New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-07
A ROYAL WARDROBE.
GLIslPSES OF THE GOWNS OF THE PRINCESS
LOUISE AND OF HER WEDDING GIFTS.


over the Royal Wedding it is the Royal Tradesmen.
They not only get large orders, but they have
the pleasure of seeing themselves advertised for
nothing in half the newspapers OF the Kingdom.
/ say for nothing, but it is really impossible to
say what is paid for and what is not. Some Of
the information published by the London papers
comes obviously from the shopkeepers themselves
IL sounds like. the talk one hears from over TIE
counter and is meant TO sell other things besides
those already sold TO the Princess Louise to the
friends of the Princess, whose gifts have turned
Marlborough House into big bazaar. Some Of
it, however, cannot be attributed TO business
houses, unless to such as keeps poet" IL is
Of the most exciting character. The Princess
Louise, we now know, is very partial 10 black
dresses which is lucky, since the Royal Family Is
more often than not in mourning. There are sew
eral evening gowns says the chronlcer in this
" tint and one of them has skirt edged with
leaf-shaped tabs; the meaning of which Is, hope,
clearer to my readers than TO me. Another gown
for they not all black" is in the soft-tnt"
now universally known as old pink. The author
drops naturally into poetry as he, or she, de-
scrbes his, or her, handiwork. In front it opens
over puiings OF pink crepe strewn with flowers
IN PINK crystal passementerie." Mere English s
lnadequate milliners French comes in TO fill the
gaps, and between the putting is reyers Of
pink broche."
IL Is startling TO read that another gown Of
beautiful cltron and silver brocade has deep ac-
Gordon peatlng of citronc0lored silk muslin in
'front.' Musical terms occur elsewhere. Bands
OF pearl embroidery show an interude' OF pink
MORE bows tied up with pearl tassels Dublin
comes IN for some Of the honors, and profits; a
Dublin dressmaker has the honor of composing
several evening dresses; one of them in cardinal
Irish poplin' This is, it appears. a favorite
dressmaker of the Princess of Wales herself. and
no wonder, if we may believe that the front Of
her daughters gown is draped in a graceful slant
wise manner, the curves free and unconfned with
crepe de chine Of the same soft bright shades
Well may this writer say that to the feminine
portion of the community nothing is more impor-
tant than the fascinating items Of the trous-
scau. Even to the mere man they are fascinating;
the account of them also fascinating in its lyrical
enthusiasm. We like to be told that compared
with Irish popln Irish point lace is an ethereal
substance" and that the gown is confined en-
tirely to the products of the country Precision
and enthusiasm 90 hand in hand. "A white
satin backed and brocaded with pale pink is made
absolutely plain at the back, the very slight neceS-
sry fitness falling into the long ample train.7
Flowers are even more common than flowers Of
speech or than accOrdiOns. The front of the
skirt is trimmed with pulled sillIen muslin OF pale
pink hue, with here and there tulip and foliage
simulated in pink shaded crystal laid on its soft
surface Then there is a primrose-colored satin
dress, richly wrought with silver in design OF
wild roses There are flowers in yellow crystal
outlined in silver, and the leaves softly simulated
in chenille.
A London artist, however, gets the lions share
Il.
the Prncesses since they left off infantle garb has
the coveted honor of doing the great portion OF
the trousseau7 and SO Ireland has still another
grievance. The strain rises higher than ever for
this privileged creature. She has devised bodice
with series of pleats softly folded around it, on
which are single roses with leaf or two decotely
wrought in silver thread More than that, the
skirt is draped with this wonderfully graceful hang
ing substance. the weight Of silver thread gently,
compelling the folds downward" We shall
hardly hear a more soaring note than this; still
it is pleasant to read of q beautiful trimming
Of passementerie used with the most perfect
discretion and of dress of a shade of pala
blue, such as is seen in water rejecting an evening
Sky This last is possibly but plagiarism from
that Chinese blue known as blue of the sky after
rain. Softly, you perceive, is a favOrite adverb,
but there are Others-quaintly is one. There is a
bodice quantity made to simulate Spanish jacket.
Another is mellOwed to a hue so sympathe ically
soft that it goes in complete harmony with the
cerulean silk Another is " of faille, the tint
rather ivory than uncompromisngly snowy IL
is remembered that economy has not been for
gotten; many of the dresses made with two
bodices one. suitable for balls and ceremonial
occasions being cut low and sleeveless, and the
other, for qITeter dinners and more private
al
the usual shape
| will pause to remark that never was there
time when greater freedom of choice known,
or when women were more completely at liberty
to wear what they liked, or whatever their fancy
dictated as becoming to their face and figure and
individual style of beauty. It is not to the dress
makers or newspapers that you are indebted for
this observation. but to lady who might herself
set the fashion if she cared to- but who is satisfied
to dress herself perfectly, and TO let Others DO
as they please. If you will look about you,
said she, you will see that two of these
ladies are dressed alike, there is neither prevailing
fashion Of cut and shape, nor any one prevailing
hue like the green of some months since. There
are gowns with sleeves and without there are
Empire gowns and others which look as If no
Republican would them; some are hat and
some are full some are all of one material and
some half silk and half lace, divided literally,
not one over the other but each hall of the dress
separate The only point in which all agree is
in discarding the camel's hump at the back L
looked about me as | was bid and saw indeed
pleasing variety of garments; noting most of oil
that one which was divided all up and down ia
two sharply contrasting materials.
Whether the Princess has gowns in this style
does not appear. The language OF our court
newsman is too beautiful 10 be exact II must
content us to know that she possesses a charming
tea gown Of white corded silk, with crepe do
chine draped over it in an indescribably graceful
way, the folds caught up with knots of white
MORE ribbon at the shoulder and one at the waist
making an effect at classical aud severely
simple Well, Of course, when thing In in.