Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-06
FREAKS OF FASHION.
THE STYLES or A FEW YEARS AGO
AND THOSE or TO-DAY.
A pem,.Toiyettc which Combines SIX ana
cioth-A Jaunty Tailor-Made street
Dress-Eyenins Gowns.
roorr..nondepco Of tho Richmond Dispatch.l

roorrespondence Of the Richmond Dispasch.l
NV YORK. Decem Der 5.-Every age APP
n,apds most It's own taste. With the COM
inc Of every season we imagine we have
finally attained every excellence dress ana
personal adornment are capable OF. we
contemn and hold in little esteem tue
fashions, not alone of the vanished Gays
fifty or hundred years ago, but those
merely Of last season.
One chances, for instance, at the plates
In sorne of the fashion publications OF 1881
or 1sss-only three or four years since
aud eyclains: at isn't possible we ever
dis6gured ourselves by wearing suon
hideous and unnatural styles. TOT
fashion has but q short memory, ana 4 i .H
few of you ever recall the time W1en w "
hustle was O sine qua non ana one
snnarent contour was friRhtfully de-
formed by fullness a. ungraGe-
mi as II was unnatural. Take up, the
newsnaners Of those years and you Will see
advertisements of a hundred-and-oned lI-
terent STYLES of bustles and dress I'M
proyers. Take up the newspaper Oh To-
day aud you will not find one.
THE DRESS OF TO-DAY.
Now, shall DO as fatuous as the rest OF
INV Generation and admit that the dress OF
the season of 1922 Is at last the ldeal.
This IL an imbecile conclusion ana tnere
are plenty Of reformers and @sthetlclanIs
TO deny II and to prove their case VIII
every argument OF sanitary anu VI aiVi9''e
reprobation. SO be 1t.
But the dress of the day is graceful, not
oyermuch. addicted 10 turbelews ana rip
peries. adapted as no attire since the GAYS
III the FIRST Empire has been to the true
lines of the figure. and betrayinR no aO-
surd extrayagances.
RECEPTION COSTUME.
To descend from distractions to concre;
.,ons here ia gown that represents all
that is good in our present modes. ~ Is
reception costume--a denl-tOtteue whlcn
forms part of a recent trousseau- You VIII
not be surprised to learn that 1t combines
silk and cloth. That has become frequent:
The back of the dress is en- prtncesse, OF
moss-green faille, fitting over the hips
with only the natural folds. OF the mate
rial. descending into a rather full train.
The sleeves are inserted of white brocade
with pompadour fgurings IN green ana
rose. This back portion OF the dress
is drawn together in front only AZ tne
waist. having thus the effect or an over
dress at the sides, where 1t falls away,
there IL an edging OF point de Ventse, with
an occasional rosebud and leaves. ia
boted revers, in agreement with TINS trlW-
ming, are brought from the shoulders 70
the waist About the waist IS drawn a mar
row girdle Of roses. Within the reyers is
vest Of cream-white .suran' matched pc
low the waist by the front breadth OF the
skirt. which is of cream-faced cloth. ms
is embroidered from the foot upward with
jewel designs.
STREET DRESS.
T. 4bo T,,l;eb viCoUnpa MeltOng. and
cameps hairs are produced some OF the
iauntiest tailor-made street dresses. A
dress of this kind is made with the plain
sheath skirt, the usual short coat, open. IN
front with broad lapels. exhibiting inside
waistcoat of tan or white faced cloth,
sometimes doube-breasted. Then within
this there is q chemisette, finishing WIN
the standing linen collar and fourth.
hand" tie. 1t is q transcript OF correct
gentlemen's morning attire.
The cloth evening gown has attained
immense vogue. The cOrsage IL always
finished either with fur or feather edglng,
and the simple severe lines OF the gown
have an attraction that distances that Oh
the conventional costume Of silk and bro
cade.
One of the hsndsomest long evening
wraps have seen recently. was IN hleayy
white satin, brocaded with vlvld-hued but
terAies and beetles.
CARRIAGE WRAPS.
Several imported carriage exhibit
ed by a celebrated house here merit few
| words of description. There is one cloak
| in prune-colored cloth, trimmed with dark
purple velvet and with sable. The high
| collar is bordered with the fur, the gar,
ment falling over the shoulders IN Iuil
| folds: lined throughout with black satin
| brocade. A similar shape is developed In
| dark-green velvet, also garnlshed with sa-
| BILE. edged with heavy gold cord. The
| front fastens obliquely at the waist. A
| third wrap, in the form Of cape, Is In
| dcoj0u velvet combined with rich velvet
| brocade forming deep yoke. The yoke
and the edges of the garment are edged
with seal, inside which IS band OF Jewel
| paSsementerle.
OTHER FASHION NOTES.
Christmas buyers are beginning to
| throng the shops. The usual perplexity
which annually recurs arises once more
and every one is puzzled as TO the appro-
| priateness of the holiday goods offered
| them as gifts to kindred and friends.
Ones muf in tho present season Is a
| dainty trife OF broad ribbon, mingled with
! velvet and bound about with mink or
sable, the fur heads peeping shyly out.
The n-jacket effect appears on many
| evening dresses, but instead OF finishing
with a high collar. there Is square cor
sage opening.
The "Caperchin" hood adds coquet-
fish effect 20 many of the long wraps,
showing heavy border of fur.
Even where the balance of the set Is in
batiste lawn, or nainsook, it is usual now
to make the night-dress OF creamy India
silk. trimming with black lace.
! The ONLY form of attire, whether for the
house or out-of-doors that has escaped the
omnipresent fur appears to DO the riding
habit. and l offer the suggestion of finish
ing the habit with n fur garnlture TO the
! n,0distes for what it is worth.