Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-02-19

ing costumes have long been the models
Of neatness and servieeableness, II not
always Of becomingness. and fashion In
every country has demanded English
suits both for city and for tourist needs.
While we are justly prond OF being tho
pioneers in neat, useful and modest out
Of door garments. we feel that we have
soIle right 10 claim that our evening
and indoor gowns are quite a. tasteful
and handsome As any others The only
difference between ours and those OF Paris
or Berlin-snd shall we say Americas-is
that We seek To adapt our gowns 10 our
own peculiar type. which requires some
divergence from set rules.
With US the low cut evening dress Is
really almost one Of the articles OF faith
for women with clustering gray locks
down to the grandchild 1t her knee. The
rest Of onr gowns, however. are as high
IN the neck as our chins will allow, and
Ii was the English who set the style OF
high collars 90 universally admired.
Just now the Row Is full OF early car
riagcs. and some Of the hats, wraps and
gowns are bewildering, IN that no one
can tell from what century they have
beer evolved. But this much can be
said--there are wide Gainsborough hats
Of shirred velvet. black. prune or dark
green. and all are overwhelmed with
rich ostrich plumes, dropping almost in
. natural state, scarcely curled at all.
Besides the Gainsborough the next ia
vorite Is the turban in one OF its legion
Of varieties, as il is the next most becom-
ing to the British physiognomy; then
the poke, with its yellow velvet jonquils,
its primroses. its tulips or convolvui.
standing stifiy up and nodding IN
friendly manner. The flowers are gen.
orally natural size and as near the natu-
raj shade and color as possible. The nib
bons are exact reproductions Of those IN
vogue 100 years ago.
Young ladies whilc out Of doors, even
in carriages, wear their tailor made
gowns Of serge, cloth, tweed or cheviot'
with every detail plain to severity, but
all Of immaculate neatness and perfec-
ton Of finish. The French call Us raide.
but 1t suits us better than anything else.
No young lady wears a gown in tho
street to touch the pavement.
Married ladies can wear long garments
either in or out doors, and two such are
sent herewith to show what they are
when from the best houses. One is wide
vale bengalinc, black, cut princess
shape, the front opening over a black
velvet inset. The bengaline is cut away
at the bottom and bordered with band
Of black ostrich. Above that is an ap-
plique Of black velvet, bordered with
cut jet beads. The sleeves are Of the
same materials, the forearm having the
wales of the bengaline up and down.
The whole is buttoned with fine cut jc.
buttons. A black velvet turban has a
small jet ornament.
The other has the skirt Of novelty
cloth broche in black and puce. 1t is a
bell skirt and has a row Of moss trim
ming. The sleeves and yoke are Of the
Same material while the blouse is Of
puce colored cloth bordered with moss
trimming. The hat Is black felt. with
Alsatian bow of novelty ribbon surround
ed by two black feathers and osprey
plume. These two promenade costumes
are in the highest style and are favor
ties. bat that Of bengahne would becon
sidered too sumptuous for even . very
young married woman, and neither
would do for girl. though by shorten
ing the train the blouse costume might.