Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-13
FASHIONS FOR THE SEASON.

There is no golden mean in evening robes
This winter You NAV either look delight
fully simple, girlish and unsssurlng, or par
tieularly magnificent regal, impressive.
That is the beauty of the Empire Ii de-
sired, no stvle can be made to look richer,
handsomer, more overawing; but if you
vearn for sweet simplicity, behold it in the
Empire, with its soft, fine effects.
Never did l see this more strikingly ex-
emplified than at the moment when 1 looked
at two evening toilets, lying side by side in
a fashionable modiste's. Both had an En-
pire touch, and yet one was lghtness and
delicacy, the other all splendor and mag
nihcence.
The first was in pale water green satin,
cut low and square, and fitted close to the
figure Over it hung loosely or floated-as
they saw so much more expressively In
French-a tunic of cream lace. The deli
cate edge of it stood up above the decollete
corsage, and Just beneath lay band of
rosebuds; the buds went up over the shoul-
ders as well, and around the edge of the
lace at the foot High standing, short
lace ruffies formed the sleeves.
The second was velvet, rich black velvet,
aud was cut in deep, rounding point at
the neck. Immense shot velvet puffs for
sleeves, and long, full train added to the
rich effect, which was slightly toned, how
ever, bv an Empire cloak in cream lace that
partially covered 1t. The cloak was fastened
to the low-cut neck in 'front.' but then swept
away on either side so completely that none
OF it could be seen In front save its large
scalloped edge. 1t covered the train, how
ever, almost completely. A dull gold pas
sementerie belt clasped the black velvet
The modste showed me another, cut in
the style of 1880, which is also being sue
cesstully revived. All we seem to care
about at present is what our great-grand-
mothers wore, and proceed 10 copy as
closely as possible 1t is to be hoped that
we confne ourselves simply to copying
gowns For if we ever take TO the quaint
old bonnets of those days, woe be unto US!
The 1880 dress was very youthful look
ing. 1t was a dinner dress for a very
young girl, and was made of light China
blue toulard. Three ruffes in mousseline
de sole, finely embroidered in gold thread,
adorned the skirt The ruties were so tar
apart that the top one came within II
inches of the narrow gold belt, that had
little pendants of wrought gold at the clasp.
The ruffie at the edge was a tiny one; the
one about u inches above was considerably
deeper-I should say about 6 inches; so
was the top one. A berthe of this same
lace went around the low neck, and the
short bell sleeves had lace ruffies also.
BY this time was SO interested in even
ing gowns that L wanted to see more, and
so l betook me to another place. Having
expressed nv harmless desire, there was
brought out for my inspection beautiful |
ball dress that 1 fell quite i'll love with. 1t |
was pale corn yellow: made of Dengaline, |
and in a particularly simple style At the /
edge of the skirt there was no adornment O /
fact that 1 noted with little surprise. The |
yellow was simply turned in a deep hem. |
At the top of the hem, however, was gar
land of roses, strung alone, with no stems /
or leaves These we're very pale-just a
touch of.yellow in their centers. The roses /
hung i'll scallops all around. At the edge
OF the bodice they were laid, also: this
bodice was cut off perfectly straight, from
shoulder to shoulder, back and front, but
not very low, and had short bell puffed
sleeves The yellow belt, which was simply
ribbon knotted and hanging in streamers
in front, was covered at the knot by more
roses.
L saw brocade dinner gown, too, that
impressed me wonderfully. 1t was a green,
and fine gold thread outlined the palm
leaf design in it. 1t was cut princess and
had lace front that was gathered closely |
together at the top of the decollete bodice,
but spread out wider and wider as il fell
over a rose-colored satin front Velvet
sleeve puffs, the shade of the gold in the
brocade, were caught around above the ell
bow by pearl embroidered passementerie, and
three strings OF pearls adorned the bodice's
front, caught up in the center by gold
clasp. The dress was most lovely.
EVA A SCHUBERT.