Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-25
Small Girl Has No Elaborate
Toilets Like Her Elders.
HER BEST FROCKS PLAIN
CHARMINGLY PRETTY DRESSES
IN FRENCH STYLE FIND FAVOR.
Pique Dresses and Russian Blouse
Suits Are Very
Popular.

Written for The Evening Star by Harriet Hawlcy.
After the extravaganza which reigns in
the average feminine summer wardrobe 1t
is a relief to turn to the small girl and her
apparel. She shows the simplicity which
once marked the summer toilets of her
elders. Perhaps it is a matter of necessity
and not of choice. Her athletic practices
would play havoc among filmy fabrics and
marvellous unwashabe creations of en-
broidery. lace and handwork. Even her
Sunday go connecting and party gowns
must stand the strain of youthful cXuber-
ance. Perhaps. also American mothers
are following sensible foreign fashions.
Nothing could be simpler than the frocks
of little French girls.
The long French waist and short bouffant
sleeves have been in favor for the very
small girl for several seasons. Usually the
frockS for these three or four year olds
of white cambria or linen but some
of the French shops are showing charming
little slips of pale pink and blue muslin.
They are either trimmed with lace with
fine nainsook wash embroidery in the same
shade.
1t has the long waist and the blouse is
more than usually full. This fullness is
drawn In at the long waist line by a
white muslin sash. with hemstitched ends
frill-lke effect. The chow sleeves fin
ished by hemstitched band of the white.
The striking feature of the dress is the
deep handkerchief collar of white nainSook
embroidery. 1t is bordered by a narrow
scant ruftle of embroidery. headed by
inch fold of the blue muslin.
The white wash sashes will be found of
great economy for the small girl or boy.
In the above frock the folds around the
waist lightly stitched in place here
and there. and the sash tied in the back
in spreading bow resembling a rosette.
The handkerchief bertha is a popular
feature of children's dress this summer.
1t is simple and graceful, and gives oppor-
tunity for suitable trimming. 1iandker-
chief ruffles also used as a finish for
the elbow sleeves.
Is Always Seen.
White pque is always in use for chill
dren's frocks Its very stiffness of fold
accords well with the simplicity which
rules childish fashions When trimmed
with hand embroidery i'll heavy white linen.
or with nainsook or batiste machine
broidery, it is suitable for almost every
occasion. This summer il has
in coats. Time was when the pique coat
only deemed tit for infants wear.
This year ii is the smart thing for even the
grown-ups.
A simple coat for the six-year-old girl
is on the REFER order. but shows a differ
enct III tft. rounded cape collar ana double
breasted front effect. 1t is fastened by
large, white pearl buttons and has the
cleverest of pockets The coat sleeves pun
slightly above the straight, narrow cuffs.
A chevron. embroidered on the left sleeve.
half way between armhole and elbow, gives
touch of color.
A pique dress for child of the same
age has five box pleitS. front and back,
running from neck to hem. 1t Is cut
as to flare slightly at the bottom. The
collar is cut round. leaving the throat bare.
and is bordered and urnamented by
applique of fiat white linen braid. The
tight-tittng. turnback cuffs which band the
full sleeves fastened with tiny pearl
buttons three-inch belt OF the pique.
which runs through slashings in the frocks
beneath the boxpleats, gives d long wasted
effect.
Another pique dress partakes of the ma
ture of Russian blouse The waist line
is not quite so deep. and the skirt has less
OF the nature of a frill. The neck is cut
out in a slight w. in front, and bordered
by a wide stitched band of linen in vivid
blue shade. The band is continued down
the front of the blouse. and similar bands
form the ught-fitting cuffs. Instead of
sash, finish to the waist line is given by
wide silk braid of the same shade of blue.
1t is knotted at the left side and the long
ends are finished by silk ball and cord
ornaments. similar ornament gives a
finish to the point of the ''V'' neck.
Give Plenty Freedom.
Russian blouse suits are exceedingly pop
ular in all fabrics. They certainly afford
plenty of freedom for motion. and. when
combined with a dicky and sailor collar
of a contrasting shade, are always pretty.
Navy blue SIcilienne is the material OF a
natty Russian blouse sailor suit which is
suitable for either SeaShore or mountain
wear. Instead of Il diCky, it has a pointed
vest of robins egg blue French flannel.
which rea cheS to the waist line. The very
full blouse is belted in at the waist by ii
stitched strap of the Sicilenne. and the
skirt is rather Scant. The bell sleeves
flare at the hand and trimmed with
two-inch wide folds of the blue flannel.
These are hand embroidered with a sim
pie pattern in white SILK. The sailor collar
is also of the robins egg blue flannel, and
is bordered by band of white silk en-
kro:derV.
Among the frockS Of thinner fabrics. Val
enciennes lace is the favorite trimming. 1t
is sheer and dainty, and wears and washes