Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
FEBRUARY FASHIONS
THE wlNo-uP OF THE YEAR UTTER
LYDEvolo or NOVELTIES.
Spring Consignments Being Received-Op-
portunities for Bargsins-Effcet Of /.
the Prevailing Modes.
Tcorrcspondenco Of the Richmond DisDatch.I

rCorrespondence Of the Richmond Dispstch.l
NEW YORK. February February is The
month that winds up the year of fashion
and will be devoid of novelties to chroni
Gle. Lent is almost upon us, and so every
thing will remain quiet from now until
near Easter, when the spring designs begir
to appear.
OF course the importing establishments
are already receiving their spring consign
ments, although the goods are not yet being
placed on sale, and on this account. since
room must be provided for the fresh stock
the winter garments and materials are
cheapening.
This Is, indeed, the day of the thrifty
housewife who keeps an eye open to every
opportunity TO save an occasional dollar
The stores are exhibiting many genuine
bargains.
TO GET AND NOT TO GIT.
Such things as wraps and millinery 1t L
wisest to leave 'alone. They may be chear
enough; they unqutstionablv are so just
now, but the eve Of prophecy itself could
not predict which styles would be possible
for next season.
Dress goods and silks are safer and I'M
derwear and white goods afford decidedly
tempting prices this month.
The general effect of the prevailing
modes is to produce the straightest, long
est lines, making the tall, slenderly grace
full women happy and their stout. short
sisters miserable. The bodice is extremely
| long-waisted and the fourrean skirt simply
| follows natures self.
THE PRrNcEssE FORM.
II is not surprising that the Princess
| form has been brought into great favor
One Of its happiest forms, adopted usually
| for street wear, is as follows: The gowI
proper is strictly en- princesSe, the close
| fitting waist merging into the sheath-likt
skirt with no dividing line, sloping down
| smoothly over the hips. Above this, how.
ever, is worn a coat somewhat in "reeter
style thrown wide open in front. Ii APP
| breaches somewhat the directoire mode
being very long.
| THEIR ALLEGED WIT.
The hats they are wearing on the stree
are very fat, covered with velvet, anC
\ trimmed low with ribbons. The para
| graphists and cartoonists are once mor'
| exertlng their wit upon the old subjec
| Of high hats at the theatre, but so far as
| have observed think this ia quite unjus
tifiable. since the evening bonnet o
the season il very low and close
II is an extremely brilliant affair how
ever. Here is an instance: The shape
small shell turban. 1t is covered LOOSELY
with full folds of pale-blue velvet, upol
which rest two large bows back and from
! of combined pale-pink and pale-blue creD
7 de chine. Around the front is o coronet o
| gem Dassementerie in torquoise and gold
There is an aigrette of psle-blue just be
hind this coronet.
SHE WEARS TIGHTS.
The girl of the period has improved in
| great many respects upon her mother an'
| grandmother; and IN none more perhap
than in casting aside good deal of old
| fashioned bordering and doing som
| things in a most charmingly innocent wa,
at which her forbears would have held III
| their hands in holy horror. For in
| stance, she wears tights. A it'll
| while ago this assertion made In tn
| fashion columns. was deemed empty sen
| sationalism; now it must be accepted as
| fact. The idea was suggested by tn
ladies' tailors, who advised their clients I
wear tights beneath their riding-habits /
| place of trousers. The girls were NOR
| finally adopted the horrid things-an
| from riding attire TO general use was but
| step. The modlstes advise now that the
| be worn altogether beneath the preyailIn
| fourrean skirt, and many women ar
| adopting them. Over the tights are wor
knickerbockers of cloth, and petticoat
| are sometimes altogether dispensed will
HANDKERcHIEP FAD.
| There is new fad that is now runnin
| up and down the gamut here. One wear
/ now q small square silk handkerchief {
| some brilliant color beneath the edge {
the bodice or thrust into the opening o
| the front. These bright little squares {
silk seem to have no possible use otht
| than to contrast the bodice. One wears
| different color with each dress. Certalnl
| they do not dispense with the cambr
article, which one still carries III one
pocket.
/ VARIOUS FASHION NOTES.
| The plush theatre wrap IS in short JACKIE
form, with flowing sleeves.
| PHYSICAL culture has rival in the De
| sarte system, which has been diverte
from its first high calling-that of teacf
| ing emotional acting to filling out tn
| curves of the neophyte's form.
| Ostrich-feather trimming vies with ~
| for popularity as garnlture for eYenln
| and reception wear.
| Having adopted everything else who
can be termed millinery trimming th
fashionable muff displays artificial flowers
A new form of drapery has been adopte
| over the fourrean skirt IN o few recen
dresses. Folds of the material are swarthe
about the hips, with short ends falling t
one side, giving the general erect oil
| sash Worn unusually low.
| Large plaids are favored for street-dres!
and rough-surfaced cloths are coming in, 8
| that our street-gowns are likely to b
/ chiefly conspicuous for their hldeousness
| They combine palest yellow with whit