Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-03
THE EVENING STAR.
>. December 3. ISyS.
CHRISTMAS FASHIONS.
STYLES FOR THE NIIIIoS-DESIeSS ORIGINAL .Np
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. N FUR.
IFrom orr 0,,n Correspondent

HOW ltftul~lt IL II tIldl All NoIlltu tIt HOt
| cultivated, and that some are unsophstcated
| enough to be pleased with what pleases them.
| What else would become OF all the crude ColorS.
| the bright plaidS the SNOWY necktes, the obtru-
| sive ornaments whose one merit Is that
| they do not cost much. and satisfy the
desire for ornamental display just as
| well for those who know nothing better.
as II they had been selected from the south
henSington Museum. The nervous strain on
| the part of some, the amount or rot retailed
by others in regard 10 ART artistic dress
and the like. renders il real relief 10 encounter
an honest little woman whose eyes stand out
with rapture over a dress pattern which she pro-
nounces lovely shade" when 1t is 4 color 50
uncomprOmiSng and primitive that il would
set the teeth of fastidiOus woman of couture"
on edge. and who walks the streets with a
smile OF utter satisfaction in the possession OF a
new shawl, when every other woman is diving
for seal paletOt, and wouldn't wear a shawl il
| ii was given TO her, because Shawls are not
style" Bless her! 1 could hug her or being
so easily satisfied, for finding good in what
others. less worthy than She, pass By with scorn
and vote common" almost envy her nus
band. What a wife she must make! Not that
should like To see my wife III less elegant gar
mentS than could afford to obtain for her il [
were man. but surprising We were poor and
obliged TO eXpend our time and strength on the
making OF a livelihood and the maintenance OF
home? What a comfort To have wife pleased
with small! things, satisfied with what comes TO
her Of this worlds goods, and happy in her
ignorance OF the unat tainabie.
NEW DEFINITION or FASHION
Is il not time that we have new definition Of
the word fashion? Webster says it means ac-
coTding to prevailing form or style. but modern
authorities declare that fashion seen upon the
street or in the shop windows is no longer
fashion: certainly not high fashion, which Is
exclusive or not hing The tendency of modern
dress is in two directions one ieyeling and uni
form, the other original and exclusive.
Garments and designs for the garments OF the
masses are now turned ont by the million. uSt
| as ordinary chairs, tables, bedsteadS and crock
cry are turned out. These are easily obtained
at very reasonable cost, but they are natu-
rally commonplace. They address AN aycf-ler,
class whose ideas are few ana simple and if
they attempt elaboration il is OF Il veneer or
StucCO. and possibly incOngrGOuS kind. not The
natural growth into 1inenesS and beauty OF an
originally superior principle Or basis. The orr
glnal idea in fashion takes form ia accordance
With the prevailing thought of the time: lust
now il is the revival OF Old art or the ci,'Iy of
what is supposed TO be the pureSt nature. 1t Is
the conventional and the unconventional Stry-
ing for the mastery, and sometimes one obtain
| Ing and sometimes the other. The conven-
tlon,l - The StiH straight and arbitrary; the IN
conventional the free, wild, natural and unre-
strained. The garden OF Versailles running a
race with the pretty wilderness OF little Tr-
anon.
POPULAR STYLES
Tie designs for ordinary dress were never
more useful OF sensible than this season. Walk
inC dress OF a soft wooden material is cut SnDr;
enough To clear the ground. Drapery is very
| slight, aud requires neither hoop nor .eE-
! pander: The long Jacket ~ paletot is warm
| coats better shaped, more elegant looking. and
| equally as protective as listers. which are
made IN waterproof ci0Ih, for weather that
Gelna!IdS complete covering
| Indoor dressing is equally practical, sensible
ana economical; gown OF dark tanned for
| morning wear or scotch check wool. cut after
! a short plinceaSe model. finished with q rufic
| down the front, and a double plated bounce
! r0Und the bottom. deep round or square collar
AT the neck. TWO OF these. at cost OF ten dol
! lars. are sufficient for the season and In aJdi-
a y sill
viii furnish a wardrobe, at least So far as
dresses are concerned. The making OF these
| requires go thought. for paper patterns OF de-
signs Wei! adapted to general Use and wear can
| be purchased almost as cheaply as the paper
| Itself. and save the necessity OF be5rowing time
or thought upon the difficult architectural
question OF construction.
| This suits the great masses OF women who
are not. and never can be, either leaders or fol-
| lowers OF fashion: on the contrary. they always
have been. are. and must be hard workers os
| wives, mothers, daughters. sisters. or human
beings dependent upon their own labOrs for a
| livelihood Naturally they have tie human
Inst met OF getting the best out OF the situation
| III dress as III other things; for when men or
women cease TO care for the impression which
| thelt appearance makes upon the rest OF the
word. il Is because they have losi their self
| respect or passed through such extremity of
suffering as 10 become utterly Indifferent to all
lesser matters.
| EXCLUSIVE STYLES
| twenty years ago the Grand Opera al the
Academy OF Music, presented an almost unbrO-
ken array OF white opera cloakS, borieretl per-
| hapo with white or blue, and white bonnetS fiat
| rs = pancake, which had succeeded the Z" coal
scuttle,' and were known as soup plates -
Occasionally, an opera cloak was allowed to slip
| from the shoulders OF the wearer, and thus gave
| Il glimpse OF the dress or the shoulders covered
with lace cape beneath. But as a general rule
| the dead White sea was unbrOken. except by the
hnter OF RIBBONS, Or the gay color o. the flowers
| can better Illustrate the difference between
| ni9h fashion OF that day and the present time.
| imam visit to the grand opera season now in
| progress, and Il comparison drawn from actual
| knowledge OF the two. Gentlemen are apt TO
| say that opera dressing is less elegant than
formerly. They miss the uniform white which
| gave the appearance OF full dress although il
| often concealed worn il not shabby toiletteS In
| reality the dressing now is richer as well as
| Infinitely more varied and picturesque. There
| are certain lady habiaes, representatives OF the
| highest wealth and culture OF the Metropolis,
| whose toiettes, if copied by an artist. would
| form a gallery which might be mistaken for
| beauties OF Rembrandt, TitianS, MurflO or Reu-
! ben'S time. Every costume has been d study
ana though not always a close imitation Of the
| original masterpiece, is suggestive enough TO
! STAMP the Wearer with a certain Ideally. which
| really belongs To the great Maine. whose geniu,
| gives distinction TO her attire.
II Is not enough 10 manipulate velvet ana old
! lace until they furnish a reminder of Rem
/ brandt. or wear hat Il Ia GaiuSbDrOugh. The
! style must be adapted TO the individual. A
! stately mama, for example viii appear in gar
net satin and antique lace. her diamond, as
! powder, drawn up III high puffS and ContraSted
| With the bow OF black velvet. ia which CLEANS a
| diamond leaf or star. The daughter on the
| contrary, viii form as unconditional contrast
| as possible to her conventional mama Her hair
| falls IN soft 1riZZeS, her dress is the simplest
! White creamy wool. \ little SiepherieSs fichrl
| covers her neck and is fastened with bunch OF
| red rose buds, aid, excepting her earrings,
| which are perhap, copies OF the rose buds in
cora! or enamel, she IS guiltlesS OF ieWe lry.
/ daSbing young married woman VIII be reSpleat-
! ant III y costume 81 white satin anu black vel
| vet. The waiStc0at iSOf white satin, laid in line
! folds ard huttOIed with pearls: her Rubcns
hat Is black velvet, faced with white satin and
trimmed with Il great bunch of ostrich fcat hers
on the outside and two well curied black ostrich
| plUlneS On the interior OF the brOad brin The
| White feathers curl peacefully over the front
| the black ones shade One-half The face and
| throw the earnatton of the cheeks into vivid
| relief
| y still more striking picture is made by a
| Blonde graceful. notwithstanding her we'll
| rounded figure, which is dTaped in POmpeiian
| green trimmed with creamy white lace aud red
| satin ribbons. Her small bonnet is OF the same
| shade OF green satin. and has q red AIsatian
| bow i'll the front which matches exactly the red
! ribbons of the dress. A stylish dress of black
| silh. very rich but not especially artistic Is
| made with one OF the new long Jackets and
| Waatcoat OF poppy-red satin. A few long loops
| OF red satin ribbon hold the drapery low upon
| the back, and the toilette Is completed with a
| square crowned red satin bonnet, faced with
| black tulie and trimmed with black and red
| feathers. A sparkling little brunette is dressed
in black and gold A black Princesse polonaise