Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-04
CORRECT COSTUMES.
DRESSING THE SUBJECT or EsTHE-
TIC AND SCIENTIFIC STUDY.
ball Dresses for the "Buds". Of the Sec
son-Ths Street Gown for we'll
Formed wiiiowy Women.
rcorrsspond.rce OF tho fs,chmoud p,.p.,cn

tSWfseponu3kco VI mo hicnsuouu Di5potcnI
NEW YonE. January 8, 1891.
Dress was never in the history of woman
made so entirely the subject Of scientific
and aesthetic study as it is to-day. The
last decade hes even produced professors
Of dress, who instruct and advise their
pupils in the canons OF correct and artistic
attire. Chicago Chicago-has
Physical Culture and Correct Dress
Club" whose mcmbers are pledged to the
study and development Of these mysterious
laws. IL may seem like making what phi
losophers have always taught as is sub
ject of essentially little moment q too
engrossing occupation. Yet within few
years the era of intelligent effort will pro-
dnce u race of women who will be always
agreeably. appropriately, tastefully dress
ed. and we shall TO more meet in society
those solecisms of costume that are genu-
inely painful to delicate perception.
Certain it is that tho average woman does
not know how to dress herself. The vast
possibilities of dress rs a beauti6er. as an
improver, are TO her unknown, and the
rules of color and form that go to make up
taste are dead letters to her.
EVENING DRESSES.
Among tho features OF some Of the re-
cent evening dresses one notices that they
are trimmed with velvet applique floral
designs. These designsappear usually upon
the skirt, carried a. kind OF border, but
in the most irregular directions, entirely
around il. Sometimes they are also used
in decorating the corsage. One wears ones
evening glove so as to show somewhat
more Of the arm than heretofore it comes
not much above the elbow. Speaking of
gloves, for the street they are wearing tho
one-button style.
We are skating up here. and of course
have not wasted any time bringing out
skating suits. The skating costume is of
dark-colored cloth = plain basque aud skirt
without drapery. edged with fir; over this
o cape of mr., any longer wrap being un-
comfortable and IN the wsy. boa CON-
pletes the rig.
SIMPLE AND CHARMING.
Some of the late ball dresses for very
young ladies-the buds of the seeson-are
deliciously simple and charming. One of
them recently saw was of white mousse
line De sole over Ivory-white satin, the
niousseline having q deep embroidered edge.
The corsage opening was IN the pretty, old
fashioned round form, and not very low,
puts Of the mousSeltne with lace forming
the very brief sleeves: and on the left
shoulder cluster of Marechal Neil roses.
The front of the bodice very full and loose.
The looped drapery of tho diaphanous
white fabric showed but small space Of
petticoat, that being of delicate pale
pink and white brocade.
The fur border on tho plain skirt that IS
now worn with street dress has become
well-nigh inyariable.
STYLISH AND ODD.
Being debarred from using trimming or
ornamentation to any extent upon the
plain street-gown of the season (Which in
deed has gone back to the severest tailor.
made design the modistes exercise their
ingenuity towards making the model of
the gown stylish and odd. TO illustrate
One new walking-dress III dark brown
faced cloth exhibits the sleeves slightly
full TO the elbows and high-shouldered
the basque is very short, ending almost at
the waist; it fastens from the lett side to
the right hip. From the collar there is but
toned triangular plastron OF the material.
As for the skirt, the plain front breadth Is
folded over from the right side. having
worked button-holes on the edge of the
fold to correspond to row of buttons
placed along the edge of atriangular panel
which, beginning ut the right hip, contln-
ues to the foot of the skirt. This naturally
gives the front Of the skirt the appearance
of square apron, which has Just been un-
buttoned from the side drapery; behind
this panel at the side the back drapery
lapses into number of overlapping folds
or plaitS.
FOR EXCEPTIONAL FIGURES.
It will be seen that on this gown not
even so much as q scrap of velvet is used
in trimming; the entire effect depends
upon the cut OF course such costume
must DE faultlessly made and it - tho un-
fortunate feature Of these severely simple
cloth dresses that they look really well
only on exceptional figures. One must be
tall, slender, graceful, aud well-formed TO
wear such q dress adyantageously. Butin-
deed it is the season of the willowy woman.
The designers have conspired against the
petite and the portly sisters alike.
Poplins were never more IN favor than
| they are at the present time and one may
wear poplin dinner dresses, reception
gowns, or even use the soft fabric for eve
| ming.
FASHION NOTES.
The long plush opera cloak. with its
graceful dropping folds from the shout
| ders and its deep border OF SABLE or FER
sian lamb, is q most imposing affair.
Even the tea-gown is now adorned with
| fur. Fur was never so popular for TRIM
ming.
Some of the most singular shades Of yell
| low appear in the materials for dinner, re-
ception, and ball dresses.
Chestnut and mahogany are the colors OF
| the English walking gowns.
The girl who believes in charms has
| abandoned the yellow garter which she
used to wear above her left knee and has
strung q lot of amber beads about her
neck.
A startling innovation is the use Of cloth
for evening wear, but it may be predicted
| that cloth will be very general next season
| for this and for all similar occasions.
They talk of it even for bridal dresses.
II NJ