Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-30
HE WORLD OF FASHION
STYLES FOR JANUARY.
New Years Calls. and who Make Them
Times rs They Were and Are
New Features Of Social Life In the
Metropolis Cloth ClOaks and Cos.
tumes-A Happy New Year.


been preparing for first Of January receptions
and for those festivities which from remote
periods have ushered in the New Year.
The lights have gone out from the Christmas
trees, but the Christmas green's still hold their
place and crown the honors which are heaped
upon the young head of the year to come. What
it is to bring TO us we know not; but with ever
fresh faith we garland our future and hope the
best until the worst arrives
NEW YEARS CALLS.
lt is the fashion among that class Of dismal
people who are always heralding cholera and
yellow fever,-whO make an epidemic out of a
single case OF chicken pox, and revel in news
paper accounts of sanitary chimes and msde-
meanors,-to say that the observance Of New
Years Day is dying out, and that its social
gayetes are characterized by a laNity and indul-
gence which is disgusting in the eyes OF all
decent people. Never was SANDER greater or
more unmerited. The custom of New Years
calls seems to become more general year by
year, and is now extending from the metropol.
all over the country. The abundant, but some
what rude hospitality which formerly dstin-
tinguisbed it, has given place to a delicaey and
refinement very much more in keeping with it,
object and purpose, and which effectually ex-
cludes the infringements upon strict courtesy
which were not unfrequent when every family
presented table loaded with everything eat
able, and particularly everything drinkable thai
could be found. The universally OF the custom
is in no way more clearly exhibited than in the
preparations which are made for il. Weeks
beforehand shops and shop windows present the
appearance of huge bakers, confectIoners
and fruit dealers show. Christmas and Christ
mas trees are important incidents bu,
the great expectations of getting rid OF
all the jellies, and frosted and frui5ed
cakes, the notices, the pyramids, thu
lady apples, the crystal bOn-bon boxes, anG
the white q apes are based upon ''New-Year's;'
and that these expectations are well founded /,
evident in the sudden look of vacuity which
follows this plethora of sweets and Injuries
What pity IL Is that festival could not b.
invented to break in upon the duh DAYS O
after!
There is one popularity about New Year,
calls; and that is, that they interest and brin,
10 the social surface quite a different class o.
people from the usual fashionable callers
Active business men, who have no other day II
the year, devote this one to looking up OLD
friends, and in our busy community ii Otter
forms the link which holds together life long
ties Of intimacy and friendship, or clasps awidt
space between an old life and the new.
GOOD OLD TINES.
IL is not in the nature of things to return a.
the "good old DAYS" Of spinning wheels, and
irons and sanded floors; nor does any inteliigen
man or woman really wish that we could; bui
every one il glad that a more healthy tone pre-
walls in the community over the fierce passion
for dress and display which has been stimulated
to the unhealthy height it reached during tn,
past few years. There is a lull this Season
caused partly by the want of Partisan excite
ment, partly by the increasing preponderance o
the German element in our midst, and the infiu
ence of their simple, sober manners and customs
and completed by our own commercial disaster
and the disgrace into which mere money-spend
els ano money getters have fallen.
great display of gold and diamonds is ratet
bad style and vulgar. Ladies belonging to tn
very best classes are even in some instance
making ShOU of simplicity, putting all the cos
into the tineress and genuineness of materia',-
some into jewelry or the trimming of their tot
lettes; others, with less refinement of intelI
gence, are using laces and stores of a less cher
ished description, and employing them partly il
furnishing up old dresses, partly in trimming
new.
~ never knew said a wealthy lady, recent
ly, chow much pleasure | missed i'm giving IN
clothes away after few times of wearing"
SiDgulariy, too, foreign travel is doing mucl
TO bring about more sensible ideas in regard l.
dress and living than have heretofore prevaileo
amongst us. Nothing does an American woman
20 much good as going abroad and finding on
how people live whom she has been accustomeC
TO base all her ideas of style upon. III families
who 20 abroad to educate" their children, AN.
what not, were willing to live at home as the,
DO when they are in France or Germany, they
would not only relieve themselves of a vast bur
den, and Set a good example to entire commun
ties, but impart to their children sound. honora
BILE and honest ideas, worth all the teaching OF
schools.
ENTERTAINMENTS.
AS yet few large parties have been heard o.
spoken of. Probably a few will be given to clea
of society scores and eat up the New Year.
cake, after the holidays; but, to great extent
they seem to have gone out of fashion. Mus
Gales, readings, charades, lunches, teas, and tn,
like, all OF which come under the name of ere
ceptions," and receptions proper, seem to hav'
taken their place, and fill a much larger spac,
in our social life. The change is beneficial in
more than one respect. 1t takes society out OF
the hands of very young people to a certain ex
tent. and, while affording them abundant Cd
portunties, gives a chance to the married, VIII,
in the multiplicity OF individual and domesti,
duties, are in constant danger of not only being
put, but of putting themselves upon the shell
in a way that is detrimental to their own ant
the general interests
For these mingled gatherings OF the vount
with the middle aged backed by purpose, sucl
as the celebration of a birthday or wedding day
the exhibition of musical talent, OF the displa,
of the talking genius, which seems inseparabL
from any native born American man or woman
no great effort in the way of toilette is required
he usual dinner dress, of rich silk set of Will
handsome laces is often sufficient, or a silk DO
lonaise trimmed full with black lace, and worn
over trained skirt. Very few overskirts ar,
seen as compared with last season. White mus
lin and tarlatain dresses are made complet,
with oyerskirts, or several skirts of the 81 M,
material, or fehu and overskirt of some ligh'
diaphorous material, are worn an overtlress
over an under dress of plain silk. Black sill
trained, or demitrained skirts. with OverdTesSe
of white muslin, are worn with Roman saShes
the latter in some instances as costly as dress
$40 being the price OF the widest and hand
soonest.
There is a change observable in table ar
rangements this season, which is certainly a,
improvement. Table ware is fine, and fewer
flowers are used in the decoration. IL is begin
ming 10 De UNDERSTOOD tnat mere ornaments
obstacles and distractions to table enjoyment
There are certain leaves and moses which
make charming background and garnitures
for fruits; but flowers, in pots or bouquets ar,
rather in the way. 1t is difficult TO dispose o.
them to advantage, and they really occupy
more appropriate place in the windows, upor
the mantlepiece, or upon stands in different part
of the rooms. Fine table ware is in itself beauti
fully ornamental. 1t is a pleasure and JOY Z,
every one that has q sense of social beauty an,
TO the good housekeeper ii is pride and JOY for
ever. A woman may be forgiven who canno
bear with entire equanimity the loss OF a ira,
of exquisite glass or shell-like china; IN fact Il
che could, she would be no woman at all.
CLOTH sLoAKs AND COSTUMES.
All the later developments Of interest in fash
ion have been in cloth cloaks and costumes. Tn,
solid color, the solid fabrics, and the ornaments
ton, which NJ distance seems to be inferwoyel
with the material, give altogether an appearance.
OF comfort, appropriateness, and adaptability
which would constitute beauty, even IL tint ana
texture were less choice and fine.
A complete costume Of olive green, Vandycs
brown, or sailor blue cloth, braided with black
and bordered with silk-cord fringe, is the per
lection of street costume, properly accom-
panied by q velvet hat, black, or matching
In color, and a set Of seal skin, or sable furs
OF course Q suit Of cloth, trimmed with fur Ii q
desirable and perhaps even more distingue, bu'
II Is not as popular, because the fur besides
III - - n. A.