Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-29
HINTS IN ECONOMY
Making One Gown Do for Dress-Up
and Other Occasions.
AN UP-TO-DAF COMBINATION
But You Must Have Lots of Pretty
Waists and FMngs,
TWO WAISTS FOR ONE SKIRT
pecial Correspondence of The Evening Star.

NEW YORK, April 81, 1899.
The wife of an army officer who said she
would like to have q gown which could be
used for an evening, street, tea gown or
bathing suit voiced the need of both women
who travel and cannot take about with
tim a lot of clothes in heavy trunks and
also those whose limited purse makes econ
omy a necessity. Women whose husbands
are now on our vast frontiers form such
rapidly growing class that 1t is a pleasure
as we'll a patriotic duty to be able to
tell them that although no gown has yet
been designed which be used for both
an evening gown and q bathing suit, since
the authorizations of one exactly oppO-
site those of the other, yet it is quite posi-
bic to combine calling, street, reception,
dinner and evening gown; that for all out
door sports one skirt and coat will do, as
1T will also do for rainy days, and that one
coat and skirt gown will answer all the
binary exactions OF travelling, shopping and
general street wear.
Aside from these three central and neces-
sary gowns riding habit tf one Is going
where riding Is INDUCED in without the
enormous outlay which attends it in the
larger cities, tea gown and house gown
or so which can be fashioned of ha4f-worn
silks made over, will make wardrobe
which can be packed into one good-si=ad
trunk and will answer al the ordinary pur-
poses Of two winter seasons. with the addi-
tton OF a cape or heavy coat.
The Necessary Extras.
This Is but a rough outline and there will
have to be thin gowns and shirt waists of
silk, cotton and flannel and one or two
fancy silk waists. But as no one is ever
quite in the state Of Miss Flora McFlimsey
it is probable that wardrobe Of this sort
could be carried out by using what one al
ready has without great expense Like all
descriptions of what gowns are absolutely
necessary, 1t falls short of what one would
like to have, but 1t does give the gowns
which can do duty on all occasions, formal
and informal. which come into the lie OF a
woman of modest means and good taste.
In buying new gowns and in having them
made women who wish to wear them more
than one season should be most careful to
choose the very latest model women VINO
are not constantly buying or seeing new
gowns are apt to distrust the illustrations
shown them by good modistes, and to think
the French models far too pronounced. 1t is
true that many French models are better
for being slightly changed to suit our
American taste. For instance, we walk
and the French ride; therefore our gowns
should never trail But If going to
buy a gown this spring decides that tunic
and princess effects are too outre, and that
she wants something less pronounced, she
will be making mistake. By the time that
gown is laid aside or made over tunic and
princess effects will be far from new. and
anything which antedates them will be as
hopelessly out of date as a balloon sleeve
is today.
subdued, but Becoming.
A woman who cannot have many gowns
should not have conspicuous ones, that is
true. They should be subdued In color
and trimming, but they should be made up
in the very smartest way, and If 1t is posi-
bic to get something which is pretty and
Just coming out-hardly yet we'll known-by
all means do So
This advice is best exemplifed by the tale
OF g. Felix gown which was brought over
the year of the worlds fair. 1t was fawn-
colored broadcloth combined with green
velvet. 1t was made with princess effect,
and for this year 1t would be quite as dis
unctive and beautiful as ever. But unfor-
tunately, even Felix gowns don't wear for
ever, and that gown had to be laid aside
last fall. having been triumphantIy and
d1stinctively smart through a long career
ana only needing each fall alterations in
its sleeves.
We can very few of US have Felix gowns.
to be sure, but all of us can hunt up the
very latest models and boldly have orr neu,
gowns made on the very latest lines we can
find. " .
Stylish Color and Form.
The Illustrations this week are of a gray
ladies' cloth skirt with modified Louis XIV
coat of the same material. This same skirt
Is repeated with a decollete bodice of gray
and white, and also shown with a lace woke
and sleeves Thus this one gown will an
swer for many occasions. Gray Is q good
color, because smart gray skirt is 40 Of
ten worn with separate waists and because
1t combines SO well with white, and now
that tailor-made evening gowns are not
only allowable but popular among those
who prefer cloth to SILK either gray or
white cloth be worn at night Louis
XIV coats are only seen once In a while
and for this very reason are recommended
for new gowns. They are gut either short,
as in the illustration, or with long coat
tails reaching nearly If not quite to the
would be one of slk,F one on the order of
bengaline or some such soft yet strong
weave being more servtceable and twice as
artistic as taffeta Then the coat could he
of cloth of the same or a darker shade and
the deconete bodice be made OF the silk
If silk were used tan or beige would be yery
smart. Whatever the color of the coat and
skirt the waistcoat or shirt waist should he
of white silk. A beautiful combination
would be red jacket with a white skirt.
the skirt being perforated CLOTH showing
q cerise petticoat Scarlet cloth Jackets
with white skirts are just coming in Moth
ing could be prettier and the only point to
be considered would be whether one would
tire of the red before it was replaced. OF
course it is brilliant and only she who ia
going to wear a particular combination can
decide how long she can wear it without
wearying Of it.
For Well-ROunded Figures.
Besides Louis XIV coats there are the
long tunic coats, which fit tightly in the
back and In front have the fullness either