The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-13

Dwelers In the North may shiyer as
they pass the shop windows, all lit up
and displaying the ARREST and flmiest of
summer fabrics, while outside the Their
mometer is lowering around the freezing
point-if not below it-and the north
wind blows keenly.
But In the smart dressmaking work
rooms one might well imagine that the
sunny days of May have arrived, for there
is but little to be seen but the most
charming of batistes, summary silks, or
gandies, handkerchief linens, dotted
swisses, plumetis and the like.
Our American Riviera, as the East
Coast of Florida has come to be known,
begins to awaken to life and amusements
about the middle of January, and the
huge hotels that are dotted along the
coast from Jacksonville down to Miami
are thronged with tourists of all nations
TO escape from the dreary Northern WIN
ter. and mayhaps rest and recuperate
from the strenuousness of social cam
paign.
Although the sun shines brightly anu
the days are fairly warm at those faVoreu
spots, it must be remembered that once
the sun sets there comes up chill vino
that makes a wrap Indispensable III
deed, the frosts of Florida have become
famous, and drop of 80 degrees in the
temperature within a few hours is not
nm unknown experience by any means
To be so clad as to meet such extremes
albeit they are on the regular program
Is the aim of the experienced tourist
traveller. To combine smart gowning,
comfort and the minimum of baggage Is
the aim, and although the trunkmakers
do all in their power to increase the
number of trunks carried unless one has
an unusually competent and careful cour-
rier maid it were well to leave most of
those behind.
The extreme of ones wardrobe will
prove none too much for Southern sea-
son. From the plain tailormade of the
morning, with its accompanying plain
tailored shirts up to the most elaborate
ball gown, and including all the posses
sions between, must be packed
Outdoor life leads the fashions, and In
the northern part of Florida the goir
links and the tennis courts are the center
of morning attraction. Here the snort
skirt reigns and the collarless ana snort
sleeved blouse is the correct accompani-
ment. Plain, but well tailored is tne
recipe for morning wear.
A din in the big swimming pool or a
swim In the surf-which, incidentally, ls
seldom very high on the Florida coast
is for many the pleasantest part OF the
day. and the new bathing suits are dis
tinctly built for business" as one smart
maker declared the other day when
client objected to the scantiness or cut
Here firm weave of black or navy blue
satin is preferred, and the next choicest
taffetas Occasionally one sees brown
swimming suit, as they are most often
called, but the gayer colors are altogether
tabooed by smart society. For the girl
wao takes to surf swimming the suit Is
built with waist and skirt In one piece,
1oined by the belt, and woven tights
fake the place of the bulky boomers.
The waist part is low In the throat. and
sleeve is merely a cap over the arm.
and the skirt Is of circular cut. setting
closely at the hips and faring prettily at
the knee. All needless bulk Of material
IS eliminated, so that the swimmer does
not have to drag pounds and pounds OF
puperfiuous weight of water with her on
her course.
For luncheon and afternoon wear there
Is delightful latitude allowed. One may
don sheer lingerie blouse-it goes we'll
nigh without saying that this Item must
be hand-made-and smart skirt, this
latter en- traine, of course. Or any of the
bheer lingerie frocks or the newer dounced
models that ate fashioned from flower