Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-29
FOR THE BALL.
THE FASHIONS IN EVENING AED BALL
DRESSES.
The SQUARE Corssgs-A Peculiar Basque
Pattern-Dress Reform style
in Fans.
Correspondence o, the Richmond Dispstch.l

NEW YORK, January %. 1883.
Ball dresses and evening costumes are
now one of the most interesting topics
[ to fashionable people on account OF the
great number OF large affairs that crowd
upon each others heels The charity
pal, the patriarch's dance, and, on Mon
day evening, Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt's
great ball. all within q few nights, have
put us in the thick Of the dancing sea-
son.
Evening dress, as I have remarked in
a previous letter, il more noticeable for
duietness and taste this year than has
been the case during number OF years
back. Pale green is very fayorlte tint
for young ladies' to wear, and a costume
in this hue, recently observed, was OF
MORE. made en- tdine, with superbly
draped tabHer of white lace, whose
folds disappeared above under plated
vest of the MORE. Terra Gotta bead
passementerie was extensively made
use of in adjoining the folded
side panel, which fell from the
hip, and the slashed sleeves were
also trimmed with this passementerle
and with lace. The corsage was IN the
form of wide open V, made by bring
ing broad fold OF lace over the right
shoulder and passing it beneath the edge
of the MORE on the opposite side. Terra
Gotta satin ribbon was extensively used
on all available points, in tiots and bows :;
| the gloves worn were in apale shade ofthe
same tint, and the faint-green silk stock
ings were supplemented with terra-cotta
satin slippers, ornamented on the toes
with bead designs.
The square corsage is occasionally
seen. 1t is made usually so that the top
of the vest forming the front of the
bodice) forms the lower edge OF the
opening.
One form of corsage opening has
diagonal folds of crepe de chime or silk
to form its edges they also form the
only ENTHUSIASTICALLY very short.
WHITE.
White, in its more finished shades
for even white may have its tints-is be-
coming decidedly popular for evening
wear. Ivory and cream are the standings
employed.
Lace is extending its use on evening
gowns. One cannot employ too much
lace for one of these costumes IA any
number of hpping draperies OF lace pet
ticoats is permissible.
Ont of-door clothes for the little folks
includeulsters. They reach to the ankles
and are of heavy cheviois and similar
cloths, ia pIaidS, and checks. These
long, checked ulsters are in vogue even
for children OF three and four years, and
are worn by either sex. For girls they
are provided with silk-lined hoods.
BASQUE PATTERNS.
A very peculiar basque pattern has
the vest extending n long distance below
the basque itself, the latter butfoning
tight at the waist and ending there. The
! effect is odd, but attractive. The basque
should be made with very wide reyers,
and with great round metal buttons at
the waist. The vest should be of some
| light material, fastened all the way down
the front with a row OF very small wooden
buttons. 1t should come to a sharp
point at the bottom.
WRAPS.
Some of the evening wraps now worn
are conspcuously rich and expensive.
| They are usually of plush, reaching TO
| the ground, and in great loose folds,
with wide sleeves, using q terrible and
appalling quantity of material. a last
extravaganza has been added by making
them IN trdine. The trimming consists
of cord passementerie. together with jet
and bead work and borders of heavy fur.
Hoods are beginning to be worn with
them instead of boDnets. You can ina
| CINE from the costliness of the wrap
whether the hood is so simple an affair
as the name would suggest.
DRESS REFORM.
Dress reform continues TO suggest
flowing robes with as little contour as
possible to them. 1t is needless to say
| that these designs do not commend
themselves to the majority of women.
The truth is that the average woman
prefers that the fact of her possessing a
bust should be somewhat apparent, and
also dislikes that the circumference of
! her hips should, to all outward appear
ance, seem the same as that OF her waist.
She therefore abhors those Disgusting
draperies which may have done tor the
Romans, but which do not come up to
her nineteenth century ideas OF form, so
they are not adopted. Dress reform
will, think, always find its more legiti-
mate field beneath the dress.
FANS.
The fans our stylish bellies use to cool
their heated brOws in the pauses of
the dance sometimes approach ia ex-
pense the gowns they wear. Some Of
them are made entirely of ostrich tips I;
others are of rich lace in thick, creamy
folds and, again, satin surfaces are fire.
quent. being ornamented with beautiful
painted designs of Cupids and flowers.
The sticks which support these fans are
marvels of delicate workmanship. They
are always inlaid, and may be of olive
wood, ivory, ebony, or pearl, mounted
with gold or silver. c. II. NJ.
Here aud There.
Whom a man cOmes home late at NIGHT