Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-29
THE COMING DIVIDED SKIRTS
some Remarkable Costumes Seen at the
Kenslngton Bazaar, London.
London TRUTH


The principal event of last week was the
bazaar in KensinRton Town Hall, at which
the stall holders exhibited upon their per-
sons their idea of the coming dress "
wherewith they claim English women are
TO be clothed when, If ever, they become
sensible
The dresses, though they did not pre-
cisely suggest mlllennlal idea, were IN
some instances remarkably pretty. There
was a tea gown, made on the dual principle.
by a BOnd-street dressmaker, which was
both graceful and sensible. The material
was silk. In the shade of an autumn beech
leaf. The skirt was accordlon-plalted and
the bodice was made IN folds, some OK
which we're edged with gold CONS. There
was a full front of heliOtrope SILK, and q
long sash of the same was tied ut the side
and hung down over the dress.
Though the skirt was divided" no di;
vision was apparent. 1t fastened round
the knees with elastic, but looked in no
way different from the ordinary skirt.
Another very pretty dress was worn by
Mrs. Wood. The skirt was divided. and
was composed of black serge. The blouse
and sleeves were of scarlet silk, and there
was O black velvet Zouave bordered with
gold embroidery. 4 long sash Of scarlet
silk was passed twice around the waist and
hung in fringed ends to the edge Of the
OfesS. Inc SuOto hcID OAtOh dhNt bAAO
stockings scarlet.
MUDDY WEATHER DRESS.
Mrs. Charles Hancock wore her muddy
weather. dress made by Nine. Gold
schmidt and adapted to tine idea of tennis.
This costume has CATERS and knee
breeches instead of petticOats. That worn
at the bazaar was in brown tweed, the
skirt being made with plaits held by elias
tics and short enough TO clear the ankles
we'll. A blouse of brown silk, with pulled
| sleeves of the same, was worn under o
zouave Of tweed, edged with brown cord,
which tied into a bow at the neck. A
| brown silk sash passed twice around the
waist and hung IN long ends at the LETT
side. A becoming little Toreador hat was
| in brown velvet with a fold of yellow silk
under the brim. 1t was really n very neat,
| trim, smart, and sensible dress with no.
| thing conspicuous or eccentric about II.
Lady Haherton wore dark blue " di-
yided skirt" with loose bodice % match,
turned back with blue silk and cord from
| a front Of sky-blue surah. The skirt was
| rather short and displayed the boots, on
which Iady HabertOn had evidently be-
slowed little thought or care. Her dress
| was entirely typical Of the severely sensi-
| BILE, so much 80 that one regarded the sky
| blue surah in the front Of her bodice as a
| graceful concession to the prejudice which
| demands that womans dcess shall have
something Of q decorative quality about 1t.
THE EsTHETIC ASPECT.
Mrs. Oscar Wilde in dual dress Of terra
Gotta turned up with black, sweet-faced
girl in fawn color, and another nice girl in
| gray helped out the aesthetic aspect of the
occasion. Mrs. Taylor was gently persua-
siye in Japanese male dress, anglicized
| in some degree as to the skirt, and
feminized in a still greater degree as to
bodice and bonnet. Mrs. Angus Hall, in
gray silk. gray chiffron, and black velvet,
with tiny cap TO match, looked as though
| she would like to make converts after the
fashion of MOhammed-viz., at the point
OF the sword.
Lady Sandhurst having in stern accents
| declared the bazaar to be open, the fun of
the fair began, and the ladies present were
edited by seeing the unlucky male report
ers walk round the stockholders at q very
respectable distance, looking both timid
! and perplexsd. They reminded one Of
| circus horses trottlng round the tan and
keeping well away from the centre and the
man with the long whip. Their vain en-
| deavors to ditferentiate between the Syrian
variety Of the divided skirt and the Japa-
nese first cousin could be distinctly traced
in their puzzled faces.