The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-27
FASHIONS FOR WOMEN.

The following interesting comments
were written by a woman:
To any one who has made a study
Of feminine canrfce and is acquainted
an editorial in Chicago Record Herald
of recent date congratulating woman
kind upon the passing of the old time
coat of mail known as corset will
read like joke. The editorial goes on
to quote, as its authority for this state
ment, speaker at the National Dress
makers Association which recently held
convention in Chicago and who said.
"Cranks can't kick about tight lacing
any more. Women don't want to lace
tight now, because a natural waist
what would have been called a large
waist a few years ago-is the proper
thing
There is something almost pathetic in
the simple trust of q man who has such
faith in tickle woman as to regard as
anything more than fad her occasional
spesms of dress reform. Past expert
ence ought to have taught him that
dress reform in woman Is a mere within
not an evidence of the evolution of
rational ideas in her apparelling. The
speaker quoted who said the natural
waist is the proper thing" just now
explained the reason for its popularity.
Women did not take up with the idea
of giving their lungs room to expand
because it would benefit their health
and the health of the race. The reform
wide, sloppy waists and featherbed
figures did nothing to promote the pres
ent sensible fashion of corsettinE. The
natural waist" simply records the
swing OF the pendulum of fashion. The
waist is large now because 1t was once,
and for so many years small The axiom
regarding action and reaction is especi-
ally true of fashions. The natural
fore now in the history of women's
clothes. Just now 1t is having an in
ming, but only guileless man editoria.
writer would argue from that that it is
the passing of the ubiquitous corset.
Especially in the matter of fashions does
woman insist upon her ancient preroga-
tive Of changing her mind.
A few yea ~ ago. not more than half
dozen. people who believed in dress re-
form for women. and the millennium
were coTigra. ulating the world upon the
rapid strides toward progress in civi1i-
cation marked by the appearance of the
rainy day or pedestrian skirt. The
new fashion was introduced and made
an fmmedie Re hit. In one season every
woman, rich and poor. short and tall,
TIN and fat. old and young was wear
ing skirt that reached only q fraction
of an inch below her shoe tops. Every
one was talking about those hideous
mtcrobe cages, the trailing skirts and it
looked as though this style of garment
would 90 out entirely except for house
wesr The first one or two years of its
popularity the short skirt reigned SO
completely that the streets appeared to
swarm with school girls and, il you
looked only at their feet, you would
imagine that every woman had discov-
cred the fountain of youth But how is
it now? The short skirt has not dis
appeared entirely. 1t is true. but it is
now worn only by business women and
for the outdoor sports. Morning wear
and shopping. for which it was former
1y considered Indispensable know it no
longer. And 1t has heightened SO much
in the past two years that, while 1t does
not trail it is fully as long as what we
used to be called long skirt before the
days when elaborate gowns lay on the