Evening star., 1909-05-08

good finsr until-as the old joke goes
''the patent has expired" The trouble
is that most women In buying patent
leather shoes do not select a size large
enough. This leather is so close in tex
ture that the warmth Of the foot in sum-
mer time often makes a shoe in ones
accustomed size excruciatingly tight A
wider size, not a longer one than the
actual measurement, should be selected.
And when 1t comes to measurement the
wise woman will have her shoes fitted to
both feet. regardless of the size printed
in the lining. Many shoe dealers now
adays. exasperated by the insistence of
women on smaller sizes than will fit their
feet. and the subsequent complaints and
exchanges. have resOrted to the expedient
of marking shoe sizes much smaller than
the actual measurement. So that when
you go home complacently congratulating
yourself that for once you have convinced
a dealer that your size Is No. 31a it Is
more than probable that the shoes were
noted down in his code of private heir
oglyphfcs as fives.
Bronze footwear is at the top notch OF
fashion just now, and the pretty bronze
ties and slippers are worn In the street
as we'll as In the house-something new In
is not for the woman who must econo-
mize. Little three-cornered tags Of the
bronze surface. which is really only a
finish over calf. peel away, and the
slightest bruising of the delicate leather
leaves a blue mark The bronze slippers,
cially with beaded toes and insteps, and
when these dainty slippers are worn with
silk stockings Of the same shade there
could be nothing prettier In footwear.
Makers of shoe dressings are busy get
ting out something that will keep bronze
footwear spick and span, and when this
preparation shall have been perfected the
pretty bronze slippers will be for every
body, and not only for the fortunate few.
Suede and buckskin slippers and ties
come not only in black and white, but
in all the new fabric shades OF the sea-
son; and II one possesses a pair of soiled
white suede slippers they may be sent to
the dyer's along with ones linen and lace
frOck and will come back in the Identical
berry pink or natter blue color of the
costume. A fiat buckle of dull metal or
a little round button will complete very
smart and dainty pair Of street pumps.
Some Of these colored slippers have fill
gree silver or gilt trimmings on the heels.
One pair OF lizard green pumps seen at
Atlantic City, had gold buckles set with
jade and bands of gold flligree on the
high French heels. Tassels and pearl en-
broideries often decorate the high buck
skin boots for dressy wear; those In gray
having cut steel bead embroideries at the
top.
Some pretty new styles in suede and
buckskin slippers are shown. including
Louis heeled effects for street wear and
graceful colonial slippers with high
tongues and perforated strappings.
Stitched bands Of silk braid ornament the
toes OF one pair of suede slippers, these
slippers being in pale tea green color.
with the strappings in self-tone. White
buckskin eyelet ties with moderate Span
tsh heels for street wear have broad white
ribbon bows. These buckskin ties and
pumps are considered smarter now than
the white canvas footwear of a season
ago.