Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-11

What kind of street suit are you get
ting? It is an important purchase, this,
and to It should go more money, thought
and time than to any other part OF the
wardrobe.
It is a quaint quirk on the part of the
average woman, and the extraordinary
one, too, to give frantic hours of ones
year to choosing the gown for an occa-
sion and pass hurriedly over the choice
of a coat and skirt that is to do constant
duty.
Yet in the former one is rarely seen
and in the latter one makes lasting
impression for good or bad upon large
public.
Women will go about for hundred
days In the year in an i'll fitting. unbe-
coming or shabby street suit, either ig-
norantly or knowingly, and then spend
. per cent of the years dress allow
ance on gown for a wedding. the
theater or a dance. Some women will
even continue to wear a coat and skirt
into March that should have been dis
carded in October in order to save the
dollars to put into Paris evening gown
for two dances. What an unwise divi-
sion of ones pennies and what a poor
philosophy in clothes!
In a crowded ballroom or at the play
or a crush at a wedding breakfast all
looks her prettiest. for details are lost
in the crowd. The woman of average
means without conspicuous social posi-
| manage her evening gowns at home or
with a simple dressmaker and gain her
end Of looking attractive with the aid of
lovely color, coi9rs = and nd soft fabrics such
are not marvels of fit, and no one style
is the law: whereas the street suit must
be admirably made and fitted. And here
Is where woman should put her money.
The Suit of Today.
| 1t is good move on the part Of the
| shops to bring out the various weaves of
Chinese silk, for they are admirably
| suited to our climate, and at this special
moment their shades of yellow find
favor because Of the enthusiasm In the
| world of designers for all tones Of this
sunlight color.
coat and skirt OF pongee. rajah or
shantung is not only cool but fashion
able. The latter weave Is the least de-
| sirable. for 1t wrinkles and does not
have enough character to allow 1t the
proper hang. The two others have silk
| in the weave, and the luster given by
| It is not only an Improvement in its
appearance when made into a garment,
but the fabric hangs In good lines and
| remains in position instead Of sagging
lamentably as pongee does.
The Chinese of class were q different
kind of weave from what we import
and suits of it are envied on those trav-
elers who have had their clothes made
in the far east for the price Of eggs
and butter.
Women who are afraid of wearing
| any of the so-called pongee tones can
easily settle the doubt by adding Chi
nese blue, brick red or black as collar
and cuffs. The fashion for waistcoats
also helps in the color scheme.
Take, for example, suit OF shan
| tung which is rough with luster, having
skirt pleated from hip yoke that is
cut on the bias from front to back to
follow the cutaway lines Of the coat.
Between the yoke and pleating there Is
| a cable cord Of fabric,
| The coat is moderately short. Is cut
away to a rounded point at back. has
its seams outlined with cable cord and
makes no pretense of meeting in front
The space is filled In with a waistcoat
gay enough for any of the Corinthians
Of Brummeps time.
| It Is OF cream crash embroidered with
vivid flowers in red. violet, yellow and
blue. and is fastened with nat gilt but
tons; 1t does not ~rug& higher than the