Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-25
BY ANNE RITTENHoUsE.

ut has been such a perplexing, even
though successful. season in
Ill clothes that it is difficult to
prophesy what will happen in the
spring, and equally difficult TO sum-
marize what has happened in the last
month.
Heretofore there has been a rather
well carried out schedule in the
manipulation of new fashions, but this
year conflicting reasons have brought
out a change in the conventional way
of doing things.
There has been nothing to cry over
in this change of schedule. Every one
seems to have profited by the fact that
new fashions were shown practically
every two months instead of every six
months. Paris made money out of it,
America made money out of it. the
women who had money to spend spent
it. and those who were on limited in
comes merely withheld their purchases.
In withholding, they did not suffer IN
their appearance. 1t was amusing and
interesting to buy new clothes every
six or eight weeks. but it was not
necessary.
The woman who had acumen took up
a modified medieval gown last fall
the best thing that she could purchase
in the market, gambling on the chance
that it would stand the stress of time.
Her choice has proved her capable of
exercising good judgment OF course.
certain types of medieval gowns went
under through too much popularity,
but the modified type has held its own
since October.
There are many gowns bought well
over year ago that are being stead
fly worn today. because they have the
necessary silhouette. They hang in slim
lines from shoulder TO ankles, with
belts that are not confirming. but mere
1y ornamental They are made of serge,
gabardine or satin and touched up with
bit of embroidery. They are not dis
tinguished by any one of the dozen new
touches that have sprung into fashion
through the pressure of circumstance
and the originality of the designers;
but the fact that these touches are alb
sent does not bar the gowns from
usage in fashionable places.
1t is quite true that certain women
have the Unborn knack of wearing a
gown or suit for three seasons without
appearing to be out of fashion: they
are the women who know how to pose
hats. collars and belts; they know how
TO put gown forward in its best way
and make it appear exactly suitable to
their personality.
This is a gift. No woman can achieve
1t by taking thought. She can come
somewhere near excellence by studious-
1y watching the habits of other women
In this trick and by cultivating the
mind along the line which leads to sue
cess.
The first thing she will notice is that
these women pay seemingly exag-
gerated attention to trifes. The next
thing is that these women are never ,
inopportunely dressed. Whatever the !
costume, it is correct in its assembling
from head to foot and in its relation to |
Its setting.
Such women do not wear high-heeled
broad-buckled patent leather slippers
on the street at II o'clock in the morn
terial or topcoat of velour. They do
not wear kid pumps with dull buckles
in the late afternoon or evening with
thin frocks. They do not wear broad |,
brimmed satin hats with sport suits
and they do not wear sport suits when
shopping, lunching or visiting.
When woman has learned all the
tricks of suitable dressing she has gone
far along the road toward perfect dress
ing. She must be made to undefsfand t
that it is far better to wear a gown
right setting, with the proper acces-
In the newest fashion, but which does
not belong to the time place.
The woman who is versed in this kind