The simplicity over a* considerable period of skirts in general is beginning to show a marked reaction. Whether in coats and skirts or in ball dresses, the skirt, from having been all that was short and straight and exiguous, is now aiming at variety in all directions. Perhaps the only feature which all the new skirts are retaining is shortness. Generally speaking there is a distinct difference between the day and the evening skirt—that is to say, there are two marked sets of varieties. The day skirt in all the new French models stil] retains an appearance of simplicity, which' is often an appearance only. The evening skirt cannot be too complicated, even while the straight simple skirt can still be worn. The waist-line of the day skirt has moved down somewhat, and the effect both of the rather high and the rather low waist at once is given by means of belts and sashes. Very much stress is laid upon these belts, especially in proportion as the short skirt is full. No embroidery can be too elaborate for them, no colour too bright or too much varied.
Where gathering is concerned, tricotines and twills are mostly used. in tailored skirts, since they hang naturally in straight and even folds. Even in the plain straight tailored skirts the sash is ubiquitous, and where the extremes vf too much grace and too much formality are avoided it is a very, pleasing addition. Now and again. the sash is made of the material, and in this case is generally edged with silk fringe or with tassels. In a navy blue twill a red sash and waistcoat, rather stiffly cut and dis-erectly embroidered in blue and silver, make a very charming colour scheme. Tan suits with touches ut brown on the sash and coat or waistcoat have a warm, cosy look and should be worn by fair people' quite as well as by dark.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.