Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-30
PRACTICAL DRESSING.
Costumes Necessary In Each Woman's
Outfit

The thoroughly conscientious woman with
natural knowledge of and good taste
in dress finds that each year 1t is more
difficult to keep within modest allow
ance for the different seasons outfits.
Perhaps the spring trousseau is of the
hardest of all to order II one has not I'M
limited means to bestow upon the gowns.
hats and wraps, for, on the other hand, ii
seems like poor economy to expend too
much on a frock. suit hat to be used
for so short a while, for 1t is next to i'm
possible to make a spring costume serve
during the following autumn. and yet at
this time of year one always desires to be
attractiyely gowned, for there are sure
to be numberless occasions that will call
for handsome and expensive outfits. The
only way out OF the dilemma Is to get just
the dresses that are absolutely necessary
and then TO have each one of these at
tractive possible.
By the necessary suits it is not meant
that one must cut down the simpler
inexpensive costumes and waists that are
really saving, as they so often give ,ne
handsome dresses a rest and there is con-
siderable sense in the idea that for every
light gown there should be dark one to
correspond.
frockS in the spring and autumn than
during the summer and winter months
one reason being that the seasons are SO
much shorter and another that both are
more or less times of change, when every
one is moving about, from town to the
country or vice versa, and with everything
so unsettled there is no chance for much
social activity. A few suits just as nearly
perfect in their way it is possible to
make them will always prove better in
Vestment than variety of costumes none
of which Is especially smart. Many contend
that with only few dresses it is well
never to have conspicuous models or strik-
ing colors. but really il a brilliant shade
or an unusual style of frock is peculiarly
becoming 1t seems worth while TO be re-
membered in It, rather than never to have
anything noticeably effective
Generally speaking. the only garments
absolutely necessary for the spring are a
smart cloth tailor suit, an attractive silk
shirt waist dress made just as thin and
cool as possible, and handsome silk
ceptions, weddings, etc. 1t is almost al
ways possible to freshen up a winters ball
or dinner frock for the few occasions at
this time of year that demand elaborate
evening dress. and really very little chic
Will be called for unless she enters and
goes out almost constantly. Naturally
there are any number of other dresses
that can be added to this short list and
these others will receive a due amount OF
wear. unquestionably. but without them 1t
is possible to get along if one has the
three costumes mentioned
ColorS must be selected very differently
where the trousseau is limited for while
brilliant and conspicuous shades may be
all right, too pale Shades are a bad in
sary constant usage. There are some soft
tones OF old rose. pastel blue, pistache
green aud heltotrope that every bit as
'dressy as the pale tints and which are
serviceabe as well, and It is among these
colorings that the woman bent on econ
omy must look. No matter how important
1t may be, to have a dark shade no color
should be chosen that has not proved
itself to be becoming, for, after ali. II is
this last that has everything to do with
the final effect of the entire costume