Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-21
AT SMALL EXPENSE
How Women With Short Purses Nav
Be Well Dressed.
ECONOMY In GOOD MATERIALS
With Them 1t is Possible to Make
Over Old Gowns.
WHAT ONE WOMAN DOES
pectal Correspondence of The Evening Star.

hPtCiai correspondence OF Inc Evening Star.
The woman who is well dressed on a
small income has started in to plan her fail
campaign. Her operations were slightly
postponed on account of a visit to a couu-
try house where her popularity had no re-
lation to her income. In fact, the house
party was held in one of those neighbor-
hoods which grow rarer every year-places
in which birth and breeding. wit and intel
ligence rank above wealth.
The woman in question takes credit to
| herself for her good appearance and well
indeed she may. But she sometimes forgets
in her delight over a frock which bursts
forth trumphantIy fresh and radiant sew
eral seasons in succession that nature was
so kind to her in the matter of figure
helght and carriage that she would look
better in homespun than many women do
IN SILK and lace or even in the soft eNquis-
lite chiffons of the present hour.
In the first place, our friend with the
short purse has a long head. Years ago
she found that brown was most becomin ,
to her, and most of her cloth gowns winter
mats and their accessories are in that shade.
So whatever is left over from wear to wear
harmonizeS with whatever is new If a
taiior-made suit is worn two seasons the
SILK bodice made for it will be always in
harmony, although it may be made from
SILK purchased several years since and lying
by to be used at will.
Harmony of Color
This calls ones attention to another ex-
cellent feature of early finding ones par
ticular color and being true to it in all its
shades. One can at any time or any season
buy anything in that color, knowing that
sooner or later it can be used. Brown is
especially useful in this respect. for all
browns harmonic. Most women who can
wear brown can wear any shade of it,
1hls cannot be said of any other color Diff
ferent reds clash with each other and rare
indeed is the woman who can wear every
shade Of that gamut of tones called red
And although women with red hair gen
orally complacently think that blue in any
shade is particularly appropriate to them.
some kind friend should warn them. one
and ALL that they look washed out and yell
low in pale blue. All these secrets of color
were told me by the well-dressed woman.
OF course she herself is not confined to
one color. A touch of yellow lace among
the brown tones with which she is sur
rounded may often be seen. Gray in the
paler shades which border on white she can
wear with impunity, and an ability to wear
white she triumphantly possesses, although
the first freshness of youth is no longer
hers. And, fortunately. she can wear black
well, if it is cut decollete and shows her
neck and shoulders. If she wears high
necked black bodice it is always relieved
by white or yellow lace at wrists and
L.
but small outlay must wear black. with or
without relief it happens to be becom-
ing. For although always dressing in diff
ferent shades of any one color is an excel
lent idea and leads to endless qualifications
a little expense, yet black is the very one
color Gf it can be termed that) which may
be worn, turned, ripped. sponged. etc, year
in and year out, without detection, for din
nerS. dances and the theater. 1t is also the
most serviCeable evening gown for a wo-
man without a carriage. as it is quite in
conspicuous in an ordinary conveyance and
does not become damaged by every little ac-
cident of weather as would be the case with
a delicate color.
TaiIOr-Nade Suit.
Two new gowns the well-dressed woman
has decided upon. One of these is a tailor
made suit of the darkest brown she can
find. The cost will not be light in proper
ton to the money spent on the rest of her
wardrobe The cloth will be the best, and
it will be well and carefully made by
very good tailor But the outlay for this
coat and skirt is counted for quite TWO sea-
sons. A well-rnade suit can be depended on
for that length of time in good condition.
After that ii is still in splendid trim with
a little alteration for wear on journeys and
the many occasions when one wishes to
save ones best cloth skirt, yet cannot ap-
pear in a short one.
Although the coat of this brown suit will
be lined with chaugeable green taffeta
the drop skirt winch taxes the place OF a
lining will be of a lightweight mOhair.
Too often has this particular woman gone
to the expense of 2 silk lining which only
lasted a season and then had to he re-
placed. She viii have two flannel shirt
waists, one tan and one green, TO Wear
with her tailor-made gown.
The hat worn with this suit will be 4 Jur-
ban made of the same brown cloth. trim
med with Persian lamb fur and frightened
with a gilt buckle.
For Afternoon Calling.
Essential as are severe cloth gowns they
do not bid fair to be all that is needed this
gaily dressed season. So an afternoon call
ing costume has been planned which means
sewing and pressing, but not much outlay
in money except for seamstress. as the
materials of which it is TO be composed
have already seen service.
A brown broadcloth coat and skirt when
have had two years wear and brown vel
vet cape which has been lying by TWO years
will be used.
Broadcloth is an economical material. 1t
wears for years, with proper care, and
when made over. cleaned and pressed il is
quite like new. This particular skirt is not
worn, but it is gathered and too full about
the hips. 1t will not be possible 10 entirely