The New York herald., 1921-03-06
ny ANNE RITTENHOUsE.


American women the chief
dress consideration with the
approach of spring and summer relates
TO outdoor, daytime apparel. And a
very large number OF this majority are
women who, in point of view of style
as well as the amount of money they
expend on their clothes, are an i'm
portant factor in the manifestation Of
the American mode.
A woman typical of this class whose
interest centres chiefly in daytime out
door clothes is the young married
woman who spends the summer months
at her own cottage at seaside lake or
mountain resort. 1t is par. of her de-
liberate scheme Of things TO simplify
the clothes proposition as much as
possible. Though she may have ser
wants enough to relieve her of house.
hold anxieties and though she may en-
tertain rather extensively, she dresses
but twice a day.
A gingham or other simple wash
frock or separate skirt with sport
blouse is probably her first choice In
any event it Is something that may be
worn outdoors. And when she dresses
in a more elaborate outdoor costume
for afternoon she has no intention of
dressing again for dinner or the eve
ming.
Late hours are not part OF her summer
programme. and she and the other young
married women she knows arc quite
foYat IN AZ l1-y a.
others cottages, to exchange calls or TO
dance in smart and becoming afternoon
frocks, that prove quite MS appropriate
for outdoor as for evening wear.
There are so many, many American
women who though they wear evening
clothes steadfastly throughout the days
OF courtship and engagement, rather give
up the habit after marriage, finding two
OF three real evening dresses sufficient
for the very formal events of whole
year. II is not necessarily matter Of
economy. nor always Of Indifference
More often it Is that they have chosen
the life companionship OF man who is
TOO absorbed In business to care to keep
UP the formality OF dressing for dinner
Outdoor Frocks Most Important.
More and more the ideal OF warm
much as possible, and as we realize that
ideal the indoor frock dwindles into in
Significance. We devote more time to
tho planning OF the verandas and gar
dsns Of our summer homes than we do
TO the interiors and even the women
who spends tho warm months in the
city tries TO make a garden spot in the
od-time back yard where she can spend
her hours OF leisure. Hotel managers
know that the way to attract for the
summer lunch and tea hour Is to cam
outage court into the semblance Of a
Japanese garden, an orchard or an
arbor.
One would be Justified in spending
more proportionately in money and
thought for spring and summer outdoor
clothes than for those of winter because
so many moro hours a day are spent
outdoors In the warm months. How
cver. most women do in fact just the
opposite. The high cost of furs makes
winter wraps a very expensive propo-
sitiou.
Moreover. an appropriate frock or suit
for outdoor wear In winter can seldom
be a simple little affair that the careful
home dressmaker can put together salts
factorily. whereas there is nothing In
many of the outdoor frocks and wraps of
home by the very clever needlewoman.
The knitted silk, woollen or ribbon
awcater is still IN good repute, though
not so eminent as In other seasons. and
this Is something that a great many
women can make for themselves.
There are gay silk blouses that may
nc worn in combination with separate
skirts that need no outside wrap for
wear In the country or at the seashore
on warm days. and though these are
made OF expensive materials they do not
present insurmountable obstacles for the
woman who has clever dressnaker by
the day.
Undoubtedly the vogue Tor little loose
coats made Of separate material from
the skirt with which they are to be Worn
viii be q snare to lure many an ann
nitious amateur. However, simple as
these SEEM they arc really difficult to
achieve. Sometimes they are made Of
crepe. sometimes OF satin and even of
nohair. usually In bright colors, though
sometimes effectively made in black or
navy blue. Usually they are worn with
skirts OF contrasting color.
Convenience Essential.
our attitude toward the great out
doors In spring and summer has much
TO do in directing and modifying the
trend of present-day fashions. We do
not look upon the region that lies with
out four walls as did a woman Of fash
ion Of the last century--just Disagree
able region that had to be passed
through in getting from one place TO
another.
The enormous vardingale OF Queen
Elizabeths time or the trailing robes OF
the middle ages could not have come
into favor IN a time when women spent
their waking hours in warm weather
more largely outdoors than in. Such
fashions would be as Incompatible with
the motor car as with walking.
Bear in mind, too. that the summer
rlcthes of the woman OF fashion now-s-
lays must he 70 simple ia arrangement
That they may be put ON and off ia :,