The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-17
Dark Gowns Of Thin Material Indispensable for
Train and Town Wear Soft Little Dinner
Gowns That Will Fold Into Suitcase
Correct Hat, Gloves and Footwear.

over ones arm, or swelter in unbear-
able discomfort while one shops. Some
women can be cool and serene in wool
tailleurs with the mercury at ninety,
and they are the envy and marvel OF
the less fortunate being who perspires
and willis in an airy frock of voile and
who has to fan frantically every in
stant to keep her face from becoming
shiny. The most desirable costume
for travelling into town for the day is
a simply built silk frock. short enough
in the skirt for comfortable walking
without using one hand to hold up the
draperies; and of a color dark enough
to give a semi-formal, town-look to it's
wearer. Such frocks this summer are
made of crepe de chines lansdowne,
charmeuse and messaline silk and the
favorite color is, beyond peradven-
ture, navy blue. Many of the smart
est women wear navy blue silk or
lansdowne costumes on these little
shopping quests now; the hat worn
with such a frock being almost in
variably black, while parasol, neck
frills and long gloves of embroidered
silk give the summery touch.
made-so simply made indeed that
they are really no more than so-called
shirt-waist dresses; were not the term
shirtwaist now banished from the
bright lexicon of fashion. over a mar
row, slightly gored skirt just reveal
ing the top of buttoned walking
boot, is a much bloused bodice, loose
and informal in cut at the shoulders
and with slouchy suggestion about
its baggy lines and over-drooping
shoulder seams. The hloused bodice
is separated from the skirt by a wide,
soft girdle and in the V'd front of the
bodice are frills Of net and a softly
draped fichu of net or sheer embroid-
cry. But so beautifully are these
rather slouchy little silk frocks cut,
and so fashionable is this informal
type of costume just now. that the
tout ensemble is very smart indeed.
Buttoned Boots For Town.
The woman who dresses well leaves
her buckled slippers behind her in the
country and wears into town a very
smart, trim pair of buttoned walking
boots which lend eclat to her silk
frock or tailored suit. The buttoned
boots will also make her feel better
at the days end because of their sup
port of ankle and instep during the
hours of shopping. Patent leather
boots with tops of cloth or suede are
now most fashionable with tailored
suits and trotteur frocks of silk. White
boots though very correct with coun-
try club and yachting costumes, are
not worn on city pavements now by
women who dress in best taste
In the suitcase or bag sent on
ahead by parcels post or express will
be tucked pair of buckled slippers
or buttoned satin oxfords for wear
with the evening gown. and also the
theater bag with its daintier style that
accords with the evening wrap.
Combining Day and Evening Costume,
If it is not practicable to carry
along an extra gown for dinner and
theater wear. some sort of a compro-
mise must be effected with the gown
worn into town of a morning; for no
dainty woman cares to sit through
the evening in exactly the same wear
ables in which she started out at sew
en- or eight of a morning-in mid
summer weather. Marvels may be
wrought, however, with/a few things
carried in a handbag; and first and
! foremost in the furnishing up Of the