Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-15
FASHIONS IN LENT.
SPECIMENS or THEATRE
WAISTS VELVET AND CHIFFON.
p,,arre BriIlIancy and Conspicuous Eecsn-
.ricity-Rccsption and visiting GOWN
A Fetching Evening Wrap.
-. =, 49, pirhmnnd pispatoh.l

rra,-as,ondencs Of the Richmond Dispatcnl
NV YORK. February 1l.-Being in Lent,
one should, suppose, turn ones Thoughts
70 sober things. Dancing gowns shouiu %
oo,ef,,Ilv folded away in the innermost TO-
cesses of ones wardrobe. and II one mus.
turn ones thoughts on the fr1voiities Oh
fashion. let sober street-garb or humble IN
door attire usurp our attention during tne
penitentlal season.
Some OF us. however, are unregenerate
enough to dance even IN Lent, and then-
surely the theatres are not open LOT no
thingl .
Strange that my thoughts should wing
themselves nc such time to so ultramun-
dane a continuance as theatre, waist
but have lately seen some awtulIy tempt
ing specimens. One was IN q dnln COIL
binafion of copper-colored velvet ana pare
velIow chiffon. The velvet forms coat
bodice. somewhat in the LOUIS Quinze
shane. allowing a loose vest OF the chlmon
10 annear. folded in 'kerchlet fashion.
The coat il bordered throughout with
broad gold passementerle.
In one OF these garments one can haralY
violate good taste in the putting togetner
of the colors or in the design, since the
whole effect sought In o theatre WAIST Is q
kind of bizarre brilliancy and conspicuous
eccentricity. IL is one of those nondescrlpt
inyentions-fals. if you like-that society
has lately taken TO Its heart and oherlsnes'
MEETING AND ENTERTAINING.
lent. however. makes it tolerably GER
tain that there will be no more big dances
given. and society always makes certain
outward observance of the season, so that
friends and acquaintance find means OF
meeting and hostesses OF entertaining IA
the more informal ways permitted. ones
afternoons at home become relauVely oI
much importance during the season when
more lively occasions for seeing ones social
circle are forbidden, and receptions, ana
consequently visiting gowns, take high
rank in ones thoughts.
RECEPTION GOWN.
One of the younger hostesses, q pro-
nounced blonde, wears reception gown
that is worthy of imitation-that Is, by the
vellow-haired among the sisterhood.
determination of the gown is o Prlneesse
form in primrose pedu de sole. Slightly
omen at the throat-in the very smallest
Wit has a high Medici run which Is
lined with black Spanish lace. The out
side of this standing collar Is part OF
coat basque of a dark rich yellow, smooth;
faced cloth. The shade is not quite ola
nearly az Il does any shade of yellow on
which name has vet been bestowed. The
fourrean skirt shows O founce, at least
eighteen inches deep, of primrose crepe Ge
chine, plated. On the coat are edglngs OF
wide passementerie in gold and .heliotrope'
and beneath the open front glrdie al tne
waist is seen to be of the same.
VISITING COSTUMES.
The visiting gown is synonymous with
afternoon street or carriage attire. In
fact the designation is altogether arbitrary.
But still they will show you IN the, larger
modiste's establishments dresses that are
specially entitled visiting costumes.
One so labelled may be described as fol-
lows: The material was striped brown
and fawn camel's-hair, exquisite in quality
as some of these new camePs-hairs are:
The dress was made with rounded
woke. cut in points upon the edge where
| it met the dress. this yoke being OF
brown velvet covered with fawn and brown
braiding. The skirt was on the prevailing
model in its general form, but there was
distinct drapery upon the front in the
shape of very plain square-edged apron
that was drawn up slightly to the right
hip. so allowing mere suspicion OF brown
| velvet petticoat to appear. Down the edge
of this drapery, as well as upon the line OF
the fastening OF the waist which passed
down the left side, brown braid psssemen-
terie upon o ground of fawn-color was
stitched.
PICTURESQUE AND BECOMING.
They show a fetching evening wrap,
which, skilfully made, Is most picturesque
and generally becoming. 1t Is on the STYLE
of the shoulder-cape, but made OF SOFT
material. capable Of drapery effects. One
side OF the front is long enough to be
| thrown across the opposite shoulder. Inc
material is sewed to pointed yoke OF vel
vet. ornamented with braiding.
| Linen collars are to be restored, and TINS
is information that will probably not be
unwelcome to the majority of womankind.
OTHER FASHION NOTES.
The Medici collar apparently stays. Its
| popularity has been steady from the com
mencement of the season.
| Bead passementeries have regained some
of their whilom excessive favor.
What neutral-tlnted community we are
getting to be. Esthetics frown upon de
cided colors and womankind will soon be
as soberly alfred as the worser half OF hu
manity.
The new felt shapes in hats have taken
to spreading sidewise. One gets no Idet
of their horizontal dimensions TIL real
view is obtained.
In iewelry the newest object worn is {
necklace of the very tiniest links, with {
tiny ornament. 1t is made so as to encir
Gle the neck very closely, and sometimes
the alternate links are single diamonds, IL
skeleton settings, that sparkle brilliantly
against snowy throat.
The advent Of the divine Sarah this TIM
can have little result on prevailing fash
ions. Our present attire is too attenuateC
for the slenderness of it to suffer any ex
tension.