Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-10
FANCIES OF FASHION.
DRESS YOURSELF IN A GOWN THAT
LOOKS LIKE YOU.
The Decollete-New Novelties and
Evening Gowns.

SAN Francisco, May S.-There is no
use of my trying to talk about anything
but Bernhardt's late performances, at
least for dozen lines or so. Have you
ever seen her gowns? The queerest
thing about those same gowns is that
you never think to notice them until
'roused by sense of duty. Then when
you do notice them you can't tell what
they are made of; what colors they are,
or how they are fashioned. Your eyes
are caught by the narrow drapery, and
your mind at once wanders-wanders
hopelessly. You think what delight
full little creature she is. There's a
gleam OF something bright somewhere
on the skirt. Your mind wanders
again. What brilliant eyes she has,
thinks that wandering mind, and the
gown is lost sight of once more.
Now, isn't there a great big object
lesson in all this? That divine Bern
hardt has not the least, little bit of an
idea of attracting attention to her
gowns. She wants people to look at
her, and they do.
That's because she's as great an artist
in dress as she is in acting.
She never dazzles you with the glitter
of her jewels. She never appalls you
with the sumptuous glory other raiment.
Never, never!
Her clothes are so cunningly charac-
teristic that they look as much part of
her, as if she were shining leopard
clothed in fascinating spots. When
she's gowned in that queer grayish,
nraanich uallnUich mini fhinn chn
wears in the first act of Cleopatra, you
can't imagine her in anything else.
Then when she drifts about in still
more wondrous gown in the next act,
you can't think for the life of you how
she looked before.
My dear young lady, take lessons
from this great genius. Learn how to
dress like yourself, not like some one
else. Learn to wear clothes that look
like you.
Another thing about her dress. She
never let's one feature of it outshine the
other. You can't say: "What a lovely
girdle. What magnificent clasp!"
Not at all. You say: How beautiful
she looks ~ Understand?
x*x
Angels and ministers of grace defend
US The decollete has sprung up again.
When, oh when, shall a suffering public
have surcease of sorrow? That old, old
story has had its fnis written at the end
of it aeons ago-aeons and. aeons ago.
Immodesty is out of fashion, begging a
whole lot of gentlemen's pardon for con-
tradcting them. Ourfeminine jeunesse
doree have taken leaf from the books
of the melancholy dame, and they have
learned to "assume virtue if they have it
not"
Women are not half such dwelling
idiots as the press of our land of the free
is fond of insisting-not half. If they
were, should feel inclined to rend my
newest summer get-up and choose sack
cloth and ashes for the rest of my sor-
rowing days.
Are women modest, forsooth! l wish
to heaven the papers would stop talking
about it, and give the poor things a
chance. That shrinking blush which
adorns the cheek of the average man
might become hardened into brazen
hue, were he constantly being discussed
in the deliciously delicate way vouch-
safed to women.
1t is trife disconcerting to retiring
nature to see her name in the columns
of an article which is scare-headed with
| the thrilling question: "Do women sit
on the floor to don their stockings ?'
But, after having her most delicate
lingerie gloatingly described by So
| ciety reporter the retiring nature be-
comes resigned, and-well-
x*x
What earthly difference does it make
to any ore whether women stand on
their heads or sit on their shoulder
blades when they are at their toilettes
Nobody cares jot. Not jot. But the
Sunday editor won't believe that. Never
in the wide, wide world. He goes on
devoting columns to the task of snatch
ing away whatever modesty women
have, and then he sinks the iron in her
soul by crowning discussion, in which
he asks again, in even bigger and boldel
type, "Are Women Modest"
xSx
Hair dressing just now is classic
severely classic. The locks are made
up in loose, careless looking waves,
then drawn back tight and tied on the
crown of the head; then twisted round
and round and in and out, and hithel
and yon, till the hair reaches the back
of the neck. Sounds complicated
dosen't it? Well, it isn't. It's simple
but words are great deal harder thar
deeds in this case. It's relief to fine
a case of that kind once in while.
**x
White corduroy is coming in. It's
pretty and it wears forever-literally
forever. It's lovely to slip on when the
sun shines gaily but there's bit OF COO
breeze-one of those afternoons when
you want to look cool and feel warm.
Xxx
The latest thing in wells is the "won'
you walk into my parlor veil," 1t is
tuelle and right above the prettiest dim
pie there's an ugly spider spinning bis
web Well, contrasts are everything.
x*x
Evening gowns are enhancing. They
are using soft laces in combination will
bright brocades, and the effect is gor
geous. A draped front of beautiful LACE
with white and gold brocade en- trail
is striking, isn't it?
NINE. LIE VANwAY.