Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-05

It is always a pleasure to answer such
letters as this, and as there are hundreds
of practical women looking for practical
suggestions. it deserves more attention than
a personal reply under the stamp which the
writer has sent. No woman should ever
allow business to absorb her so utterly
that she neglects the question of clothes
for 1t is not only her privilege but her
duty to make herself attractive.
The outfit described in this story is III
tended for the woman of large salary
Modified and simplified, it should Suggest
less expensive raineilt for the girl of small
salary.
First the woman in business should keep
her office or store clothes entirely dlstlnct
from those she wears at home. rms VIII
do much to rest her nerves as well as pre-
serve her wardrobe. Nothing is harder on
a smartly tailored business suit than lof
it's owner to keep it on in the evening when
she curls up on a couch to read or rest
Such treatment ruins the hang OF the skirt.
l. the tired stenographer or clerk VIII Ie-
move her office raiment directly she reaches
home and don pretty house dress. she
will find that some of her business worries
will fall away from her with the mannlsn
skirt and coat.
Dc not economic on the office raiment.
If you pay a good price for your tailor
made suit it should last you an entire sea-
son. and. with some slight alterations at
the hand of competent tailor 1t Will carry
you through ar1second season. or at least
into second Wlnterre
For Tailor Suits.
This year the ooth-finished. mannish
mixtures are in high favor for tailored
suits. A vest of contrasting color, not too
light. may be introduced. or a snug. semi
fitting, double coat. somewhat
suggestive of a Norfolk jacket, Is equally
within Dame Fashions laws. The sleeves
are plain and snug-fitting. The skirt should
be built on strictly tailored lines. no rufties
or shirrings, and if trimming is used at all,
it should be In the form of strapped seams
or very fiat closely woven braid, which
will not harbor dust. This skirt shoulo
clear the ground by at least two inches ST.
with no ostrich pluhnes or flowers, but a
breast or i,eea ponpen may beo used for
trimming Many well-dressed-,iwomen in
business wear rather stun felt nat OF
rosettes of ribbon, or velvet OF the same
shade.
IF a girl elects to wear wash shirt waists,
then she must do one of two things-Wear
between her coat and the shirt waist a
sweater or vest, or else have all her house
and street dresses made in corresponding
weight Steam heated offices make wash
serious chances with their health in chang
ing the weight of their gowns when not
engaged in business.
Mercerized Cottons.
The prettiest wash waistings are mer-
cerized cotton or madras, which show beau
tiful fleckings of color on white and cream
backgrounds. The new soft tea green ap-
pears in many of these waistings, ESQ por-
celain blue. and brown f1ecks or dots are
shown on deep cream ground. A beau
- ,,y OIL for yrai Ctc Ire Ia
mel, but is a pure cotton. 1t washes ad-
mirably and is comfortable and warm. 1t
appears in stripes, checks and small figures,
but is most effective in the Roman strip
ingS.
VeIveteen and broadtail velour are both
in vogue again for blouses, but they must
be selected with infinite care. In certain
shades of gray. tan and green they wear
satisfactorily, but In the odd new shades
they are conspicuous, soon become hateful
to the owner, and are left hanging in the
clothes press. The smartest velveteen
waists are made very simply with stitched
pleats from the shoulders, and no trimming
except the --LATEST of self-tone braid.
The business woman who is much on
the street should own a complete rainy
day outfit and keep it for that purpose.
This because for rainy weather she should
have skirt and long coat well removed
waterproof cloth does more harm than
good to it's owner because she has it cut
too long.
Four Inches From Ground.
The best tailors say that the rainy-day
skirt and coat should clear the ground by
four inches. If the waterproof coat is long,
the material of the skirt beneath is not
all important, and here the business wo-
man may employ a made-over. Business
women who can afford such a luxury are
having rainy-day suits made-short skirts
and Norfolk jackets of waterproof cloth
but these cost as much as a well-built bust
ness suit
Much thought should be given by the
business woman to the question of furs.
If she decides to swathe her throat with
boa or tippet when going to and from bust
ness, she will become a slave to the habit.
The first time she lays aside the fur she
is likely to take cold. If she wears furs
every day. they must be of the best quail
ty, as nothing shows wear more quickly
than a cheap far 80
No Muffs Required.
Small neck searfs of good moleskin are
an excellent investment this season, but a
muff is an determination for daily use. The
new kid gloves for business wear come
lined with bright plaids in silk and wool,
and afford an excellent substitute for a
muff.
Always have perfectly plain hat such
as a crush or alpine shape for wear on
stormy days 1t will save your good tai
lored hat-likewise your purse.
Some girls getia good quality of rain coat
and wear it every day to business in which
case they have an Office Dress skirt and
bodice from the same material. Shirt
waist suits in lightweight cheviot, serge
and novelty cloth may be worn under such
a coat but the coat must be the very best
of material and eoloring to withstand daily
wear. Oxford gray and the new olive
green are perhops the best colorings. and
care must be taken that the coat is not
over-trimmed. The general tendency of
rainy-day rain1ent this season, as in ali
garments feminine. is toward over-trim-
ming.
Have one semi-tailored costume which
will serve for church wear, and with fine
addition of dainty blouse for the thea
ter. Do hot have 1t made with train I'M.
less you expect to ride much In carria ees.
The really well-dressed woman this wear
has no train on her street gown
Old and New Favorites.