The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-11-10
MRS VIM. \. TAFT
HAS PLAIN taste
IN DRESS
WIFE OF PREsiDENT-ELEcT Al
WAYS WELL GoWNED AND OF
TEN HANDSOMELY, NEVER
LAvIsHLY-CAREFUL SHOPPER

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-In the
matter of clothes the next mistress or
the White House Is woman OF the
plain type. While Mrs. Taft Is al
ways well and usually handsomely
gowned her clothes are never the
first thing which attracts the atten-
ton of the stranger. Her taste runs
to the plain cloth and rich silks. She
is emphatically not the tailor-made
sllk-lined woman. Her favorite colors
for the street are brown and gray and
for evening wear pink, almost invar-
iably.
She has never appeared In an i'm
ported gown. She has had a number
OF evening gowns made of the fascin-
ating, filmy Philippine fabrics. which
she brought back TO the states with
her after her long residence In Man
lila. And yet she brought only what
she might have actual need OF In the
near future. According to her thrifty
nature, she purchases only what she
can see use for. Mrs. Taft has new
er been wealthy. Her money is al
ways spent 1udiciously.
Mrs. Taft patronizes always the con-
servative establishments. Good value
for the money Is what she looks for
first in shopping. She rarely goes into
the cheap stores. except for unimpor-
tant articles, which careful women
know how to buy. During her resi-
dence In Washington she has done her
purchasing mainly In the shops along
+ street. When in Cincinnati. she
buys there. She has been known to
patronize the tailor In Baltimore who
sometimes makes gowns for Mrs.
Roosevelt and Mrs. Metcalf. and she
also patronizes the Sisters Of st. Rose
Industrial School in Washington who
are famous for their handmade
French underwear.
Hats Not Always Becoming.
II Is In her hats that Mrs Taft Is
somewhat lacking as she often gets
unbecoming ones. She has not APP
peared In Washington In large hats,
ever; they run in fashion to the Eng
lish or walking styles. OF gloves she
wears a six and a quarter. Mrs. Taft
has one failing In wearing her clothes.
Her skirts frequently do not set"
well.
Mrs. Taft and her daughter are
both careful buyers. In doing Christ
mas shopping. they rarely are guilty
Of purchasing uaeless TRIES. They
60 about months befcee the holiday
week, and by the time other Christ
mas shoppers are beginning to think
Of buying, their gifts are bought and
carefully put away, carefully labeled,
awaiting the suspicious day. In this
respect Mrs. Taft is much like Mrs
Roosevelt, only that Mrs. Roosevelt
does much of Aer gift shopping In the
jewelry shops, while Mrs. Taft is more
apt to look In the department or no.
ton stores.
While both Mrs Roosevelt and Mrs.
Taft frequently visit the shopping dis
tricts, one must know them personal
ly to recognize them. SO unostenta-
tiously do they do about. Instead OF
dashing up to shop in carriage.
they walk briskly along the street
accompanied usually by some favored
friend, always choosing the morning
hours, when the crowd is not SO large.
Knows Just What She Wants.
AS buyers, Mrs. Roosevelt and Mrs.
Taft are unlike. for the latter always
knows exactly what she wants and
can see at glance how nearly an ar
ticle can answer her purpose. She
needs no advice, except occasionally
that of her daughter. Mrs. Roosevelt
rather prefers to consult some one
else's taste and Judgment.
The Taft household Is dominated by
the mistress Of 1t, except when the
master Of 1t Is In II. AS a matter Of
fact, he does not dominate it then,
but only thinks he does. 1t Is only
the clever woman who can create
that delusion. Mrs. Taft does her
own marketing. She has never had a
social secretary nor a housekeeper,
nor has she done her household buy
ergencY.