The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-04
A FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE new SHIRT WAIST.
Without
o

New York, February 1.---fspeciai Cor
respondence OF The Post 1.-THE summer
shirt waist is here.
You can see Ut in the shop windows. You
can behold the summer girls lingering 1t
and wondering how soon the metamor-
phosls will come. You can see the far
away look of longing 10 her pretty eyes
as she handles the shapely fronts and
touches the curve of the sleeve.
1t is only a short time before the shirt
waist will be worn again. Easter brings
it out as surely as It brings out the spring
hat, and OF late years the shirt waist has
been as much a feature OF Easter week
as any of the other spring fashions.
The modlstes who first fought the shirt
waist have given up battling 1t, and have
resigned themselves to the inevitable. Its
comfort was ssch that all women wanted
Il, and were not happy until they got 1t.
Women, thick and thin, long and short.
women old and young, all succumb to the
comfort OF the shirt waist.
While certain general features Teriain
the same year after year. others change
SO that the shirt waist OF last summer
will hardly do duty another year. You
can prove this by comparing last sum-
mer's shirt waist with the new ones OF
1900. So greatly do the styles change that
many women make 1t charitable prac
tice 90 bestow the summers shirt waist
upon the poor in the fall, trusting to
spring and the new styles for fresh ones.
~
shirt" there ia nothing to be said by way
shirt" ther Is nothing to be said by way
- oh a. arat .
must be laundered SO many times that its
price rises as the season advances. On
the other hand II woman wants to look
fresh and neat and to be as neat as she
looks, nothing Will suit her rs well as the
wash waist.
With It's popularity and its wide variety
OF modes, its opportunity for many kinds
OF trimming, and the broad selection OF
goods, the price OF the shirt waist has
risen. You can spend $40 upon a baiiste
shirt waist with embroidery running in
perpendicular lines from neck to belt and
down the sleeves. and II you select waist
OF white batiste trimmed with lace YOU
can pay a higher price,
But that does not alter the fact that
you can find very nice shirt waists for
gums ranging from So upwards 10 u. And.
on bargain days, for a smaller price.
These waists, If seected carefully, with
due regard for washing and fading and
with an eye toward the latest Styles will
very often answer the purpose better than
more expensive ones selected at random.
cotton shirt waist. In MORE effect.
OF pale mauve, with pale blue Agures
looks very nice. The front can be laid
in side plaits pointing toward the broad
middle hem. The tops or caps los the
sleeves can be tucked In tiny tuckings
that form a trimming; the cuffs can be
Npr hal nd tha ma
be SO fashioned that II gives the fashion
able belt low in front and short behind
With these features, the shirt waist OF
inexpensive cotton cloth takes on an air
that fts II TO rank with a waist OF greater
value.
tucked lawn waist OF expensive lawn
and fine lace can he initiated IN coarser
lawn and cheaper lace. Let the waist
be laid In tiny tuoks Prom neck to belt
the tucks no wider than a quarter OF an
inch Let the sleeves be tucked In the
same way round and round the arm, from
shoulder 10 thumbs With diamonds Of
white embroidery trim the waist across
the front, placing the diamonds point to
point. making two rows,
Set similar diamonds down the front
and around the arms. n taste suggests
continue the diamonds down the sleeve
II the arms be thin. the diamonds might
be used effectively in sleeve trimming;
or II the chest be hollow, three rows Of
diamonds might he used instead OF two.
Taste IS necessary In so simple a thing as
the trimming OF a shirt waist.
~
The new Madras patterns are worthy
chapter. Madras has such body that
1t can be used for between season goods
and can be put on before It is time for the
lawn waist That very democratic little
woman. Mrs. w. X. Vanderbilt. Jr.. has
been wearing shirt waists of Madras cloth
all winter. Many very fashionable ma
irons OF the so-called 400 have re-
yelled In the luxury OF the wash waist In
January. For these women there are now
being made whole trunks of the shirt
waists that are not thin waists. but are
for wear during the painfully long months
OF spring when winter clothing drags upon
the shoulders and CRATES upon the nerves
and when lawns and batlstes are too thin
The wool challie Is more than holding
its own. II comes In many coors and
patterns, each having virtue of Its own.
The cream challie has Its place In evening
wear; the very pale colors come, in for
morning use: while for afternoons, when
there are callers or when there are calls
to be made. there are the new greens,
browns, blues and grays. all suited to
fhasn nnrnoaea