover how
much there Is to live for outside a routine
OF social duties or treadmill of household
worries.