The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-09
THE CURTAILED SKIRT.
Correct Length IN London for the
Holiday Season.

The curtailed skirt. with no train to
attract the microbes of the pavement
nor to weary its wearer's little hands
over its uplifting, was promised an un-
of the tailOrS- It's hygienic qualities
and its comfortable properties it was
felt would secure it a welcome from
women. But July is here, and the short
skirt is only, so far as London goes, a
rarely vouch-safed vision. Women evil
IDENTIFY have some grievance against it.
What it is?
A West End dressmaker declares his
surprise, not that the short skirt has
failed to arrive. but that any one was
foolish enough to imagine it would
until every opportunity for wearing
muslins is over. No fiimsy fabric like
muslin. which requires flowing lines for
it's perfect naturalization, can be made
short and at the same time graceful.
Moreover. with no short skirt can pic
ture hat or a diaphanous blouse be
worn. The two modes are absolutely
antagonistic, for one spells elegance and
the other utility, and both must be
equipped with. ct ceteras to match.
Trains. then. are as necessary to all
toilets made for women to wear at cere-
monious affairs as silk hats and frock
coats are the essential items of a mans
full dress daytime gala attire. Ascot
would have frowHed had short skirt
ed woman appeared on the scenes, and
at Goodwood there will not be one. But
it must be admitted that the long,
wasp-like rat-tail train has not been
made this season.
Rotund effects are coming in, and the
correct length for the skirt of woman
whose height is five feet seven inches
and who is faShionably slim and long
WASTED is in front forty-two inches and
at the back fortynine inches. There is
grace in this length. and grace the sex
will have.
Modern English women approve no
violent changes, but rather feel their
way toward alterations by gradual de-
grees. Therefore the same women, when
the travelling season begins and the OPP
portunity for skirts that clear the
ground arrives will put on a skirt that
measures forty inches in front and
forty-two at the back. 1t will not be
nearly so curtailed as the skirt donned
by the American globe trotter, who
boldly cut hers as short as girl of IA
and wore it from three to four inches
off the ground all round, bur it will
nicely clear the ground. and demand no
irksome wrist work to keep it from the
blemish of the roads.
The shoemakers are quite ready for
the invasion of the short holiday skirt
with smart and becoming models, and
the hosierS are likewise on the alert
White shoes have gone out of fashion,
and there is, indeed. not great demand
for colored shoe leather at present. Even
the nut brown and the clay leather sum-
ner shoe is in less request than well
cut, laced up. serviceable looking black
Cromwell shoe, one with three
straps over the ankle to button.
There is always a steady demand
among the smart set for biscuit tinted
shoes to be worn with trained muslins
and linen frocks at the German water
ing places, but the short skirt, regarded
as it is as a strictly unitarian product,
is to be borne company by the black
shoe. Boots, therefore, are being far
less sold than they were. save for noun
taineering. moor and like hard work
London Mail.