The Washington herald., 1915-05-09
BY MARGARET WADE.

Not only Washington women OF ac-
knowledged taste and leadership but
their contemporaries of other cities
now visiting the Capital in unusual
numbers, are showing well-selected
wardrobes in which sports suits OF
every variety are taking a prominent
place. While society now claims all
seasons, and there is no month of the
year that formal attire can with I'M
punity be laid aside, the spring season
is essentially a time for strict atten-
ton to outdoor costumes.
Outdoor costumes for the we'll
dressed maid or matron of any local
ty may now embrace every material
from corduroy to tulle, the first being
suited to a horse show or n club tour
nament, as the last is to the formal
garden party or midday wedding
breakfast.
Mrs. French Vanderbilt. recent
visitor at the home of Mrs. Robert
Patterson. where the latter's daugh-
ter, the Countess GiZycka. has arrived
for the spring season, wore a walking
suit that shows the skirt and jacket
of different material in its newest and
hest form. This combination, which
many women will adopt as a matter
of ecopomy, in the case of the New
York visitor. is worn entirely a
matter of taste. The material is the
new Bangkok suiting, with the skirt
in plaid and the jacket plain material.
The jacket is short and loose from the
shoulders, with the bell sleeve COM
ing half way between wrist and ell
bow. The skirt is plain and not cir
Cular in shape. 1t is an old reliable
three piece skirt. but made by such
master of plaids and stripes that no
casual, even though interested, OBJ
server could tell where its seams were
placed how many there were of
them. The skirt is six inches off the
ground. The color of the jacket is
dark blue. with a suggestion of pur-
plea blue thus far seen only in
Bangkok weaves and some few silks
All, of course. direct importatio from
France The predominating hue of
the skirt also is this dark blue. with
harmonious blendings of at least five
of the seven primary colors.
Mrs. Eanderblts hat was a very
modest Milan, trimmed in gourra. in
a broad -brimmed, severe shape. An
other note of simplicity and elegance
was that she wore plain black shoes
with little silver buckles.
Mrs. Henry May and Mrs. Horace
Westcott are among the Washington
fashionahes ALREADY wearing the plaid
skirt and plain jacket. in much the same
model as Mrs. NanderbiltS greatly ad-
mired suit. The jacket suit IN taffeta is
an established ashton for Washington
women who propose remaining in town
through the present month. Mrs. AL
bert 2. BurleSon. wife of the Postmaster
General. is wearing a black taffeta with
modish skirt showing the new silhouette
from belt to ankle. with one of the
smart little loose short coats. A black
hat with round crown and oblong brim.
dropping slightly front and back, and
trimmed in black velvet strcamers. and
a cluster of small garden flowers. gives
a Charmngly quaint finish to Mrs Bur
leson's toilet.
The Misses Patten also SPONSOR
ing the taffeta coat suit in all black
Miss Patten. whose coat has one of
the sharp-pointed hacks. wears an all
black hat, a sailor shane with its crown
encircled in Gourra. with the desired
touch of color supplied by a vivid red
parasol. Miss Helen Patten, with her
black taffeta suit. when mas a particII-
larly smart jacket evolved from the
OF hemp encircled in wreath of real
summer blossoms, of dull pinks, white
and greens.
Mrs. John Hays Hammond. who has
been passing several DAYS at the New
Willard, has an afternoon gown of faille
in the latest tone of green that has
half dozen different names according
to the importer who sells the gown. To
the average American eye. with an an
probation of the spring Colorinp in our
own parks and fields. the color Of Mrs.
Hammond's frock appeared to be cop