Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-08
COSTLY NIGHT DRESSES.
How Natures Sweet Restorer - Court ed
by Rich American Girls

Ne1r York WOFld.
The blonde head was bent low oyer
cloud Of tleecy lace that occupied part OF
/ the counter in the large Broadway dry
goods house. After a prolonged inspec
ton the Wearcr of the light hair turned t.
the older lady 10y her side and said with
/ pleased smile:
Isn't il beautiful mammal"
Very. But it is very expensive
''1e Is, il is little expensive but iust
/ see how perfect everything is. See the
cunning little pocket and the delicate blue
cord running down the sides. Oh. 1 must
have one like that and the Young lady
held the marvel of lace and insertion al
arms length, and with head perched bird
like on one side, contemplating garment
lit for queen-Or for an American girl.
To the uninitiated reporter the appare
on exhibition appeared to be a very ornate
ball dress, except that there was no train
and the intricacies of lace and ruchine
and frills seemed rather fOrmless. \
whispered inquiry Of the saleslady in
waiting as to the nature Of the dress on
exhibition brought the low reply:
1T is a nOcturne in night dresses"
"A WHAT"
a symphony Of evening wrappers. IN
plain English. it is a beautiful night
gown, designed for a New York bride"
is it eXpensive:"
Not very. That one cost Sl25. We
have a few more costly, and quite num-
Der equally ornate, but less valuable
This one is used as a sample only. When
a lady purchases such IA robe She has it
made to order, as it is just as necessary to
guarantee a perfect tit in this class OF
goods as in costumes designed for more
public wear"
But who purchases such expensive
night dresses: At first sight it appears
to be useless extravaganza TO waste 50
much money on a garment seen by but one
person and worn only at night
"NOu would be surprised" she said.
smiling, lat the number of costly gowns
sold. Now, here" taking down satin
lined box and exposing its contents. 'this
robe alone is worth $500. nearly half as
much as a Worth dress. our best pur-
chasers are. Of course. brides-that is.
young girls on the eve of marriage. No.
| don't think vanity has a great deal
to do with the selection Of such expensive
night dresses. Every woman likes to APP
pear well i'm the ewes Of her lord, and il is
as much a compliment to him as to her
self to dress well for him alone. Then,
too, the mothers of the girls are always
anxious that their daughters uudergar-
mentS and night robes should be of the
finest material. If a bride Is difficult to
satisfy at this counter, her mother is
always found INFINITELY more dlthcult.
Are the finer robes imported>'
''Oh, no; we tried that plan for some
time, but it failed. Foreign dressmakers
appear to have no idea Of what is required
in an American night dress They are so
accustomed to fitting the fuller forms of
their English, French and German Gus
toners that they have lost all faculty for
properly draping the 1.-the, willoWy figure
of the average American girl. So we have
these costumes made-up here. Much Of
the material is imported. however This
real lace about the sleeves and filled i'm
around the neck and down the cOrsage is
from Belgium, and this edging about the
skirt proper is from France. The mate
rial is Of domestic production, and is the
finest of the kind. See?"
She lifted the garment tenderIv and
held it at arms length, the soft material
falling in clinging folds TO the floor
Creamy white percale formed the back
ground for the display of profuslon of
delicate lace. Cut very decOlette, the
opening was half concealed by dOwnv
tracerieS of handmade lace. and down
the front breadth the same material was
carried1n graceful curves. The narrow
bands across the shoulders were enriched
with elaborate rOSettes. doing away with
the necessity for sleeves. 4 cord of pale
pink traced the outlines of the figure to
ba 1T