Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-06
Miniature Women in Skirts and
Shirt Waists.
HOW TO TAILOR MAKE" AT HOME
Silk is Popular Because Cheap and
Keeps Clean.
WHITE MUSLINS OVER COLORS
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK. May 4. 1899,
Just as boys are now put in trousers, al
most before they have learned to walk
little girls adopt the universal shirt waist
as soon as they have enough height to al
low for a waist and a skirt held together
by a belt. The miniature maids are very
proud of wearing clothes made Just like
| mammals" and mamma is very glad to
find something which looks Well and does
not require endless trimming and fussing
over.
One little girl of my acquaintance has
been wearing to school this spring a green
and blue plaid skirt with red flannel shirt
waist. The plaid skirt is gored and has the
ful!ness thrown into little pleats in the
back. There Is no trimming on it. Indeed.
children's skirts are rarely trimmed, even
for festive occasions.
The little red shirt waist has a pro-
nounced blouse effect in front. This is as
it should be. A bloused front hides the
absence Of waist line and gives the neces-
sary fullness to the waist. An observing
woman who has no children of her own to
practice on remarked pathetically last
week that she did wish fond mothers would
not emphasize by sashes and belts the
waistless condition of children. Sashes and
belts seem to be a necessity, but If she
would begin a crusade in favor OF bloused
shirt waists for children she would bring
about an effect which would do away with
her objection.
The Useful BIue Refer.
With this waist and skirt my little friend
has a REFER jacket of dark blue, fastened
with gilt buttons to wear on cool morn
ings, and she has large straw hat, which
is simply trimmed with an enormous bow
Of wide, soft red ribbon, with a band of
the ribbon twined about the crown.
Dark blue REFER jackets for little girls
are not a novelty, but they are extremely
serviceable and happy are our juniors, al
though they know IT not, in that their
styles change more slowly than those OF
their elders.
The summer wardrobe of the future belle
is not complete unless it contains a tailor
made gown of cheviot. serge or tweed In
her tailor-made gown she is more fortu-
nate, too than those whom she often
envies, for after careful sponging and
pressing of the cloth it is possible and
economical to evolve her tailored" frock
at home with the help OF a good pattern
and a heavy fatron. Most of these lit
tie gowns are made with a gored skirt,
which flares at the bottom, but Is untrin-
med, and a dOuble-breasted coat medium
length, fastened with gay buttons. Except
for the buttons the coats are quite plain,
but the little maid should have several
sets OF revers. which can be buttoned over
the cloth 1ape1s. These extra revers may
be made of linen. pique or tucked muslin,
or any suitable wash material with inser-
lions and edges Of embroidery. They add
very much to the gown and quite change
Its character for various occasions.
Shirt Waists in Cotton or Silk.
The shirt waists to be worn with these
gowns are of madras, Bingham, batiste or
other serviceable cotton For cool days
they may be of flannel, and mothers who
have no prejudice against the use of silk
for children's wear have little silk shirt
waists for afternoon.
Very few shirt waists for children are
made to wear with stiff standing collars.
There are, however turnover linen collars
Tor chidrens wear, which are not uncou-
Portable and are very effective with a rib
bon tie. But in families where there are
several children and no maid to especially