Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-22
SPRING FASHIONS.
EXTENSIVE DISPLAY or DRESS GOODS
AND WASH FABRICS.
various Designs ofEnelish wsOl chatsei'-
Present Fashions Closely Adhered
To-Gaiters Above street-BootS
,c.....Do.a.noo Of q. Rlohmona DIsDA.oA.i

fCorrespondence OF the kichmona OiSD@sN'-'
NEW YoRK, February 21.-The stores are
now beginning to display the first open
inpsn of spring dress goods ana WASH
fabrics. The latter are perhaps the most
interesting, and certainly the variety pro
duced for the season of 1891 Is most OK,
tsnsive. Both in these and in the Wool
dress goods. we are not TO wear any de-
cided colors, neutral tints and soft, duh
half-tones prevailing. The patterns 700,
Of the wash fabrics are exceedingly quieI
and simple for the most part.
Anew PIAIDs.
In the fine ginghams 9 few plaids nave
made their appearance, but they are plaids
anS wbite' or brown and white, or black
and white checked bingham has been Long
ore this consigned 10 limbo. The plald
o;ngbam of this season IL very dainty IN
5aad The colors are the most deilcate
and vell-chosen shadings of green and rose
color. the figure an open one, not reseLh-
bling the Scotch plaid. =
The quality of these ginghams, too, Is
o1ouisife. A great many of them show
,oiItnre of silk, and they are no longer IN
tended for kitchen wear. Some OF the
most stylish of spring street dresses VIII
" FJnpIish.wool challies are shown in the
usual large variety Of designs, and promise
10 be much worn.
COLOR PATTERNS.
In most of the cotton fabrics the pat
terms range about thus: Ground, pale PINK,
male heliotrope, or pale green; hgure,
biack polka-dot or large black circle or
twisted figure resembling cipher.
Ground. a pale gray, stripes in darker
shade of the same. and all-oYer ugIIe
of trailing vines; ground, a pale Dlue
covered with roses in small sprays tlVeI-
mating in pink and dark red. Ana ttoC Oh.
All quite simple, you see. Large patterns
are not shown.
THE PRESENT FASHION.
As 10 how they will be made up. They
follow the present fashion pretty closely.
A ilono-waisted effect is aimed at and is
freouently assisted by the addition OF sur
Mice reyers on the sides of the simulated
vest these revers being in plain material
10 harmonlze with the figured body fabric.
1'be skirt will DO no fuller or wider than
tbev are now wearing, and in the illustra-
tratlons l see no hint of tournure. The
back of the skirt falls in plain, long kits
or folds.
GOOD INVESTMENTS.
This is decidedly the time to buy wraps
They NAV be had at ones own price. Ot
course buying the wraps OF TINS season
with a view to wearing them next year IS
rather a lottery, but one is toiera0ly safe
within certain limitations. Some OF the
sbanes will certainly outlast this year.
For instance, two that appeared in the
midst of a large assortment whose prices
had been reduced. One was of the open
REFER shape in dark-brown plush, showing
a rolled collar of gray lamb's-wool, de-
scending upon the sides in straight reVers.
Inside this jacket appeared fitted waist
coat Of black broadcloth covered with hne
braid embroidery. The other one was
short coat of gray cloth, opening upon a
vest of black Persian lamb, the full, high
sleeves being of cloth and silk brocade.
STYLES IN CATERS.
II one has any pretensions TO style, one
wears CATERS, cloth over-gaiters, above
one,s street boots: and it is proper to wear
them of the same shade as the gown worn
above them. OF course that necessltates
| the possession of a number of pairs, but II
| one 10 dIsinclined to 90 to such expense,
| the shades which are proper with all man
ner of dress are dark-stone grays and tans
| and black.
! Colored cloth uppers are occasionally
seen upon the fashionable street-boots, too.
The boot most worn at present, however,
| Il n buttoned boot of plain, dull black kid
uppers, having the foxings of patent.
| leather. From the toe small, triangular
piece of patent-leather is placed pointing
| upward, and this IS stamped IN On orna-
mental design.
ORNAMENTAL HEAD-GEAR.
One sees nothing but violets on the hats
| and bonnets that pass one on the ladies'
| mile" Sometimes it is only tiny bunch
| or nosegay resting jauntily on the very
| edge of a great Gainsborough; again low
! turban will be made entirely of the bios
| SONS. The artificial flower manufacturers
have attained special facility with yioletss
and they oil look exceedingly like the real
| thing.
The morning negtigs is Of pale blue OF
| hehotrope crepe de chine entrdi1e, fitted al
the back, but quite loose in front, with
| cascade OF lace from the throat to the feet
OTHER FASHION NOTES.
Stripes in hosiery are not favored, but
where permitted they must run vertically
| The colors too are not the crude contrasts
| of former years, but are chosen artistlcal
| lv. with a view 10 harmony. They also az
| feet the prevailing neutral tlnts.
Boas are Of black cog plumes, and are &c
long as TO pass twice about the neck and
still leave one end reaching the waist, and
! the other below the knee.
Once more white gloves are worn fol
evening street wear or the theatre.
One sees corsage bouquets worn on the
| streets again, and the spring season will
probably make the fashion general. just
now they only wear small posies Of ylo'
| lets.
The stylish corset is neither of satin nor
coutille. 1t is of figured French batiste.
The shoulder-cape will remain with us
| through the spring season.