The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-05
Athletics and women's Dress Reform


Athletics has achieved for woman's
dress within two years what dress re-
formers vainly tried to accomplish for
many generations. Woman is no lon
ger a slave to fashion, at least, when
it comes to attire for ordinary occa-
sions, such as walking or shopping.
This reform-for reform it really is
has come about so gradually that 1t
has not been generally noticeable. We
now have the low-heeIed shoe, with
broad toe and thick sole; the loose,
low corset, the ungloved hand and the
short skirt. Few persons, however,
realize that athletics is the cause
of this transformation. nor do most of
the women who themselves have been
emanciDated.
When women took up, one after an
other, walking, riding, cycling, tennis,
rowing, swimming, golf and other
sports, those who had feminine physi-
cal well being at heart rejoiced, for
they felt that stronger muscles. better
appetites, restful sleep and roster COM
plexions would result But they never
dreamed that this taking up of outdoor
exercise would result in a dress re-
form. Yet it has: and they buiIded
better than they knew.
Last summer women went out for
strOlls bareheaded. In Boston. the
home of culture, they have gone down
town without headgear for two sum-
mers. This is due to athletics. When
they played golf or tennis or rode a BIZ
cycle they wore short skirts. Hence
the short skirt and absence Of trains
on the street. First came the rainy
day skirt on wet days. but now short
skirts are generally worn. The shirt
waist owes its popularity to the ten
MS and cycling shirtWaist. Golf and
walking are the parents of the broad
shoe with thick soles and low heels
General athletics should be credited
with the popularity Of the low. loose
corset, which allows freedom of the
body.
Athletic women like to proclaim, in
directly, that they are athletic. If they
have good figures they like to display
them. They are proud of their biceps
particularly. For some time tight
sleeves have been in vogue. This sea-
son sleeves are worn looser, but only
from just above the elbow down Mi
lady's sleeves at the biceps are tight
IN order to display her upper arm to
advantage
This feminine fondness for exercise
mas not alone resulted in sensible dress
BEAUTIFULLY tanned skins, firm flesh and
well developed muscles Women have
made creditabIe records in outdoor
sports. They have not merely dabbIed
at it. Lots of New York girls shoot
big game Hundreds Of them are more
than match for the average strong
male player in the tennis courts or
over the links. A young woman in
Connecticut thinks she can beat any
woman in the United States in a row.
Ing match, and is anxious for a chance
to prove her assertion
MISS Ethel GOlding and scores of
other girls in New York and BROOKLYN
can peat a majority Of the swimmers
OF the opposite sex at either long or
short distances
Mrs. John Gerken, of New York can
drive four-in-hand with the skin Of
a professional
At the Vassar college field sports re-
Gently held, five records were hrolrar
MISS Agnes 5. Wood ran fifty yards in
80 seconds, and 220 yards in 20
seconds. Miss Evelyn G. Gardner rnade
a standing jump Of feet inches and
running jump of IA feet 61b inches
These performances broke all records.
They are remarkable when it is con-
sidered that Vassar is without a Gin
der path and other advantag es hovs'
colleges have and that the young
women wore loose and heavy speed
impeding costumes
Inc manager of big New York de-
partment store says women are wear
ing garments a full size larger than a
lew years ago. This especially applies
70 corsets' waists, gloves and shoes.
He also said that fashions decree. if
there really is such a thing now as ap-
piled to outdoor dress, gave so much
latitude that the stores were Obliged 70
carry many times the variety of goods
they formerly did
The sterner sex has also been bene-
flied by the decreased power of King
Fashion. and nowadays a man can
wear almost any kind of a costume he
desires without attracting attention,
provided, OF course, he is not too pro-
nounced in his tastes.
This increased latitude and these
radical changes are welcomed by ali
whether they be men and women who
go III for athletics. people who are In
terested in dress reform or just plain,