Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-04-30
From our Fashion Correspondent. /,

ofpeople who allow themselves to be led bv On.
nose more strongly than the recent ea.ard An
relation to the revival of long dresses for stree,
| wear.
women have written to individuals, and 10
the newspapers, protesting and begging, almost
the present convenient style, against the ar
tempt 10 reinstate an old nuisance and epormi-
y, an eid SIN against health and clea nlrne.s.
the power to prevent IL lay in their own hands.
that If they WIN retain short dresses the wearing
them makes them fashionable, in spite OF the
vent it. 80 = - - ~
Fortunately for the nocks OF feminine sheen.
.neir courage VIII not be put TO the test this
time. The Empress EuRenie, coolly disregard
ing hints and announcements, has ORDERED a
dozen summer walking dresses to be made short
ana al least feur OF them are to consist simply
or SKIRT ana redinoote, with a simulated waist
ceat and lace ruffies at the wrist and throat.
style very becoming to her Majesty, and which
sne found very convenient for country excur-
sions three years ago when they were intro
1t would seem as though it mattered very liz.
Tie what the Empress Eugene lwho Is not al
.ss 20 70 wan on the streets wears to the great
ano adapt themselves TO a thousand exigencies
ano demands OF everyday life. But poor hu-
man nature requires leadership, and il Ameri-
can women must tag after an Empress we can
only hope that she will show herself possessed of
more sense than they.
ANoBLR EXAMPLE.
The real truth is that the little cry raised lust
now about the return to extrayagant long dresses
for street wear, hss no justification at all in the
facts, and Is simply intended to create diver
sion from the effort now being made abroad 70
introduce simple and more Defined and Alto
gether more modest and womanly style Of dress.
The young MN. Emile Olhvier, the wife OF
the new prime minister, and lady Of great
beauty, grace, and sweetness, has dared to set
an example Of reform in regard to the regula-
ton style Of low neck for what is absurdly called
"full" dress. Nine. Olivier not only wears high
necked dresses herself i'm the evening, but man
ages to have IL distinctly understood that her
lady visitors will be expected TO do the sa me.
such an Invitation can only be understood by
those who know and have seen the strictness
with which the etiq uette of low necked dresses
Is observed i'm ''sOciety" i'm England and France,
and the universal horror which any departure
from established custom occasions.
1t Is announced that the Emperor Of Russia
the order Of st. Catherine as an evidence Of his
respect and admiration. Hwould mark a new
era in fashion and in the history OF womanhood
II others capable or conferring distinction would
follow this high precedent and reward an effort
so manifestly for the good Of woman and OF
society at large.
an arbitrary custom which prescribes a low
necked dress as indispensable TO fashionable
toilette? Ii there are women who will persist
in leaving the upper parts of their person
exposed, let other women at least he free 10
wear high dresses if they choose.
Low-necked dresses to many women mean
neuralgia, consumption, death; and ALWAYS
mean risk, in the change from the warm, pro-
tective clothing they wear at home Is common
sense of 10 little account among women that
It cannot Obtain hearing in competition with
fashion!
FASHIONS FOR FOUR YEARS
oh that some great social power would arise
among us and assert itself in favor OF modesty
and good sense upon the subject of dress. All
women now are at the mercy of a few costumars
carded and called unfashionabie to-morrow AMI
the changes are 20 rapid and capricious that
new designs cannot be relied upon at least until
garments are made, much less worn out.
Il wish some woman or number of women
would declare a style OF dress recognized a
convenient, comfortable, and sufficiently be-
coming, permanent, with the slight modifica-
tions which individual tastes require, for at
least four years. i wish women could have the
assurance that a style once approved would not
be Immediately displaced; that they wou III order
their dresses, suits and cloaks and other gar
ments with some knowledge and certainty of
what they would have for their money how
long il would be worn, and how far IL would he
adapted to their wants.
At least as much time is spent in remodeling
and making over questionable but not worn
Once we are assured of some degree of perma-
nency TO fashion, women will be at liberty TO oc-
cupy themselves with something else than this
one eternal subject of dress.
THE BONNET QUESTION.
Bonnets hang fire this season and afford fine
illustration Of the perplexing snarl inte which
the whole dress question seems likely to get en-
tangled. War has been declared by the milli-
ners upon small bonnets, but they have no really
tine distinctive large one to take its place. They
have Q dozen put forth by way of experiment
but people look at them, laugh, turn away, and
either buy or go home and make another OF the
small captivating chapeasx which have lately
driven the milliners TO despair.
The 'reactionary" bonnet of leghorn, with
high, marrow crown, broad, high brim. lined
with silk or crepe and startling display of feather
and Hover trimming, looks too much like Joke
TO be accepted in earnest, and the rest are only
nor ugly enough to be distinguished
One thing is noticeable, and that is materials
have pretty nearly dwindled down to straw and
black lace. There are a few hats and bonnet
in terry poplin. silk and Grape; but they are
nearly already made to complete suits by per
sons who can afford variety of head-gears
and do not constitute any important part OF the
general stock Of the miliiner. Most dressmaking
establishments have q frst-rate French drtistS
to MI orders for the bonnets, which occupy
complete tcilettes, and is a much more satisfsc-
tory way Of obtaining hat or bonnet en smte
besides being less expensive.
Dotted tuile, richly trimmed with real lace
and large Princesse rose, or two roses in con-
trasting colors, constitutes Q very elegant bon
net, and is favorite at this season, because It
does not look too light, or can be worn with all
sorts Of dresses. The fayorite design is the
Charlotte Corday" and the SO Louis Four
teenth,p the former with Q somewhat large
cfuseed crown, lace iappet, and rose at the SIDE;
stylish trim. md lace or crepe lappets.
China erepe - an exceptional material, and
enjoys an exclusive sort Of vogue at present,
I 1t 70 not used 50 much in the making, however,
e in the 6iumtng OF bonnets, and Is SO dificult
to bri.Gin shape q not to Be . favorte fabric
In hats for young ladies white straw, trim
med With black lace, wheat and field flowers,