The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-05
THE WOMAN OF FASHION
FASHIONS CLEANED FROM A VISIT
TO THE WIND CITY.
The Chicago Girl Less Daring Than Her
Sister In Gotham-Driving Costumes
A Five O'Clock Gown.
Copyrighted for The Times, 1881

NOOpyIlSHIcu LOT Inc Times, lo5o.l
CHICAGO. Nov. 2.-The glory has de-
parted; the curtain has been rung down.
and the Worlds Fair. officially speaking,
is no more To be sure one may still en-
ter the gates and look upon what remains
Of the Wilderness and greatness; but there
is little satisfaction in such viewing.
For too many traces are left Of the ra-
wages, not Of time. but the great sight
seeing American public, and the multi
tudes that swept the grounds and edifices
this last week found much OF the fresh
ress, the brilliancy. the fascination gone
The once luxurianr Wooded Island was a
sorry-looking spectacle OF withered
shrubs; great deal Of dust had crept sly
ly over some Of the exhibits. and lay there
unmoiested; the caravels, always too big
for tne uny pOnu IN wnicn they lay
assumed caTe-worn and foot-worn ap
pearance; even the great buildings were
Clipped here and there, and were too
obviously limitations to be awe-insplring.
Yea, thought l. the committee was
wise In deciding that the closing date
should not be postponed. The strain
too great.
Even the people hadn't the freshness
that the earlier throngs displayed. There
were very visible tokens OF WEAKNESS In
the listless way many of them looked
at the exhibits. I searched there IN vain
for the beautiful in dress. A strict sim
plicity among the well-dressed was pre-
served, and black was the general color.
SO / turned 10 Chicago for ideas, to find
that Western breeziness and iiberality
of ideas had not permeated the dress OF
the Chicago woman TO any great extent.
One would need TO look long before dis
covering a girl that demonstrated unmls-
takably by dress tokens that she could
not have been an inhabitant Of Gotham.
Neither could one charge the girl from
the Windy City with that craze for in
discriminate wealth of color that mas
marked the Gothamite. The former I'M
derstands the art of dressing WELL ana
does It with less of the stir and hustle
that mark the extensive preparations OF
the fair Gothamite.
one is Immediately and favorably I'M
pressed with the quiet gowns OF the
driving portion OF society. Very unas-
Stunning wrsps and capes were the RUE
although I noticed a few brilliant ones.
4
dav visited it, and two or three bright
garments caught my eye. A rich dark
green velvet cape was embroidered in
bip black iet points all around the bot
tom. A small plated collarette was SINH
Iarlv embroidered and edged with narrow
sable. A purple velvet wrap was trimmed
u.tb mink and had a velvet capote
accompanying II, with trimming OF boiuen
brown velvet and mink.
Another green was a quadruple peie-
rine all of velvet. that fell not even 10
the elbow. so short were the capes. Inc
nelerine did not pretend TO meet in 'front.'
hut turned back instead, IN passementered
revers In front, at the bottom OF pele-
rine and rever. at each side was a velvet
nun from which long fronts fell even 70
the feet. Another feature that Gladdens
The beart among all the blaclness ana
eriminess Of Chicago IS the flower spray
that is fastened TO the bodice or cape Oh
ca many women. IL IS easy to see Ihd'
flowers are popular here.
Some of the street costumes, too are very
charming. A neat brown figure deil5h,'
the eve. The fine serge has narrow coru-
,ng ~ brown at the bottom. the lohB
taeket with fashionable plated SKIRT
falls away from a silk blouse OF soItea1
old red A dull copper gown, showing d
scarcely discernible check, has a slihpie
skirt trimming OF triple braids. me Dig
revers similarly trimmed, turn back IRON
a vest Of copper Iassementerie. A more
GORGEOUS gown. OF brilliant red SATIN
Ground is so hidden by the duh velvet
nile that covers il that only scarlet
CLEAN here and there is percepuble. one
catches a glimpse OF scarlet satin lining
in the cape, however, ard sees scarlet
trimming In the otherwise sober nat a
rich wallhower red Is covered with
Louis XIV Jacket I'm velvet, or the same
shade heavily embroidered in silver work.
BROAD shoulder bands OF the embroidery
are pointed at the waist, and then re-
widened below
one rather brilliant costume / recog-
nIzed Immediately as a Paris production
n bore unmistakable signs OF the Parls'
ian gown. The coloring was In two OF the
latest shades-"abbesse." red violet
and "Alsace." a darker violet. The skirt
edge was neat ruche Of the Alsace IN
satin. The gown proper was OF me
wool. I'm the abbesse, and the fun sklit
had a trimming Of black braid, very OPEN
arranged I'm long points all around. Inc
bodice was gathered simply, caught INTO
a braided belt. The chief feature or the
costume was a rounded velvet collar OF
Aisace velvet, that came over the should
ers. from the back, to fall in long reyer'
narrowing slightly just at ce waist
Follow the career of the rever 1t was
slit through the centre below the waist
and the back portion was fitted into the
SKIRT. TO form a paLel at the back Of each
side. The front half fell loosely TO the