The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-10
WILL Be A SUCCESS.
The Fair Ones OF Helena Studying
Old Styles for the Colonial
Ball.
Many Beautiful and Historic
Gowns VIII Be Seen at the
Auditorium.
To DO One of tho Most brilliant So
cial Affairs Ever Seen In
Montana.

The question OF costumes for the colon
ial ball, which Ia TO take place on the 18th,
has been agitating tho minds Of the fair
ones to a considerable degree during the
past week, and all sorts of books have boen
dragged out Of dusty corners to assist in
bringing some light on thisi interesting sub
ject. AS tho colonial history of America
dates from the year 1907 to the close OF the
revolution, and as SO many of the colonies
were founded by different nations under
different reigns and conditions, there is no
doubt that the gentle searchers after
knowledge found in a field 30 wide and
varied to select from, more than enough TO
satisfy the most fastidiously inclined.
Tho influence of Elizabethan fashions
was still felt during the reign of James l.,
and certainly there could be nothing more
stately than the stiff, heavily embroidered
and beiewelled corsaRes, the slashed
sleeves and the pretty little caps, without
which the pictures of the beautiful Marie
Stuart never seem completely and the great
white ruffs or flowing collars which mark
the times OF the Virgin Queen"
Then follow the demure homespun gowns,
the white caps and aprons, and the folded
neckerohisf of sweet Ptiscilla's day.
Charles IFS reign heralded the trying de-
collete gown that requires perfect shoulders
to DO able to wear it with a grace, a style
that required a slopinR line from the neck
to the beginning Of the arm, its only re-
demption being in the bertha of lace that
edged the neck of the dress. Elbow sleeves
with huge puffs we're worn, and the bodices
b.d ryah tbo mama onpaarance of tbose of
to-day. The hair was eurled and love-looks
were worn.
Never were such vagaries in fashion as in
in the days of the good Queen Anne" It
was the time of startling and s%tupendous
head dressing; of f%urbelows. crinolines;
bodices. cut low and laced to torture; and
court plaster patches for the face of such
divers shapes and patterns that it became q
trade to cut and apply them; shoes. witt
! large buckles and such uncomfortable high
heels. hat the ladies seldom stirred abroad,
| except in sedan chairs, made with removable
I tops to accommodate the head-dress.
The style of d. ess affected most during
the brilliant part of colonial life in Viz
Rinia was that worn by the court of Crahles
ii. or the dainty costumes which Wat
teau has rendered immortal. The former
were generally of heavy silk, the skirt beins
full, but having no trimming, the wais'
short and over this was folded a hchu o.
lace edged NULL. A sash was often fastened
about the waist and tied in a Knot behind
Paintings of Martha Washington show hel
to have worn much this style of dress. The
hair was powdered and dressed high. The
Vatican style all are familiar with. The
pointed bodice. full paniers, square Gu
neck. the short brocaded pstticoat, givin.
just a glimpse of the pretty. high heslet
slipper, the powdered hair. and last, bu
not least, the Vatican ''plsat" in the bacl
makes a most charming tout ensemble.
1t would hardly be necessary to add NOR
to this list. save perhaps the picturesque
Dutch costume; the graceful costume worr
by the Hugeno. maiden. and lastly the en-
pire gown, with its clinging folds, squar,
neck, short waist and pulled sleeves, thu
gown which the ill starred Josephin,
brought into fashion, and which, from al
artistic standpoint, can hardly be sur.
passed.
There will doubtless be many beautiful
and historic gowns at the Columbian ball
The managers have certainly been thought
full enough to give plenty of scope for vari
GUS tastes. Why should it not be a success