Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-02
THE WORLD OF FASHION.
STYLES FOR DECEMBER.
winter: its Gafeties and Festivities
The Gift Seasonal Brand Reception.
and Floral neutrality-suspicious. ana
Furs. Etc.


Just as well have been designed for spring
au .umn, or even summer. In fact they come to
us after being used up in the later seasons
abroad, and were simply " adapted By being
put into thicker fabrics than the original gar
ments.
We are not much better off this season. so far
as imported designs are concerned. We have
still the short Jackets, the small, slashcd pale
tots. made heavy without warmth. by thick
orrc mental embroidery, and, in addition, the
Vyionaise Which has been made to serve every
poss BILE in and out door use since It was invented.
There is a comfort this season, however, which
we have not always had. in an appearance at
least o. warmth.
WOODEN fabrics, warmer colors, and the many
various uses to which fur is put, render the gen
eral aspect of ladies dressed Tor winter prone
made more appropriate, and therefore more be-
coming and attractive; TOR nothing kills beauty
more cffectually than cold and sense Oh ll5co!n-
fort.
THE OPERA SEASON
has 30 far been more successful than any we
have had for the past ten years. 1t has revived
the old traditions of the " full dress" nights at
the Academy, when ladies wore invariable
trains, and stOmachers, and gentlemen did not
venture into the presence OF ladies without
white kids, pumps, and dress coat
The spectacle on a "dress' night Is best seen
from the boxes forming the upper tier. And IL
is really worth while TO endure the heat and
close, stuffy atmosphere occasionally, for the
sake OF seeing the gorgeous display around and
below. There is no powdered hair; much less
false hair is worn than last season, and few elab-
crate head-dresses are to be seen; bat the tot
lcttes often magnificent, and, in fact, must
be, to be distinguished in a crowd where all are
wei, and most more or less elegantly dressed.
Among the number that attracted attention re-
Gently were a mother and daughter. the mother
still young and handsome.
The elder lady wore rich white satin opera
cloak, embroidered in colOrs, and bordered with
dress white silk fringe, which she threw aside
as she entered her box. The dress was OF black
Lyons velvet, cut low, ald square, with long
coat sleeves, and train. Her ornaments were
a square, deep collar, and cuffs of old point
lace-the collar outlining the low neck of the
dress, and having ruffie above and plain dress
lace beiow-a diamond cross and necklace, and
diamond carr ngs. No bracelets.
The daughter, fair-haired blonde, wore a
dress of pale blush pink covered with fchu,
and long Overskirt of fine French muslin and
exquisite yalencenneslace. It was iooped with
black velvet and pale roses, aud a knot OF the
same formed decoration for the cOrsage. Her
ornaments were pearls; her round arms were
partly covered By long white kid gloves, and
of lcng-stemmed English roses.
In box near was a lady dressed in Nile green
slid, ornanented with soft ruches and white
Honiton lace. white embroidered cashmere
cloak, linen with silk and trimmed with che
nile fringe was tossed aside, and in her hair
shone diamond spray which must have cost
A white satin finished gros grain, profusely
trimmed with black thread lace over white, was
worn by brilliant brunette, who displayed
I'll
with gold monogram, and scarlet opeia
cloak embroidered with white silk. Her ma
ments were unique. They consisted OF coral,
mounted as sprays, and at the tip of every leaf
and in the heart of every flower diamond
nestled like a drop of dew.
GORGEOUS RECEPTION.
One of the first and finest that have taken
place this season was given the other day at one
of those great stone mansions up town, whose
rooms OF vast dimensions seem made expressly
TO receive five hundred friends, but ave not the
Ions y,tfint of nR-lif "a a hnnt
them. Crimson carpcting; cream-tfnted walls,
frescoed in bands OF crimson and gold; some
lovely pictures and sta.uaLy, AMI magnificent
side of the drawing-roOm, and displaying its
wealth of tropical fruits and fiOwers-these were
all the floating mass OF guests made visible nov
city i'll the arrangement consisted of small tables
arranged with seats in the conservatory at which
refreshments were served-cakes, creams, ices,
crystallized fruits, choice grapes, wine and iced
punch; and over the whole unseen music which
inspired but did not interrupt conversation. The
atmosphere was that OF summer, and height
ened the beauty of the fair and graceful women
who. emerging from their fur-lincd wrapping.
stood a mass of faint, changing, delicate color,
shimmering beneath waves of misty lace.
One of the dresses was of very pale blue satin,
embroidered with rose buds and trimmed with
wonderful white Duchesse lace, the finest ever
made. Another was faint buff, fdiHe, en-
brOidered with garlands OF field flowers upon
fiOunces and tunic of the same shade, edged
with crimped fringe. A third was a delicate
pink faille, the fOunces headed and the tunic
ornameBted with feather ruching Of the slme.
The looping was effected with bows and ends of
black velvet and feathers. One of the tOilettes
was very quaint 1t was OF black velvet, with
stomacher and petticoat of white satin, orna-
mented with gold embroidery. The bodice and
sleeves were trimmed with very rich white lace.
headed with strings of pearls, and pearls formed
the necklace and sort of corenet for her hair.
which was worn in a profusion of natural curls.
Ii was a costume Of the time of Charles the First.
The young ladies wore white talle, garlanded
with flowers or white lace or muslin over light
tinted silk. Hardly any jewels wee worn but
pearls and diamonds. Here and there a shell
necklace and fan were ID be seen, but they
looked exceedingly out of place.
The white inside vests of the gentleman have
almost disappeared. instead, there is a great
display of delicately embroidered shirt front
and minute diamond studs.
COSTLY GEw-GAws.
Passing through a large jewelry house not long
ago, we We're invited by a gentleman with whom
we are somewhat acquainted to take look at
the Empress Eugenie's pearl necklace. IL Is
strands, but the pearls are almost as large as
cherries, and perfectly round and pure 1t Is
valued at s25Oo0. While examining this rich
l riO. we oo ,snU 3net gsntlsnsnly man
less words than it would take to buy bunch of
tape. The purchase was q small opera-gass of
black enamel, for a lady. All the metal visible
was solid gold, and this was banded and en-
crusted with diamonds. IL was "perfect GEM"
as any lady would say, and it cost just 81 COO.
WEDDING GIFTS.
AeiS afon WCuuthS ShtSy hoWcNcTs tudt tnc
largest sums Of money are spent. So regular
is the custom becoming In this respect, that one
can only suppose that it has come to be regarded
in the light Of a mercantile transac ton, In
which SO much is given for 20 much. The arti-
Giles most sold for wedding presents are small tea
sets Of polished silver, comprising five pieces,
and ranging in price from three hundred and
fifty to i've hundred dollars. The trade in solid,
and especially in polished silver. which at one
time was very much depressed, has greatly
increased within ten years, due partially, Of
course, to the increasing wealth OF indvi-
duals and the community but Qargely to
the fashion Of making silver bridal presents.
Poor relations content themselves with spoons
OF napkin rings. or salts or mustard cups, or tiny
flower vases Of silver, put up IN cases, and cost
ing from ten % fifty dollars. But large as the
outlay may seem 20 the purchasers, the articles
look very anal beside solid sets OF table and
dessert ware, Or massive single articles for use
or decoration. magnificent nev center pieces
are just now great rage, holding fiye gold
lined dishes, for fruit and confectiOnery. All
these can be taken apart and used separately
and the stand still retain beauty rs an orn ar en-
tai article. The cost Is 81 ,l5o. che latest style
Of dinner service 10 Of polished silver, with gold
In wrought band. The price Of . moderate
sized set u sixty-6ve hundred dollars, but the
number Of pieces can be increased until it
reaches ten thousand dollars--the price of a set
sent 10 South America the other day. 1.'l
birthdays, FLOWERS, INTO. r1.,
Rfrfh Aov. hov.H min -. 49, 49,