Eighteenth Century Costume Portrait

The woman who would add to the charm of her sun-room in Winter by keeping up the illusion of Summer, will wear Summer clothes when in it, that is, the same gowns, hats and footwear which she would select for a warm climate. To be exquisite, if you are young or youngish, well and active, you would naturally appear in the sun-room after eleven, in some sheer material of a delicate tint, made walking length, with any graceful Summer hat which is becoming, and either harmonizes with color of gown or is an agreeable contrast to it. By graceful hat we mean a hat suggesting repose, not the close tailored hat of action. One woman we know always uses her last summer's muslin's and wash silks, shoes, slippers and hats in her sunroom during the winter. In her wardrobe there are invariably a lot of sheer muslin's, voiles and wash silks in white, mauve, grays, pinks, or delicate stripes, the outline following the fashion, voluminous, straight or clinging, the bodice tight with trimmings inset or full, beruffled, or kerchief. Her hats are always entirely black or entirely white, in type the variety we know as picturesque made Very light in weight and with no thought of withstanding the elements. The woman, who knows how, can get the effect of a picture hat with very little outlay of money. It is a matter of line when on the head, that look of lightness and general airiness which gives one the feeling that the wearer has just blown in from the lawn! The artist's hand can place a few simple loops of ribbon on a hat, and have success, while a stupid arrangement of costly feathers or flowers may result in failure. The effect of movement got by certain line manipulation, suggesting arrested motion, is of inestimable value, especially when your hat is one with any considerable width of brim. The hat with movement is like a free-hand sketch, a hat without movement like a decalcomania.

If the owner of the sunroom is resting or invalid then away with out-of-door costume, for her a tea-gown and satin slippers are in order, as they would be under similar conditions on her furnished porch.

If the mistress of the sun-room is young and athletic, one who never goes in for frou-frous, but wears linen skirts and blouses when pouring tea for her friends, let her be true to her type in the sun-room, but always emphasizing immaculate daintiness, rather than the ready-for- port note. A sheer blouse and French heels on white pumps will transpose the plain linen skirt into the key of picturesque relaxation, the hallmark of sunrooms. More than any other room in the house, the sunroom is for drifting. One cannot imagine writing a check there, or going over one's monthly accounts.

We assume that the color scheme in the sunroom was dictated by the owner and is therefore sympathetic to her. If this be true, we can go farther and assume that the delicate tones of her porch gowns and tea gowns will harmonize. If her sunroom is done in yellows and orange and greens, nothing will look better than cream-white as a costume. If the walls, woodwork and furniture have been kept very light in tone, relying on the rugs and cushions and dark foliage of plants to give character, then a costume of sheer material in any one of the decided colors in the chintz cushions, will be a welcome contribution to the decoration of the sun-room. Additional effect can be given a costume by the clever choice of color and line in a workbag.