The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-28
THE SHIRT WAIST SUIT

American addition to the ranks of English
duchesses, the Duchess of Manchester. Off in
her Irish castle she has not forgotten her
Cincinnati home. and her adoption of the
duchess" waist IS only fresh evidence of
her natural tastes and inclinations.
The Englishwoman has conceived the great
est fondness for the American shirt waist,
but in the land Of fogs and soft voices. it has
been rechristened the blouse pronounced
bluesel, and bIouses she will have by the
score Of pink. of blue. of white, of green,
all colors of the rainbow and many others
besides. and Of every material known to
woman and manufacturer. But. alas and
alack, she does not fit into her blouse the
way the American fits into the shirt waist.
When it reaches the shores Of Albion it is
certainly rightly named, for as made and
worn by the English it is ofttmes of
blousy appearance But the American waist
what JOY it is in its TRIM natty appearance,
and how quickly it brightens the costume
and adds to the charms Of the most charming
woman? &-- .'
The ''Zaza'' waist has been so named for
that fascinating actress. Mrs. Leslie Carter,
who finds no other attire appropriate and
so becoming for her shopping tours. She was
seen in earnest consultation with an artist
milliner the other day. and her magnfi-
cent sable cape slipped from her shoulders 1t
disclosed a delightful waist composed of
tions of richest Irish point lace. while the
tiny revers were edged with tracery of gold
laid work. on which were touches of hand
embroidery in black silk. How we'll the
brown of the sable combined with the shining
lavender to throw out the greater glory of
her Titan red hair. A woman with such a
highly trained eye for color combination
could hold an audience by the power of her
gowns alone, but when to it is added all her
other daring, mechanic qualities, then, indeed
is the spell complete.
0, the sweet simplicity, the exquisite dain-
tiness of the thin white waist be it in nous
seine de sole, embroidered mulls, OF sheerest
nainsook with lace inlets and insertions, or
of fine rleedlework-all are things of beauty
The "Sheperdess, the Maid Marian and
the West End" are every one beautiful ex-
amples of the latest novelties in the sweetly
simple fashion. How any woman can resist
arraylng herself in these any more than the
most hardened of the bther sex can resist her
destinations when thus clothed, surpasses the
mind of mere mortal to conjecture The
low-neck waist, the waist with the lace yoke,
the short-sleeve waist the one with a deep
cuff, the one with ruffes, and the one with
lace demonstrations, long may they linger with
us to heighten your charms, dear American
girl, even though this be to the peace OF
mind of mankind in general and your de-
voted servitor In particular.
To-day there are men especially engaged
in making materials for shirt-waist use alone
There are the linen batistes, gauzes, mousse
lines de sole, waists embroidered in the piece,
cotton poplins, monte cloths, madrases, cham
brays, corduroys, piques, and so on through
a long line of pretty fabrics woven in designs
particularly appropriate to this modish waist.
The colors2 Dreams of beauty, soft and
delicate, smart and stunning. sUmber and
sad, so that the sensitive or sympathetic
woman, among the large variety with which
she supplies herself each seacon, can readily
find the one which, accords with her mood,
however transient. For reposeful elegance
one selects the spring time colors of prin-
tanier, maize or dauphine blue as found iii
the crepe de chimes, peau de soies or peau
de cynge Thus might one run through the