Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-11-01
THE WORLD OF FASHION
Fashions. AZ the Theatres Costumes n
Ia mOsoe-TOilets for Street, Walk
ing. Visiting and Eveniny Wear
Fashions In FurA. etc.
PROM oar Fashion Correspondent

fash1Ons In fufe- etc.
ltfom osr Fashion Correspondent
NEW YORK, November l, 1870.
DRESSING FOR THEATRES AND CONCERTS,
Considering that 1t rs yet early in the season,
and that the ''erem dc Ia erem" have hardly vet
returnGd from their summer sojourns and sum-
mer palaces, the interior of our places Of amuse-
ments presents very brilliant and satisfactory
appearance. OF course hats, or bonnee are
universal. and there is an entire absence of the
home evening dress style, which renders a
fashionable opera audience so different and 30
mqch more attractive in appearance than any
other. But II is not since the days of the old
Academy Of Music that we have seen a genuine
opera audience, and the interior OF wsllacks.
or any tirst-c,ass theatre, will now compare very
well with the interior Of the Academy on opera
night. Among the prettiest dresses, are cos
tunes for young ladies, made OF pink or blue
tafetas, trimmed profusely with soft thick
ruches of the same material, feathered out, and
of black and white lace put on full. With these
costumes are worn pearls as ornaments ana
high hats of cream colored felt, trimmed with
pink or blue velvet, and mounted with q very
long pink or blue ostrich plume.
A very stylish dress for young lady ia Of
black silk, made short and hoaneed; 10 ,se
paletot OF white persian cloth, piped or en-.
broidered with black, and Grown Imperial
hat OF black velvet OrnaDented with black lace,
jet dagger, and plume Of white ostrich
feathers, which stand up in front, and curl Gves
the crown.
At a concert given by Miss Kellogg, Nilsson
was present, and wore a blue velvet costume,
which was unbecoDing to her, and produceda
bad effect in the evening because IT has too
blue or green dress to be worn In the evening,
TO try it by gaslight; an the great dry goods
houses have small, darkened rooms, lighted by
Who wish to Try tie efiectof sasHeht, on certain
sha AIDES and Fabrics, and where this convenience
does not exist, 1t is better to wait and test
Atnrvx ne IL nal noc ,SN
plete result. Turqodi blue looks exactly the
same in the evening rs in the daytime; SO does
the brighter "Mexcon Blue" but 1t is the
lighter shades, turquoises and China blues
which are now most fashionable, and certainly
the best adapted for evening wear.
GRAPE AND CASHMERE COSTUMES.
great effort has been made to bring China
craze into the vogue here that il achieved
abroad, but without success. Some very grace
fnl TUNES and pretty indoor dresses have been
made Of Ii, but the usual complaint is that 1t is
not sufficiently effective for the cost 1t draws,
moreover, under the hand; can only be worn
when the stars are fayorable-that is to say,
when there is nothing to do and no children
about-and, In short, is discovered to be. as q
standard material, impracticable. Cashmere,
on the contrary, Is coming to the surface uLder
the best auspices. Fine Black and white CASH
mantles, oyerskirts and dresses, highly valued.
The costume Of the season, par excellence, is of
me black cashmere, trimmed with broad black
velvet and wide black guipure lace. 1t consists
OF long, full overskirt, topped up IN two or
three places, and jacket, with basgues, loose
in front, but fitted in at the back; wide sleeves.
poplin, il worn under these costumes" to
which is attached clOse-fitting waist OF twilled
cotton, and coat-sleeves Of tho same material n
the skirt. or plain dress, with waist and
sleeves Of The same material, can be used if pre-
folrcd. In fact, these new costumes afford an
excellent opportunity for wearing out old skirts
an cs% essy he the shape ~ S Of
lower part Of the skirt il il needs renovation
and this is the only part visible.
MATERIALS MAY DIPFER-THE COSTUME RE-
MAINS THE SANE.
lhe cashmere costume took its idea from the
shawl costume, of which it is a giorited exam
pie. The design OF the shawl costume has in
de ed served a. the basis for costumes i'm velvet,
cloth, cashmere and all other fabrics used for
the street. The material may be costly, the
trimming of the most elaborate description
the design lie always the same 1t struck vein
which IL seems likely will be worked during the
pr sent season in the exhaustive style which dis
country, and is the secret OF the American
desire for the Z" something new" which il
constantly demanded. The shawl costume
out Of the long plaid or mixed sbaw sHe
which everybody possessed, aud no one
knew what TO do with, in these days when
became " common" Nevertheless, it had a
certain picturesque grace and style which ladies
generally liked, and they seized the idea Of
transferring these qualities to more elegant ma
folds OF cashmere, the distinctive beauty OF vel
vet and lace, aud the sober dignity of cloth
have thrown the simple homeliness of grey
mixed and Scotch wOOllen shawls quite i'm the
shade. They are still very convenient, very
warm, very comfortable and very cheap, and
advise those who cannot afford to pay S75 for
and price at the best houses to pay ten or
fifteen dollars for a Scotch shawl costume, and
he not only cOntented but thankful.
WHO SETS THE FASHIONS?
A "A m q ut ma nft ha
great houses some very striking and elaborate
COSTUMES were exhibited, which were adopted
only for purposes of display or Tor wear upon
the stage. rWhat is the use of such dresses
asked an rnsophistocated guest" NO lady
would wear them" ''No, madam - replied the
attendant, ga lady probably would not; but
there are plenty OF women vino would" and in
deed the very dress that occasioned this remark
WAS purchased for one of these women by a
marrled man, before the day over. Ii is
becoming the habit TO describe such toilettes,
and quote such persons as models OF Ugh fashion.
This is not only untrue ia fact, but It is wrong
IN principle, end derOgatory 10 the entire sex.
agance, and pitiful mOckery OF happiness, af-
fords neither criterion example for the masses
OF American women aud should only excite
compassion for those who needed no better
sources OF enjoyment. 1t il true that such per-
sons are very often used for the purpose of in
PRODUCING or displaying a new style or fashion,
no weil-bred or we'll conducted woman
being willing to appear in a costume SO
novel a. to excite universal remark;
hut this done, their mission is ended. The
cfanpa. " II ia a desirable one, and strikes the
popular taste, is effected quietly, and the world
goes on as before. But the statement a. q fact
that ladies composing the best society follow the
merelyextravagantf fashions sef by some dissolute
woman, 10 certainly not true; on the contrary, il
would be Sufficient for them to know the source
and destination OF such inventions to carefully
avoid them. 1t Is undoubtedly becoming more
tho determination OF high class women TO take
refuge In Q distinguished simplicity, which,
probably, IL will be the humor Of the fallen
women OF the better class, sooner or later, to
copy; but that Wohld be simply q matter for
them to decide. Neither truth or propriety
would be outraged, a. they are void BY the A.
eertion that the leaders in good New York soci-
ETY. follow the vagsries and extravsgsnces of the
women Of the town.
U.s.. BRIDAL TROUeSHAux.
The European war has upset many plans and
calculations, among them those Of two pros.
pective brides, who had intended having their
frossseaar sent direct from Paris. or course
they can be made here, bat the cost for the
came quality of nne embroidery and hand
stitching would be three times - much, and 4
would be difficult to get It done at ali. Fine
hand pc wing briDgs much higher price than
machine sewing, while hand mbroidery, II done
In this country, can only be obtained at epor
nous rates; but abroad labor 10 still 60 cheap,
especially that done by women. that the tedious