Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-07

The skirt was exceedingly tight, and if
any petticoats were worn they were made
of clinging crepe de chine or some other
thin material of the same genre. The real
solution of the mystery probably is that
the cloth skirt was lined with a very soft
silk and that il was Worn directly over
silk maillots. l may be wrong in this
conjecture, but such was the impression
given.
The skirt was without trimming. after
the manner of so many of the newest
tailor-made gowns, but in style and cut 1t
was so original that it attracted as much
attention as. the most deliberately trim
med costume. This dress, as well as sew
eral others of the same order worn that
afternoon. showed the new arrangement
of the material at the hem of the skirt.
There is plenty of goods in these new
skirts. especially at the hem, but there is
no suspicion of flare. A few months
ago. one might almost say few weeks.
it was the fashion to make the gored
skirts extremely tight over the hips. but
to give the umbrella effect at the bottom.
Now the outline is changed The skirts
hang in straight and graceful lines at the
bottom, the soft material falling together
in becoming manner. This peculiar out
line is still in its infancy. but it will be a
leading feature of the spring costumes.
Feminine Fashions Contradictory.
Feminine fashions just now are in direct
opposition to feminine character of the
most up-to date type. Everything is soft.
clinging. dropping. skirt that conveyed
a hint that it could stand alone would be
ashamed of itself. Yet the modern wom-
an-there are exceptions, happiy-claims
TO stand alone, and she wants to assist in
keeping the world in general upright as
we'll That her dress is at variance with
her opinions is but another proof of the
delightful inconsistency of woman. AS
have just told you, the new skirts are
very limp and depressed in appearance
and are deprived of the comforta BILE sup
port of a good silk fiounced petticoat. A
rustling silk is a year behind the times.
but many women who refuse to be Shorn
of one of the most fascinating details of
the toilet find that a soft supple silk pet
ticOat in nowise detracts from the hang of
the soft skirt. 1T Is the outline imnie-
diately above and below the waist that
nothing must be allowed to interfere with
These clinging skirts. which are really
very alluring. will certainly follow us
into the future of spring and summer
fashions, but they will be devoid Oh any
eNaggcration ard beautifully adapted to
the more flimsy materials. 1t is on the
cards, toe. that the raised waist line will
become less apparent. principally because
it is not so suitable for summer frocks
with their frills. laces and fluffy outlines.
But one lilIIiS IL Sutt-SiIld LILLY tiC syn
sible traits of advanced femininty reveal
themselves-mere fashion is being more
and more subordinated to convenience.
The woman who dresses well dresses to
please herself. and the result is greater
personality and a greater inclination to
suit ones dress to ones mode of life.
Greek Himation in Modern Form.
The tunic effects are too extreme for the
majority of us to adopt, so the simulated
peplum is used a substitute. Indeed.
the idea of the double skirt is merely
modern version of the Greek underdress
and overdress himation. 1t is inter-
esting to remember that the himation in
the classic period of Greek history was