Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-15
MEMS SUM MER ATTIRE
The Neglige Costume the Most Suit
able.
How Fashions Have Changed I'm Re
cent Yeafs-Lfght In Weight
and Color.

The heat of the present month has
brought the subject of comfortable cloth
ing very prominently and persistentiy to
every ones mind. The question of how to
dress in hot weather seems to be easy to
settle In the case of women. Every pos
sible thin fabric Is made for their use,
and at such a wide variety Of prices that
no woman need 60 without summer
dress. Every season women's dresses grow
more "srmmery." and though 1t is true
that they are often not as cool as they
look. yet, on the whole, 1t Is possible for a
woman to dress in such q manner, nova
days. that her clothing need cause her lit
tie discomfort.
Men, some men. at least find it. on the
other hand. extremely difficult to adapt
their garb to prevailing conditions. Dur
ing the sweltering heat Of the past days
many men have stuck to their boiled
shirts with high, stiff collars. a heavy
satin tie and black or dark-colored clothes
with buttoE ed waistcoat. This even in
Washington. which, being a semi-southern
city, should long ago have found out the
coolest modes Of dressing.
Professfonal PRIDE.
A prominent dentist was observed one
hot afternoon in July working in a black
wooden suit. the regulation shirt and col
in streams from his face, and his collar
was completely Frustrated. though. he
ruefuHy explained, 1t was the fourth he
had put on that day. In response to the
question why he didn't wear a thin suit and
a soft shirt he said that he didn't feel
dressed that way" and implied that 1t
somehow detracted from the dignity of a
professional man to wear such things.
Dark Clothing and the Heat.
such opinions are not universal The
weather observer of New York city has
discovered by scientific experiments that
black clothing absorbs from twenty to
forty degrees more heat, in sunshine than
white. 80 that the mere fact of color
makes vast difference in bodily COM
fort facts which were long ago considered
In the matter Of Womans attire, but which
those who set the fashion for men have
been slow to appreciate. Now, however
with the duck. the linen and crash suits,
as well as those of flannel light in weight
and color. 1t is possible for man to be
clothed in way BETTING the season. and,
at the same time. be respectfully clad. In
deed, man has decided advantage over
a woman in this regard. that he may, with
perfect propriety, wear a neglige costume
on the street.
What Man May Wear.
Common sense has decided that a we'll
dressed man may wear a coat and trou-
sers of whatever light material he wishes,
a reglige shirt with a turned-down collar
and cotton tie. Then with the accom-
PAYMENTS of the gauZiest of Undertaking
canvas shoes and a straw hat a man may
face his daily duties serenely comfortab bic,
in mind and body. Washington men have
not altogether arrived at this state of
happy emancipation. A survey of Penn
sylvania avenue almost any time will
show number Of men tofling miserably
along the street in the same style Of gar
ments they have worn since early spring
their heavy winter clothes. AS to COM
fort. there can, it would SEEM be but one
opinion. and to looks, certainly a man
dressed In clean duck suit and percaIe
shirt with a loose collar is much better
object to gaze upon than one whose dark
wooden coat and vest open to disclose a
wrecked shirt bosom and a collar which,
like London bridge. is falling down, falling
down.