The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-11
THE WOM.iy OF FASHION.
Very Sensible to Remarkably Foolish
Woman.

While society holds its breath and waits
In anxious suspense the first drawing
room Of the London season, 10 be given by
the Princess of Wales early next month.
and while Mrs. Stanford's Anti-Crinoline
League I'm London Is working hard to
secure a few more thousand women on
its lists. let US look about us and see
what lies Just at hand We have still
a month before we shall know positively
whether crlnoline Is to be on the other
side Of the water, for nothing can be
known until that first drawng-room is
over. All we know now is that the royal
family has not co-operated with the
league, and that, therefore, there is
strong possibility that the crinoline may
show itself on that first great occasion.
And IL IL does. woe unto us! for sooner
or later. in spite of all efforts against
II. II will reach us over here. For London
society is bound TO follow in the foot
steps OF the princess Of the realm, and
America Is bound TO follow the leadings
OF foreign danes.
But in the face OF these tantaliZing
facts let us continue on our peaceful
way for another month. Let us be quite
oblivious 10 the fad that at the end Of
our short respite We may become meta
morphosed, may assume an altogether
different identity, may change from the
Independent fin-de-siecle girl 10 the droOp-
ing, blushing. weak. helpless bit Of femi-
ninity, all skirts and draperies of a few
generations back. After all. there is no
time like the present, and there are plenty
of other things to think about. Somebody
is always devising something new.
Just now ii is skirt trimmings. You
may trim your skirt first with a row OF
feathers, shade to suit your fancy, and
the dress, and, above. a series Of half
shells and-coquilles- velvet or satin
ribbon. Or you may start again with
your feathers and have narrow bands
embroidered in the shades of your gown
on white cloth, laid above. or you may
have a closely-twisted roll OF ribbon at
the edge, from which rise curving bands
OF ribbon, each headed with a bow. or
you may cross your ribbon bands all
around the skirts, tipping the crosses with
rosettes.
Then there's a new fichu falling from
the neck in front in the real old-fashion-
ed lines, long and slender below the waist
line. \ scant ruifie runs around the
sleeve line in front stopping at the
shoulder. From shoulder bows fall long
straight streamers Of ribbon, in the front
only.
Then the very latest cape. looking just
as dowdy and old-fashioned as you
please. has a Henry III. collar, and, fall
ing below, a plain cape long in front,
sloping up toward the hips and short I'm
back 1t is of purple velvet. The collar
is prettily embroidered with jet. and the
dainty satin lining is Of palest yellow.
Now, there's a magnificent evening
gown which deserves our careful atten-
ton. What a striking effect gives the
violet velvet border on the heavy white
satin, particularly when the velvet is
edged by narten sable and the satin Is
heavily embroidered, far up the front, in
rich gold threads. The corsage is still
more striking, for it reminds us Of great
blossom, with the petals just opening
The flower is white beneath, and on II
the petals OF violet velvet lie. each sepa-
rate. standing apart Just a little, and
turned over and in at the top on the white
decolete bodice beneath. which Is edged
with gold gimp. Small violet epaulets are
attached to the shoulders by velvet
choux. Beautiful white satin pulled
sleeves ere edged with finest Marquise
nOuncing Of mOusseine de sole.
OF course a triple cape is worn with II.
and. OF course, the capes and high Medici
collar are edged with sable.
The debutante's color has come to be
pink Not the delicate, faint tint. that
one might suppose she would fancy, but