The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-04-21

coming.
The mere mention of the word waist"
Is quite enough TO start the average wom-
an on a well-nigh endless dissertation as
to the respective beauties of the newest
models And small wonder, when one
stops for n moment to consider these Gre
atlons daily brought forth from their It's
sue wrappings In the smartest shops.
The opposition which the dressy sepa-
rate waist and the lingerie blouse met
with early In the season by reason of the
returned tailored shirtwaist has been
strong incentive for the designers both
here and abroad to put forth their best
efforts toward giving us styles so distine-
tive that even the stanchest admirer of
the smart tailored novelties could not
fail to appreciate. And that they have al
ready been repaid for these efforts Is
plainly evidenced In the correct spring
costuming
In its proper place and at the proper
time The tailored waist is the most APP
propriate garment one could possibly
adopt; hut the dressy tailor-made, which
is looked upon as the most modish after
noon costume, needs the addition of n
blouse In keeping with its dressy charac-
ter
The French woman would forego the
wearing of any waist at all with her aft
ernoon tailored frock rather than accom-
pany it with one of our severely tailored
shirts. She is no lover of severity, as the
world knows, and 1t is she whom we are
Indebted TO for those dainty feminine
touches which grace the smart shirt
waist we have this year. The Parisienne
never makes the fatal mistake of wearing
garments which are not wholly In keep
ing one with the other, as well as with
the occasion.
Her street clothes are for street wear
only, and are laid aside Immediately
upon returning from n walk In the park
or a shopping tour The coat of her suit
Is never removed from the time she
leaves home until she returns thereto,
and for this reason many French women
dispense with the blouse altogether, sub
sttuting n dainty chemlsette at the neck
If the coat closes in the front, or lin
gerie vest of fine muslin md lace, when
the coat is intended to be left open, as
SO many of the seasons little coats are.
But even this custom does not lessen the
number OF lingerie, silk, lace and net
waists in her wardrobe. There are in
Vulnerable opportunities for the wearing
of these elaborate CONNECTIONS with the
dressy afternoon two-piece costume, the
little coat being frequently but skele-
ton affair, which serves to enhance the
beauty of the waist over which 1t Is
worn.
But women on this side of the broad
Atlantic are not universally given TO
wearing tailored coat suits in midsum-
mer. Much of our climate is such that
the coolest possible clothing must be
worn If We can expect to exist with any
degree of comfort. SO instead of dis
pensing with the waist we dispense with
the coat. wearing our daintiest waists
with smart skirts of mohair suiting.
wolfe. shelma cloth. taffeta or any other
of the seasons modish fabrics.
The lingerie waist, which held such
sway last year has been forced TO give
way I'm no small measure to the net and
lace blouses, which introduced them
selves Into fashions realm with marked
degree of success early in the past win
ter. And that they have been slowly and
steadily gaining ground Is but too APP
parent. Those of us who like this new
conner Will find many fascinating models
10 choose from. Cream nets, verging on
tan shades, are greatly favored. These
tlnts blend in admirably with the brown
and tan tones In suit fabrics. The new
lingerie waists are equally bewitching.
The very latest OF these borrows that de-
lectable front frlll of the tailored waist
and uses 1t on a dainty hand-embroidered
affair of finest French batistes, an idea
which suggests n pleasing way in which
TO alter last years blouse.
In the lace and net waist designers
still continue to combine lace Of various
genre in way suggestive of all sorts of
waist possibilities to the home sewer
whose piece bag and remnant box are
among her dearest possessions.
The new silk blouses express decided
novelty in every line. The fancy back
is the most marked feature of these. and
one of which we should all take careful
note. The plain back and fancy front
waist is exceedingly unbecomlng to the
majority of women. Did we but know
1t, few of us have really pretty backs,
and for this reason we should seek to
hide any ungraceful lines rather than re-
veal them with a plain back waist. The
bodice which blouses ever so slightly
over the top of a high girdle is extremely
becoming, especially to the woman who
is very long-waisted. In such Il waist
there must be Il well-boned tight-iitting
lining to properly conflne the figure be-
meath the outer blouse and keep the
back from riding up and producing
round shouldered effect.