Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-15
FASHIONS COLORS.
IT SEEMS TO BE Go-AS-You-PleASE
FOR THE SPRING SEASON.
e.r,. of the Newest Models and Designs
TO BE worn-A Proposed Busine"
characterization Notes.
correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l

fCorrespondence Oh tno hicninohu D''f
NEW YoRK, March 1i.--Just what are the
season,s colors is something l haven't peen
oble 10 determine. In the matter OF color,
fashion says, go as you please this spring.
Most prevalent are the brown and WOOD
shades. grays, and some greens.
Plaids and checks and cross-bars are eA-
ceedingly popular, and the new woolens
show tendency to figures in silk OF frise
effect. In fact, PLAIN, solid color is be-
coming rather exceptional.
The prevailing admiration for tho long
WASTED appearance has naturally gIVeh
rise 10 the adoption of coat-walsts, reach
ing fully to the hips.
Imonc the newest models. the designs
for the spring season, O selection or two OF
three specimens will give some idea OK
what is to be worn.
SPRING DESIGNS.
No. is dress that would be usually de-
scribed as yachting costume, but IN the
present season representsa stylish walking
suit. IL is in creamy-white serge. made
with a short jacket, cut away at the waist,
within which appears waistcoat OF the
same fabric, fastened down the front with
plain gold buttons, which reappear IN q
larger size upon the coat. The coat IS
fashioned with large fat lapels, giving, it
even more distinctly the aspect OF the
orthodox sailor-suit. The skirt is plain
fourredn. From the bottom of it upward
eight or ten lines of very fine gold braid
are laid around. The edges OF the coat
and waistcoat arc also finished with gold
braid, and this with the buttons constitute
the only trimming.
STREET DRESS.
L.. - n ,u0n1lop o1a0 for
the street, is made with a long closed coat
which extends well over the hips. The
novelty Of its effect consists in kind OF
plastron of plain cloth over the front,
starting at the full width from shoulder
seam to shoulder-seam and extending down
10 point. On either side is row of
small buttons intended to appear as though
used in fastening the plastron in place.
DAINTY GOWN.
For summer DAYS is q dainty gown a IA
princesse in fine dark heliotrope foulsrd,
covered with white polka dots. Being on
tho princesse design, the waist attains
fashionable but scarcely natural length:
The gown is trimmed with cream-colored
embroidery. covering the front from neck
10 waist furnishing the cuffs, together
with deep hounce upon the skirt.
ABUsINEss COSTUME.
A few DAYS ago the National Council of
Women of the United States held its con-
yention at Washington and transacted
some rather important business-to wit:
passed the following resolution, which
quote from the sun:
" ResoLred. That the general officers shall
appoint a committee of women whose
duty il shall be TO report within year
suggestions for a business costume. for
women which shall meet the demands OF
boo1th comfort and GOOD tqctp-b
The sentiment of this resolution rather
sayors of a voluntary resumption of efete
sumptuary laws. "A business costume for
women" therefore uniform attire which
shall announce for the wearer: Behold IN
me business-womanl
WILL THEY WEAR IT?
Possibly the committee will not find any
very trying difficulties in the way of adopt
ING a costume. The difficulty will arise
when it is endeavored to persuade the mis-
guided business-women to wear 1t. I'M
agine the only women IN the world who
ever wore uniform happily are the body
guard of his Majesty of Dahomey. AS to
inducing the Business-Woma (mark the
capitals) to adopt distinctive dress it
would be as wise to attempt to induce our
great bankers to wear red trousers, our
wealthy merchants to assume blue coats,
or our prosperous politicians to make their
station in life evident by the wearing OF
purple togas. The business-woman, after
all, is not, cannot be separated from the
rest of her sex-to ask her to forego the
dearest privilege of the sex, the privilege
of dressing herself according to her own
sweet willis nothing short OF barbarous.
BUTTONS OF ALL KINDS.
Although many if not most of the new
dresses continue to be fastened invisibly
-, I'D ,,1a nd the. nnnh-
trusive hook-and-eye, yet buttons are to
be no longer neglected. We may no long
err employ them for useful purposes. We
cover some of our dresses with the discs
of metal or pearl or wood or what not for
ornament. Gold and silver buttons are
becoming plentiful, and on some new
gowns are used recklessly.
The corsage bouquet Is now almost IN
variable for the street. IL consists of
small bunch of blossoms, violets being by
far the most generally worn.
VARIOUS MOTIFS.
Silk-mixture glnghsms, very fine and in
beautiful effects. are among the seasons
most honored fabrics.
The new Henriettas are improved. They
are finer than ever and the range of colors
in which they are shown is something fear
full and wonderful.
The walking hat has a coquettish little
tilt upward and to one side over the fore
head that IS very fetching.
Peach and apricot are two among the
numerous new colors. The names are sug-
gestiye andexplaln themselves. The latter
of the two is likely to be more than popu-
lar.
The polka-dot simply revels in the new
materials.
Lent has put something of stop to eve
ming festivities. Not full stop, perhaps
something more like semi-colon, you
know-but we are foregoing such friyoli-
ties sufficiently to give US time to look af-
ter seasonable street attire. which now
Ill 4 oNA