Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-14
SPRING WRAPS.
New Styles That are Becoming to
Elderly Women.

What up-to-date wraps in becoming de-
signs elderly women will wear this spring
is difficult problem for those past their
| first youth to decide.
| OF course. if all women were built alike
there would be little difficulty in suggest
ing suitable modes: as it is, each type
| must be planned for separately.
| AS usual the tall, slender figure has it
| all her own way, for there are very few
models now worn that she will not find
becoming. 1 saw one among the advanced
| styles the other day that I thought espe-
cially good for this type. 1t was of heavy
black silk three-quarter length and fit
ted the shoulders smoothly. AT about
| four inches below the collar in the back
| the material began to flare with much the
effect of the Vatican, brought about by a
seam down center back cut on the bias.
| The closing was Slightly double breasted
and braid formed the trimming. This was
set on to suggest yoke in the back.
| The sleeves We're on the baggy order,
but not too much so; they allowed, how
ever. of being gathered into loose cuffs.
This should not be a difficult model to
make at home, if due care is given to the
bias seam. To support a tape or firm
ribbon should be used when stitching.
The empire models, too. are all becom-
ing to this type of women, in fact, the
only designs this class need eschew will
be the short, close-fitting Etons, short
coats generally, and anything too youth
full In the way of style, color or trim
ming.
The stout and short women cannot dis
pose of the wrap question so easily, if they
would be smartly gowned.
To my thinking, the stout. middle-aged
woman OF average height looks her best
| in coats modelled after he Louis periods
with certain NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of
silk velvet or cloth. For instance, wraps
should not be too long, but should end
midway between knees and waist line.
The back should be tight fitting and the
fronts curved under the arms, but straight
| and loose at front edges A waistcoat,
tight fitting, coming from the underarm
seams and of a contrasting fabric. is a
necessity. The collar should be long and
narrow rather than in broad pointed rever
effect and preferably darker than the coat
For this decoration black panne velvet
looks well on black silk and black satin
is smart on colored cloths. The hip pieces
should never be light Some, 1 know
match them with the vest material This
is mistake, attention is then drawn
to the size of the hips, something to be
avoided.
Lace Rufaes.
Black is allowable and so is the same
shade as the suit. The sleeves may be
coat shaped or slightly full and end in
turn back dark cuffs. Tiny ruff1es of lace
peeping out topping the gloves will be all
the relief necessary.
A trim, round. short figure will wear
the trig, close-fitting Elton styles made
with smart-looking vest, but if the hips
are unduly large the short coat coming
just below the line of the hips will be
better, made semi-ftting in the back and
straight as to fronts. Flat or mannish
collars are to be preferred, but in the
matter of sleeves the plain CONVEX tional
model is by no means always the most
becoming.
A certain fullness above the elbow will
often disguise too generous waist line