The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-16

for overlooking a gown with trim
mings, lace and embroideries, flub-dub
and accessories and running the effect
of elegant material and really good
workmanship.
This kind of dowd is really the
most exasperating of all. When the
we'll dressed woman sees her she ex-
claims: isn't it a crime? And with
all her money!
! And speaking of over-elaboration in
dressing what so aptly illustrates the
mistakes some women make in this
direction than their shirt waists. If
there is garment that should be
plain, simple, tailored in effect it is
the cotton, silk or linen shirt waist
or shirt waist suit There are dozens
of other things that you can have ''all
fused up" if you want them and if
shirt waists are not becoming to you
| it is possible to dispense with them al
together, especially now when the
long travelling wraps make it possible
to wear almost any simple frock on
the train But if you are going to
wear a shirt waist let it be a shirt
ination with a plain tailored skirt.)
Pussy stocks, belts, collar effects, elab-
crate inSets of lace or embroidery all
detract from the charm of the shirt
waist which is a its best when made
very plainly with self trimming only
in the way of straps and bands, or a
little stitching or a few tailor buttons.
How abominable serpentine lace, or
medaIliOnS or little rosettes, or stocks
all covered with beads and French
knots and lace edgings look with a
silk or linen waist intended for every
day wear. 1t is said that American
women wear the shirt waist much bet
ter than the women of London and
Paris, and although our women go
over there and buy the English and
French products in this line the styles
originate America.
Last year all the American women
were wearing embroidered shirt
waists. This year the Americans who
have money enough to go abroad write
cred waists in the Paris shops. The
idea originated here and was copied
by Paris. 1t is so with fashion fads,
although the authors of the Paris let
ters don't seem to have found it out.
America is beginning to lead in this
respect now that there are so many
women in this country of unlimited
means, wide travel and excellent taste
who have the courage and the orig
inality to branch out for themselves
and who design their own clothes with
such excellent effect that the whole
world of fashion is anxious to copy
them.
The great thing in wearing a shirt
waist is to have in spite of the neat
trimness of the garment a certain
everyday air III IL. 1lcl Is
why some women can not wear them.
They wish to have a dressed up
look but it is not a garment Which
calls for such rigueur and no matter
how beautiful or expensive it may be
the fact remains that a shirt waist is
nothing but a shirt waist and if you
strive for anything else you kill the
effect
Did you ever stop to think how
few Topeka women wear the shirt
waist well-how few real shirt waist
girls" we have here2 One of the most
stunningis a tall, slender young woman
who lives in a quaint old brick house
out on Western avenue. Another is
young matron who spends her sum-
mers in the east and lives on Harri-
son street. Two young Kansas City
matrons, sisters, who formerly lived
here and who spend so much of their
! time here that thy are claimed by
Topeka, always wear effective. shirt
waists and wear them well. The tall
blonde in the Bowling club crowd who
is often described as the best dressed
girl i'll town is another ideal shirt
waist girl. There are three sisters
on West Tenth street. two of the He
lianthus set and the third high
school graduate of this year, who wear
stunning shirt waists and look eXcep-
ttonally well in them. Another young
matron, a former Salina girl who lives
on Fillmore street affects white linen
or black and white percale shirt waists
and has some very swagger white duck
ana Dlue Inen tub suits this summer
which are the envy of all who care
for this style of garment. Another
young matron of the same set who
lives out on Topeka avenue and is
famed as enc of the most capable
women in town since she is a good
hodsekeeper, charming hostess, excel
lent cook and makes all her own
clothes is another ideal shirt waist
giri although in the summer time she
is oftenest seen in dainty, fluffy white
summer frocks, with lacy petticoats
and spotless white shoes and hose.
But when she wears a shirt waist
she wears 1t well.
The shirt waist is pre- eminently a
garment for business women and at
least two of the self-supporting girls
in Topeka make the most of their
possibilities. One is a tall distin-
guished blonde with a position in a
federal office and the other is a petite
1aVorlte of the Helianthus set who
works in the Santa Fe Offices.
y Topeka avenue girl. daughter of
santa Fe director who looks we'll
always and is one of the most attract
i've girls in town is especially fetch
ing in her shirt waist suits Then
there is a young matron on Van Blu
rem street. reigning belle and beauty