Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-11

pairing bHcfH IN Tue tcaSC. Inc f1kgc iOI IdCe IL
even greater here than in New York, where it
seemed to have reached its limit, but no one pre-
tends to wear real lace save dOwagers, who have
stores of 1t: and they do not wear 1t. They ex-
hibit it on occasions. what is the use OF being
tormentcd by anything to keep nowadays!r said
hours since. Fashions constantly change;
your heirs will not thank you for the trouble you
take to supply them with what they cannot
wear. and which is fit only for a museum. The
away when We have done with them"
BOnnets are trimmed with lace and feathers:
very few flowers. that is when they are trimmed
at all. The "Esthetic'' bonnet has only lining
and broad ribbon put straight across it-what
is called q "two-and-dx-penny bOnnet"-because
for lone and sixpeRce GO cents). and wide rib
bon at q shilling per yard. However, in a real.
high old shape, lined with terra Gotta satin. and
trimmed with wide ombre ribbon. mi1liner
would ask guinea or twenty-five shillings (S5
to 800 for such bonnet
DAY AT THE SHOPS.
For the benefit. of my distant readers spent
my hrst day in London at the shops in a search
after novelties, with no very important results,
II must 0e admitted. The shops are full,
crowded, )ammed' but there is very little worth
having that we have not got in New York. and
IN made-up costumes and garments there is not
80 much difierence as to price. The great adj
vantage English ladies possess is in the purchase
Oh laorics, which are in all cases less than half
often not more than q fourth, what we have to
pay. The rich-flowered satines for example
wmch were nifty cents per yard in New York
are here one shilling TWENTY-FIVE cents). and
these are dear because they are novelties"
french woods, beizes, in all new and fine shades,
are fraction less than nine pence Seventeen
cents) per yard; with us. sixty-five cents. or
when reduced" fifty. New silk mixtures and
Indian cashmeres, equal to silk very soft and
rlch are from one to three shilfings. and tweeds
That cost twenty-five cents in New York are
seld here for fOurpence ha'penny.
Then the comfort of buying best qualities of
wOols and silks and cottons at less than the cost
OF inferior, is immense to Americans. who feel
that they would like to buy out entire stocks.
and are only deferred by their requirements in
other directions and the ordeal of the custom
house. Imagine black sunfiower brocades at
fOur-and-siX pence: satin chichesse very thick
and rich. for five shllings and nine pence. Oess
than 81 sos and the best satin merveilleaux at
five shillings and eleven pence, or $50. In New
York these goods would range from % 50 to
$500 per yard. In gloves and hosiery the
average difference in cost is even greater
The best black and colOred spun-silk hose are
dfhcult OF attainment at any price; when get-at-
able they range from So to IS pair. Here they
are three and six. and three and nine ga to
50 cents). Excellent kid gloves are from lone
and six" to three and six" per pair. the latter
very long and If undressed in the new Sarah Bern
hardt styles. with buttons at the wrist only
IHc IOllSs StoCkinHette mlClS ana gloves we
have in America. but with the difference between
one and Six and dollar and a-haif in price
Laccs are much cheaper by the yard: made IN
there is little difference. Nor are the styles very
attractive at present except in the very finest
qualities. In fact nothing can be conceived
prettier in ordinary kcrchiefs collarettes. and
fchus than some of the things we have had in
real Breton and imitation Mechlin laces.
The bOnnets too are atrOciOus They are BIZ
zarre without being in the least attractive. ex-
cept some of the old cap shapes and the plainest
Of the modified ''pokes."
The prettiest costumes are careful mOdifica-
cation of French and esthetic styles. AS for ex-
ample. brown satin dinner dress with finely
peated square Of very pale pink satin in the
front OF the neck and two small pink satin puffs
in each sleeve-One at the top and one at the
elbow. The skirt has two narrow pieatings of
brown satin and an interior one of pink satin
otherwise this is perfectly plain princesse
form, with shirred plastron extending entirely
down the front.
pretty short dress is of blue green satin de
Lyons, with scarfs of Ombre satin de Lyon very
beautifully and softly shaded. The BASQUE bod
dice is of the plain fabric. with slight trimming
of the ombre. and the bows of thick satin rib
bon, are of the blue green shade arranged in
graceful loops.
Many of the ready made dresses are of cream
or ivOry-white nuns yelling. or summer cash
mere, trimmed withgold satin OF braid and ac-
companied by soft hats OF white or ruby felt for
IL
hat is worn with "a white wooden costume.
the hose and long -nitts are red also. or these
accessories may be in old or gendarme blue
The combination Of Old gold with cardinal is
as fashionable as ever. and shirt in which the
two were combined had an old gold satin coat
to complete the costume. very richly embroi-
dered with the same color and showing a mag
nihcent square flat collar and cuffs of Spanish
point.
The washing dresses are a great feature. and
the French OF of do
Saline, with plain or striped goods. finished with
lace and knots of ruby ribbon can be bought
for ten or twelve dollars. The simplest of cot
ton dresses are made in stripes for the CONT
nent skirt with two killings and long pale
tot with pockets, collar. and cuffs trimmed with
lace or cOlOred embroidery.
A most useful feature of the London shops
consists OF the costumes with trimmed skirt of
satin and wool or Surah. or foulard and material
and trimming for the bodice. These are very
reasonable in price. from two to three guineas.
and the bodice is filled and made for sixteen
shlllings Qess than four dOllars) more. An all
silk costume of this description trimmed with
Spanish lace, and Spanish lace rutiles across the
front, can be had for five guineas-about twenty
five dollars.
1t is difficult to pick out examples of costumes
from the mass of ready-made ones. because thew
are so entirely like our own. the difference be-
ing in the preponderance of tinted white and
Tie use OF white tuSSOre SILK for soft c!inTnr
costumes which are made very effectively by
embroidery.
But there are many things in fancy articles
which are new-as for instance. the soft satin
ruches for the throat. dotted with brilliant
beads; dog-cOllar necklaces of satin, CONSISTING
of narrow band with upright pleating. and
pendant fringe of gold, or ruby, or moonlight.
OF irridescent beads, which deepen in front
The new and most fashionable parasols are of
cream lace over cream silk or satin, in series
of narrow ruffies, with gold sticks and large
branch Of white or purple lilac as ornaments.
In dark black, or ruby Silks or satin de Lyon.
they are painted by hand in sun-flOwers, daily
down-dillies, peonies, branches of wsteria, all
natural size.
The coarse Russian lace used for trimming
sheeting and other common cotton dresses, both
In the unb' ca ched tint and colOrs is now worked
in patterns with dark blue or red cotton and used
for trimming dark blue striped linens and red
striped cOttOns. These dresses are intended for
lawn tennis and cr0quet.
DRESS AT THE THEATER.
The popularity of the dress at the theater in
London is the total absence Of bonnets and the
necessity for sort of full dress that is Just suffi-
GENTLY marked to compel the majority of ladies
to stay at home who cannot afford a carriage It
iS absurd and useless custom which ,,,Yck