The Washington herald., 1915-04-11
By MARGARET WADE.

There are several reasons why the
longer the criterion of spring styles for
women of taste and means. In the pres
ent year April proved to be at least
a week too soon for spring suits In
Washington, where spring suits natur-
ally appear much earlier than in New
York the large cities Of the North
and West.
There have been spring hats of many
varieties on the streets for weeks, but
when worn with furs heavy cloth
suits even smart spring hat looses
much of its style. Hence the vogue of
the satin hat which has proved so accept
able as A between-season style.
\ second reason for the passing of
the Easter parade in its od-time glory
is that women who are real leaders in
dress are usually leaders in other lines.
These leaders are following the conti-
mental idea. that simplicity in dress at
church is not only desirable, but abso-
lutely essential to good taste, and indi-
rectly 10 good manners.
Even before the present war plunged
all Europe into mourning black was the
church costume worn by nine out OF
every ten women in France. Austria or
Italy, while even in England. where a
love of color characterizes all costumes
lot women Few great
wear their elaborate gowns for a Sunday
morning church service.
Connecticut avenue was thronged by
promenaders last Sunday. but was more
conspicuous by reason of the interesting
personages meet there between noon and
? o'clock than for any sartorial display
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
and Associate Justice McKenna took a
walk together from Dupont Circle to
Farragut Square and back again. The
British Ambassador and Lady Spring
Rice and their two children walked to
and from the embassy to St Thomas
Lady SprinG-Rice wearing well tailored
but very simple cheviot suit. Nine.
Ekencren, the latter formerly Miss Laura
Jackson were among the worshipers at
st. Johns. who later Joined the process
sion up the avenue. Nine. Ekengren, like
Lady Spr!ng-RiCe, in a conventional dark
cloth suit. Although Congress adjourned
a month ago large contingent of Con-
gressional families are still lingering in
Washington. as shown by the presence
on Connecticut avenue of Mrs. Robert l..
owen, wife of the Senator from Okla
homa, and her stylish young daughter
Mrs. James W. Wadsworth wife of
Senator James W. Wadsworth jr
of New York: Mrs. Frances F. War
rem. wife of the Senator from Wyoming;
senator ana MIS-. swanson. Senator VII
liam Chiffon and his schoolgirl daughter
Senator and Mrs. Borah. and Represen-
tative and Mrs. Henry ID. Flood.
with the Vice President and Mrs
Marshall heading an interesting party
of WaShinEtOnanS at the Panama Pa
cifc Exposition. the California Coast
has an object lesson in dress according
to a national standard. Mrs. Marshall
uSual has adOptpd Paris models
modified to her Individual taste and
executed by the same modiste who has
served her for many years. Mrs. Mar
shalTS new skirts all show plaits
back and front. some in both back and
front. She also shows a preference for
the new hip yoke in both cloth and
silk gowns.
In the matter of color the new blue
called Molly Pitcher. and copied from
the blue tones of a Boucher picture. is
used with a dark blue that is a genu-
inc American product. There is
brown cloth tailored suit severe
lines. hut worn with a blouse of white
embroidered in art greens and dull
reds that is very smart. and extremely
becoming.
Mrs. Franklin X. Lane. in returning
to her old home in San Francisco.
took with her one of the smartest of
dark blue cloth tailored suits. This
material. like the blue cloth in Mrs.
Marshalrs travelling dress, being an
American made fabric.