Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-26

w YHEN women first wedged
\ their way into politics in
IN this country they often
dressed in as mannish
manner as possible. There
was DR.. Mary Walker in her black
frock coat and trousers. looking for All
the world like nice harmless httle
old gentleman--not 10 mention Ameha
Rlooner, who was instrumental IN m
Producing the prototype OF the present
Say Knicker costume for women. But
really when these first public women
apcd the garh of men, they played
trick into the hands of their adver-
sarieS. Since in giving up the ac-
cepted feminine type Of dress they
seemed to concede that politics and
public affairs were not Gernsne TO
women
But all that has changed end women
who take an active part III politics
dress like women-because as enfran-
chiSed women they have IS much right
TO public life as men have.
The woman who seeks political office
now would no more think II necessary
10 wear mannish shirt and neck
tie to prove her political fitness to man
voters than her brother candidate
would think he had to wear a geor-
settle overbloUSs and = shoulder flower
&c prove his fitness TO represent his
woman constituents.
But-for all thai there Is g right
Nay and a wrong eay to dress for
public life and the woman who ad
dresses public meetings in the cause
Of politics NAV thwart or forward her
plans by the manner in which she
dresses.
At any important political meeting
held in the evening 1t is usually pos
sibie 10 find three types of feminine
costume represented. There are women
IN day clothes, which are usually of
the sports genre. women in more or
less elaborate evening frockS without
hats or with close-f1tting evening
sort Of headdreSs, and women in after
noon gowns with fairly elaborate hats.
1t would be a very simple matter
10 saw that the more elaborate sort
o. afternoon ensemble at such meet
ings was badly chosen-were 1t not
that a number of notably well dressed
women have chosen precisely this sort
Of thing for recent evening meetings,
Mrs. Charles Dana Gibson appeared
some time ago at an evening meeting
n a Powered chiffon with a fairly
large black hat
More and more, however, 1 think
that for evening meetings women who
take part or at least an interest In
public affairs choose to wear fairly con-
sentative but not very conspicuous eve
ming gowns Iridescent. sparkling
trimmings would seem a little out of
place and pearls would be more appro-
pirate as ornaments than diamonds.
For the informal evening meeting
the monotone sports ensemble has
much to recommend 1t. For some rea-
son the sports type Of day costume
looks better in the evening than the
mora tailored type of street dress and
Is. fortunately. more often chosen. But
for actual day wear the tailored cos
tugne-which. of course, now is any,
thing but masculine-has much TO
recommend 1t.
For meetings hat or headdress should,
of course, be small and fairly ncon-
epicuous. When a large hat is worn
Il must be removed out of considera-
ton to those sitting behind 1t, and the
gesture Of DOMINIC and dofing a large
hat is certainly not very graceful. There
are small brirlless, close-fitting hats OF
q SORT that may be left on without lack
OF consideration, since they take up
no more room than the bare head. II
they are taken of they are much easier
70 hold than the more elaborate brirn-
med sort
The afternoon frock of black crepe
satin worn with fox collar and small
black hat was chosen by a prominent
cIrbvoman for a number Of important
Autumn afternoon meetings at which
she is to preside. On cooler days she
viii wear with IT a straight three-quar-
tors black rep coat made with fiat
collar. This but not the fox scarf viii
b. removed for the meetings.
From the wardrobe Of another worn-
an in public life was sketched the SIM
pie evening gown Of black chiffon.
made with the new rather shallow v
neck. A cf7oker Of Jet and pearls and
q brooch of onyx were choS n 10 go
with il.
Copyright. 1927