The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-17
THE WOMAN OF FASHION.
The Old-time Christmas Fever Has
Abated Considerably.

Abated Considerably.
More Common Sense Promises to Be
Employed-Dress Lengths That
Make Charming Gifts-GowninE of
the Christmas Shoppers-Two New
Gowns and a Model Velvet Jacket.
Copyright 1881
| New York, Dec. IA genuine Christ
mas buzz is in the air That period of de-
lightful suspense, so dear to the children,
is at hand. Everybody is busy, buying
presents. It is easier TO buy them this
! year, it would seem. For fortnight or
more ago, the shops put on an especially
inviting look; and those who entered in
search of gifts found the counters laid
out with fresh, pretty little trihes that
were almost irresistible. They say that
this year more economy will be praeticed;
that there will be less expenditure Of
lucre and much more of loving thought.
This would account for the multiplicity
of these small things, and it would also
bring great comfort to those thoughtful
souls who are really anxious TO remember
all their dear friends and acquaintance,
but whose purses refuse to cooperate
in the work of love. So many lists of
suitable presents had already appeared
in brief, besides the catalogues of the
! great shops themselves, that l shall re-
| frain from appending any long array of
names. Only let me say that if you are
! clever and deft with your tigers, and have
any originality, you will no doubt be able
| 10 manufacture much more acceptable
articles; and the thought and time be-
| slowed upon their preparation will be far
more gratifying than the gifts themselves
/ If you do purchase; however, try to
establish harmony between the recipi-
ent and the gift. Don't present the hand
| some scarf which you bought only be-
cause it was such bargain to the woman
whose house is crowded with them already
nor an elaborate silver pin tray to the
| girl that hasn't yet been able TO afford
cover for her bureau; nor an
elegant gold pen to the man who will not
write with anything but his old stub
under any circumstances. II you can
make your presents useful luXuries, they
are likely to be more acceptable than
those that look so pretty on bureau or
| table; but are always, nevertheless, in the
way. The dress lengths, both in wool
and cotton goods. which are in all of the
shops, make sensible gifts; and they are
coming more into fashion every day. One
| lAClu0GS llilAlkS anu
as well-while embroidery with the cam
! brics, and velvet bands or braids with the
wooden lengths. But if your acquaint-
| ance is too slight to warrant a useful arti-
Gle, bit of china, no matter how small,
| so long as it is genuine or an attractive
etching, will never fail to give pleasure.
For your literary friends you need never
/ be at q loss 10 provide a suitable gift.
Books in neat, sensible bindings, give read
| pleasure. ia
! This morning everybody was busily
| buying. The clear, crisp air seemed full
| of pleasant suggestions and the shoppers
| seemed gentler and kindlier than usual
| intent as they were upon their errands of
thoughtfuluess. ] noticed great number
| of the short, fur jackets that were cut off
| just at the waist, and worn with plain,
| heavy skirts. They made admirable
| shopping costumes, and were lightened a
| little by the softer sleeves that were in
! serted. A red-brown skirt had one of
these jackets of seal, and red brown
sleeves of moire. Another was an as
trachan, worn with a neat black skirt.
and with black velveteen sleeves. An
| other rather sensible costume was a cloak
| that fell to the feet, made of a heavy
dress goods. of mixed terra Gotta shades.
1t had a double-bOX plat back, and a
| plain front a single cape of green velvet
edged with sable band and green velvet
| sleeves.
One bright woman passed in q coat that
was Enthusiastically but cleverly remodeled.
| The scant back had been cut up in three
places, and wide VS. of black MORE had
! been inserted, so that a pretty and full
effect was given to it, A full moire cape
had also been added. There were some
ludicrous attempts to making last .year's
garments look stylish. One woman had
opened her sleeves at the top and inserted
an epaulette of astrachan. The coat was
otherwise severely plain. Another had
MORE sleeves of correct shape. put in a
| plain, short jacket of scant skirt and
! plain collar. A brown costume had been
| freshened by q narrow V of astrachan, run
ming from neck to waist, by moire sleeves
and bodice ruflie In black. In fact. 1 was
surprised at the quantity of MORE that
was in the streets to-day. IL is certainly
particularly handsome, joined to astra-
chan or the softer lamb. One girl sug-
gested land OF perpetual snow
clad in her long, high collared gar
ment Of gray krimmer; she wore q
| fat, plain tam-o-shanter, of the fur, as
we'll A very tall blonde passed, clad in
a three quarter length mink. | looked
at her for second in establishment, for
the shining bangs Of her hair were visi-
BILE both at the side and top of her head.
Had her hat blown off, | wondered2 Then
noticed a little rim far back on her head
and looking after her as she passed, saw
that the rim belonged to a queer little
braided bonnet that fitted closely to the
back of her head Two sleeves attracted
my attention. One striped lengthwise
with lamb and MORE, the fur wide and
the MORE narrow; the other, the thinnest
bands of astrachan running, slantingly,
round black satin foundation, in close
rows.
Two dainty dresses fresh from Paris
indicate that the tide is turning more and
more in favor of the tunic, the drape, the
skirt with godet plaits. Women will
not give up their comfortable skirts that
fit so easily over the hips, and give such
ample breadth at the feet, without protest
But the draped skirt that has appeared
shows no signs Of tightening and
drawing back, as did the skirt OF few
years ago. We have grown so accustomed
| to the width that admits of free, steady
walk, that the mincing gait would be too
irksome to be assumed again. And al
though the helplessness so inseparable
from 1880 was donued, as a garment,
for the nonce, methinks the true girl will
never submit TO shortening her easy step
TO the painfully small and insipid one.
But TO my gowns--a pretty cloth in lime
green makes the shirt of the one, braided
at the feet with plain pretty device. A
/ nriucesse tIInic of rich dark green falls