The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-24

n ARTS, Feb. 21.-The midwinter of
our modistic discomfort is made
glorious by the wealth Of spring
81 gowns which greet one on every
side here in Paris. Columbine's
and Ritz are crowded with gay and
smartly dressed women. most Of whom
are en- route to and from the fashion
q bile winter resorts. These places even
along the sunny Riviera are not at
their best climatically this year Still
the cold there is a degree warmer than
the kind the capital has been furnish
inF lately
But to return to our spring styles.
Many persons who have never visited
the Partisan capital imagine the first
French models to be exaggerated and
hideous productions. whereas in reality
the most beautiful modes in the world
are those displayed by the best French
couturieres- In this little word best
lies all the difference between what is
and what is not a creation Take. for
instance. the French stage and remem-
Der what lovely toilets are seen there
These Of necessity are a trihe exagger-
ated but are still in exquisite taste
Really. life is not the easy thing for
women some people like to make US be-
leve lt to be-that is, for the smart
leader Of fashion who is obliged to hold
the mirror of style up to her particular
set. A man has no idea of the worry
of dress. and worry is not too strong a
word. One must be absolutely correct
in one ideas of what to wear on every
possible occasion, and this in itself is no
easy matter, although 1t is the secret of
a well gowned woman.
We must be sweet and amiable and
ready to meet every emergency. to be
prepared for afternoon teas. morning
walks. motor rides, small dinners and
large receptions-in fact for everything
that comes aIong-and last but by no
means least. we must select all the cos
TUNES for these functions. Imagine
buying ones summer gowns when the
snow is on the ground. But unless this
is done the opportunity to get the most
exclusive designs never comes a second
time
The keynote of fashion now is pic
turesQueness and this effect is best
carried out in the styles Of 1880. with
their dropping lines. which are beautf-
ful when well put up and worn by tall,
wliloWy femininity. OF late our man
ner of dressing has changed. We no
longer consider it necessary to wear
one particular material at one season
Of the year only. We wear NOWADAYS
exactly what suits us-mousseline de
N4les lace embroidered net and crane. III
Il be our pleasure-from January to De
cember The times are past when vel
vets and dark clothes were essential in
winter.
The tailor gown has changed some
what this spring 1t is less severe and
more elaborate. Mlady now has be-
coming vests and jabots to wear with
this all round servicea bic costume. in
which she is mighty apt to look her
prettiest.
Invisible stripes and checks in self
colors are favorite materials for these
frocks. which are built with skirts OF
the seven. nine and even thirteen gored
variety. They drag Just enough to
catch all the dirt but are called short
skirts The coats are blouse affairs. in
most instances. deliberately trimmed in
a horizontal fashion. Most OF the skirts
are made with a drop skirt of silk the
dumness around the bottom of these
drops" giving the requisite flare.
Most of the separate coats are of the
Chinese and japanese order OF things
that is 70 say loose. with long shoulder