The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-06-11

Dame Fashion


| NEW YORK, June 1.-THE athletic
| girl is more than ever the queen of
| the season and due consideration must
be paid to her wants. in regard to ap-
propjriate costume. The girl of the
day is more or less addicted to golfing
lawn tennis, boating and other out
door sports and is cultivating a taste
| for park promenades and cross coun-
try walks. For each of these healthful
| ed and in the case of a woman proper
| ly means not SO much in conformity
with the practical requirements than
handsomely and effectively. The grow
| ing tendency in favor of outdoor sports
| and exercise has done more than any
| thing else to develop the possibilities
| of walking skirts and suits There was
a time when walking skirts were
worn by business women only and
|
ons and when it was absolutely neces-
| sary The walking skirt at that time
served only a practical purpose and
| there seemed to be no demand for
softening the severity Of it's stiff and
| simple lines. All that has changed
| The value of the walking skirt has been
| more generally recognized it's practi-
cal advantages are more thoroughly
! understood and at the same time the
women are beginning to appreciate
the fact that the walking skirt may be
made dressy, handsome, attractive and
| even luxurious, without the necessity
of curtailing any of the essential fea-
| lures, which make that kind of skirt
so eminently practical for walking and
outdoor sports.
Walking skirts no longer offend the
artistic taste by the ultra plainness
and severity of their lines, no longer do
they confine themselves to the fulfill
ment of practical duty. In accordance
with the general drift of fashion to-
ward a greater elaboration and orna-
mentation the walking skirt has de-
Veloped into a garment as useful as
ornamental. At the present day there
is scarcely a material used for any
used at least to some extent. for walk
ing skirts.
There was a time when only the
darkest colors or black were consider
ed appropriate for walking suits. The
limitations no longer holds good. Even
white will be worn for walking suits
this season, especially in serges and
mohair. The Elton model will be the
favorite either the tight fitting or the
loose style. White braids, either plain
or with a touch of gold in them will be
used for trimming and in some cases
a velvet collar and cuffs of colored ma
terial will be added to give a touch Of
brilliancy.
For more serviceable wear medium
or dark colors, either plain or in checks
or stripes Will be used extensively.
Particularly small checks will be in
great demand, in light and delicate ma
terials of the thinnest substance. as
well as in heavier tailors woollens,
Then there will be soft cheviots, chif-
fon cloths, siciliennes, and various silks
and cloths. Madras and linen, not to
forget batiste and kindred materials
will also be extremely popular
The fact that short walking skirts
will be worn a great deal will not be
without influence upon the styles of
footwear. That is perfectly natural
If the skirts are short and a display of
the shoes cannot we'll be avoided.
care must be taken to make the foot
wear as attractive and neat as pos
sible. 1t would never do to wear a
pair Of unsightly shoes or slippers with
a pretty walking suit. 1t would COM
oletely spoil the general effect Pat
mt leather shoes, with the upper part
o material corresponding in color. if
net in texture, with the material Of
which the suit is made, will be extreme
~ fashionable. The style will, I'M
doubteGly be quite becoming to many
women and add considerable to the
smar,ness Of the general effect, but not
very woman will find it advisable to
follow that fashion. Shoes of white or
light colored material may be very be-
coming 20 women with small and we'll
shaped feet, but women who are COM
PEELED to wear shoes larger than num-
Der three should not try the expert
ment OF wearing light colored shoes
Their feet will look twice as big as
big as they would in black shoes. The
shoes to be worn with walking skirts
should be of a substantial character
and equipped with stout and service
able soles. slippers do not go well
with such suits