The Washington herald., 1914-03-28
Try the Use of
Crepe de Chine
Instead of Silk

| for the satin and silk weaves in summer
will take up figured crepe de chine and
cotton crepe. The latter was invented by
Rodier and 1t is said to be an improve
ment over the cotton crepe which tried
our patience because IL usually shranh
into nothing. One could buy a gown OF
this material and find II a big handker-
chief after washing.
This new weave is quite soft and IL does
not need starch. and they say It should
not be ironed, but in its present condition
II does not look rough dry as did the cot.
ton crepe of three years ago.
There is much talk about the use OF
blouses of figured and fiowered materials
instead of white ones with coat suits. II
is not an artistic idea and should not be
largely indulged.
Here and there the blouse of ecru crepe
with colOred geometrical figures goes we'll
with linen coat suit, but the occasion
for wearing this is rare and the artistic
taste Of the wearer must be well estab-
lished.
More tolerance may be given to the idea
OF using figured chiffon cloth blouses.
The fabric is infinitely better than that of
crepe and the coloTinG is less vivid. Soft
autumn tints are used. especially those
of dead green and russet brown. These
blouses are lined with a brassiere of lace
that does not extend over the shoulders.
There is no demand to match these COL
ors in the blouses to the color of the suit,
but all the precepts of taste suggest that
the tones harmonic. The effort to bring
about brilliant blouses of satin or chiffon
with suits OF a markedly different solor,
has not succeeded in the hands OF those
not versed in color lore Because of its
ftah ftu - -. ou
blouse OF fine materials is the best to
choose for spring and summer street
suits.
white Blouses that Arc Worn.
We have gone a long way from the or
nate wash waist which was worn in the
days when women spent their leisure time
IN loading II down with lace and embroid-
cry, with hemstitching and featherstitch-
ing.
America liked this blouse before all 9TH
ers for two decades, but the influence
of the plain blouse became stronger each
year until II now dominates. France has
maintained this kind Of waist since the
first day she adopted the American gar
ments. With her thousands of expert
enced needle workers she naturally did
the better thing in muslin and lace.
The handling of lingerie is a fine art in
that land and mistakes of taste are not
made even when the blouse sells for S
francs. Soft materials are used Glazed
and starched linen is taboo. All cheap
lace is eliminated and machine embroid-
cry is avoided. With these essentials II
Is not difficult to keep from the snares
laid for the woman who buys cheap CUR
ments.
All these essentials must be avoided to-
day in America by the woman who wishes
to be well dressed. The cheap white wash
waist is no longer tolerated when 1t looks
cheap. Even women with slim purses
have learned that three yards of fine
muslin can be shaped into a good waist
at home. and with the introduction of
some beading and half dozen good but
tons the task results In something far
better than the 9S-cent blouses sold at the
of the stores, each of which has
been turned out by a machine mold.
The fashion in white blouses clings to
the shoulder yoke, a few gathers below
1t, long sleeves set into free and easy
arm holes. loose turned over cuffs or tight
plain cuffs. and a white collar low in
front and high in the back.
The loose elbow sleeve is entirely out of
fashion for this kind of blouse