Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-29
A SEASON FOR SILK,
VELVET ALSO AN IMPORTANT CON.
sTrTUENT or NICE FRocKs.
r~.r,n~ Drcs.es, D-mI-ToiIcttes, Recep-
ton and Dinner Gowns and Bai-hooin
Costumes Fashion Notes.
,c,,,,. ,ooa.pce Of tie Ricnmond DisDascn.)


present is decidedly silk season Is
evident to those who study the fasnion-
mates or frequent the dry goods stores.
And silk may be construed to include
velvet. Velvet Is an important constitu-
emf of almost every frock for any posi-
bile occasion at present produced. bre-
te,es. revers, corselets. shoulder-capes,
barthas. plastons, cuffs and sleeves are
alI fashioned OF the soft-pilcd fabric. ana
entire costumes are becoming not infre-
oueot Indeed, one of the most eloquent
visiting toilettes Of the year has oeen
created for a young married woman OF
rather stately and imposing proportions
IN n pin-striped velvet, combining dark
and pale green with a changeable ruby
sheen. showing silvery CLEANS In certain
ughts The frock has one OF those long
oat-basuues with round huted skirt Iali-
ing almost to the knees, showing III 'front.'
b,o triangular revers OF striped green
and white MORE. The skirt has demi-
train. the sleeves are big, single puits 10
the elbows.
DEMI TOILETTES.
Evening dress Is perhaps more interest
ing than anything else Just now, including
the important class of costumes known
as demi-toilettes, and intended for func-
lions less altogether formal than regular
dances. but for which quite as much taste
and outlay In dress must be displayed.
Reception and dinner gowns have, II may
be said, In general rather the best OF II.
They are apt to illustrate more original
/ and striking ideas than the dancing
I dresses.
! hgh-necked gown for evening recep-
tons illustrates the prevailing taste for
velvet. The fabric in this case is a PIN
! checked or dotted changeable green vel
| vet, the small dots being in gold. The
| skirt is en- tralne; down the front are
! carried houncings of Irish point lace
! jaboted or cascaded so as to enclose
| fan-shaped panel: from these iabots OF lace
! bands of the same are carried laterally
| in successive rows to the sides. In fact,
lace is most lavshly used on this dress.
| The jacket bodice ends in flare cut up
into little flaps; there is Bertha over
the shoulders of the lace extending from
a narrow fluted cape Of velvet over
which in turn a full collarette Of lace IS
arranged.
PALEST SHE'LL PINK.
For ballroom wear comes a very hand
some dress OF palest shell-pink satin. The
| tint is hardly to be described by the eX-
| preston "shel-pink'' it is something be-
| tween that and the deciously delicate
apple-b blossom shade. The bodice Is made
| In quite the old-fashloned way-round
| from the shoulders. but not SO deeply
cut as our grandmothers considered
proper. The front is smothered in folds of
real Point de Paris puffs of velvet in a
darker tone than the satin forming the
| sleeves which indeed distinguish the
| bodice from the older style which 1t
copies. There is a girdle of jewelled pas
sementerie at the waist from which fold
rich draperies of the lace over a founda-
ton Of the pink satin. These draperes
are caught up here and there in graceful,
but entirely irregular loopings. and the
effect is one Of extreme richness and
beauty. Around the edge there Il n
single, separate lace fiounce.
BROCADED SATIN.
A dlnner-gown included in another re-
cent importation was in brocaded satin.
which last season we would have called
eminence, and which Is certainly Of that
shade although we no longer hear the
word used. The skirt Stimulates the triple
| effect by being draped in three extra-deep
| flounces from the waist, of black Jetted
net The bodice is cut square in front
only, being higher behind. but merely
showing the neck and throat the Shout
| ders and arms 10 the elbows being en-
| tirely covered by the big sleeves OF
|
| effect OF these sleeves against the dark
| color Of the bodice is almost startling,
and Is certainly admirably conceived.
They are finished at the elbows with full
| falls of black lace. No gloves are worn.
VARIOUS NOTES.
| Jet has become most prominent fac-
tor I'm trimmings. and will be more used
this fall and winter than it has been for
| several years past.
! Ermine, chinchila, bear seal, black as
trachan (preferred in the MORE varia-
tom, sable, and skunk-these are the sea-
| sons furs.
Brown has achieved an unusual vogue
| among colorings, and is adopted for some
| combinations not heretofore deemed feasi-
| BILE 1t Is particularly united with black
and with white.
Fur trimmings on evening dresses are
not a novelty but this season the design
| ers have attained in this way some espe-
| caly striking effects.
We have not quite parted with the
| Eton Jacket, but it Is no longer easily
| identified in its latest and prettlest mani
| festauons.
Women in the swim will all possess err
mine capes this winter.
The new huted velvet capes with
ruffied little collarettes OF fur are also
extremely chic and dainty.
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