St. Paul daily globe., 1888-02-19
THE ELANGTRY DRESSES.
Some ofthe Creations That Make
Ali Women EnYiOus

If any one has doubt what is the
truly beautiful modern dress, or modern
aesthetic dress, let her convince herself
at once by a view of the magnificent
creations worn by Lena Despard.
There are the costly eXpOnents of the
two Styles-everyone has an oppor-
tunity 10 choose for herself. In the five
acts of As in a Looking-glasS," Mrs.
Langtry appears in five exquisite
gowns and one wrap, the like of four
of which can seldom have been seen on
any stage. Rumor had brought many
faint echoes of the splendor of these
costumes. but TumOr failed to depict
their beauty in the glowing terms they
deserve. Perhaps the first feeling in
regard to the tout ensemble as the en-
tree is made is one of disappointment
at the lack of harmony in the blending
of colOrs. Is it mistake to wear a
dress OF so crude a pink. or does this
clever woman lean toward the new
movement i'll wOman's attire and lead
Through the weak and up to the
Strong?" Or, in everyday language,
and not that of whist rules, does she
present the coStlleSt of modern attire in
aSunprepOSSeSSinga color as can befound
i'll order to make the lovelineSS of the
aesthetic style of the other costumes
more noticeable? Form your own can
clustOn: the points are but suggested.
The evening wrap which enfoldS her
as she enters is in the form of an i'm
mense Russian travelling cloth. 1t cov-
erS her in its richness from top to toe,"
and is made of a singular Shade of
Steel-blue plush, without a particle of
trimming except as the magnificent
chinchilla fur lining rolls over the edge
TO form al Immense collar. Nothing
could be richer or more elegant, and it
was not wise TO let very pinky pink of
a long. narrow train spoil the ensemble.
Her dress in this act was a modern din
ner or reception costume of this vivid
pink, made without trimmings, except
bunch OF deeper pink roses and their
foliage embroidered on the skirt little
to one side. The train was long and
full. hanging nOticeably well, finished
at the top with two fans formed by
plating and turning over the breadths
of the train at the top.
The bodice was deeply pointed and
finished at the neck, Or-nO! that would
not be correct statement-waS fin
ished much below the shoulders i'm
heart shape. The jewels worn in this
act were simply resplendent.
Her next appearance was in modern
ball dreSS.a little longer than that which
we call dancing length. 1t was immeas-
urably more becOming-waS of white
tuile, much embroidered in silver and
spangles.
The front was a mass of this glitter
ing work, arranged in long, narrow, in
verted arches reaching from waist to
hem and back until the full soft train
hid their simmer. The train of tuIIe
was in wide tuckS horizontally. IT
flOated out from the waist like a cloud.
just tuching the floor at its extreme
edge, never lying upon it. This bodice
was shaped like the old-fashiOned
cuiraSS waist, and presented the effect
OF having silver corset, from the top
of which soft folds of tulle and satin de-
fined the shoulders in heart shape.
finished on the tips of those beautiful
shoulders in quaint little bow of satin.
The third dress one felt sure was the
chef d'Ruvre until the fourth was worn.
and then the opinion wayered but final
lY settled back satisfied on the first
chosen. Oh. for magic art to describe
Its graceful lines and perfect beauty.
First of all it was aesthetic, decidedly
so, and yet the combination of color was
as decidedly pronounced, being black
and yellow. A long plain princess train
of rich black Satin-hung full and plain
from the neck loose front of richest
yellow lace, from which depended many
short drops of amber beads. A pointed
neck, back and front, and a piece of
satin, two or three inches wide, with
beaded embrideries, passed from each
shoulder i'll sort of Surplice folds under
the bust, very slightly define the
figure by holding in the loosely hanging
yellow front. The back being as said
princess, of course the waist and skirt
were in one piece; the front of the
waist, as described, loose, but meeting
side gore of black, while tie next one
was yellow. The grace, the charm. the
beauty O. the gown was the sleeve, and
where can wOldS be found to paint a
pen picture? A fiounce yard wide. of
the most eXqmisitely woven beaded lace
or paSSementerie, was sewn over e
shoulder and into the top of the ann
hole, continuing down the waist seams,
both back and front, but ending at the
hem itself. This was all the sleeve
there was. but when the arms were ex-
tended glittering, flashing, gauZy black
wings were formed. The dress was per
fectIon.
The yellow gore set in the bodice
under the arm produced strange effect
through the lace when the arm was dis
tended. The body appeared to be seen
down to the waist in a narrow strip, it
being impossible to tell where the under
part of the arm ended and the satin
commenced.