Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-19
SPRING FASHIONS.
PRETTY PARASOLS HAIR
BINGERS OF THE SEASON.
Features of the Walking and
Driving TOilet---AfternoOn
and Indoor Gowns.
correspondence Of tho Richmond plsoa.c,l.l

WIN WHICH uhN ~ boLhR iOith W nSSS
the incoming season, dressed out in all
the new fnery that has been carefully in
preparation during the past months
Among the daintest, prettlest bar |
bingers OF the vernal season are the |
spring parasols. Several big establish
ments here have opened their importa- |
tons of these pretty objects, and their |
manifold beautIes tempt feminInity as |
Eve was never tempted. Many women |
are dressing up to their parasols. |
Having selected something especially |
charming in that line, they devise spring |
costumes to harmonic with the sun
shades both in color and detail. 1t is,
perhaps. beginning at the wrong end,
but it works, as the boys say.
MANY-PETALLED FLOWER.
What are the characteristics of this i'm
portant accessory Of the walking or
driving toilet in the spring OF 1898
Well, the novelty is a parasol which
resembles many petalled flower. The
material of the cover, instead OF beng
faulty carried around from rib to rib 10
form circular shade, is draped out over
each rib SO that at the edge it presents
the rounded, blunt appearance which
distinguishes the petal OF the wild-rose
and certain other flowers. The division
between the petals is well marked, the
fabric of the cover shrinking far up be-
tween the ribs. crepe de chine is much
used for these parasols, and in the
palest, prettiest tones of color.
LIKE A sJNFLowER.
A graceful white silk parasol had q
many-rayed ornamental centre. like u
great suntlower. applied upon the top,
consisting Of shaded golden velvet. A
parasol in rose shaded silk was covered
in black lace. of an ostrich-plume de-
sign, one graceful plume appearing IN
each section. The lace fell II deep
drapery around the edge. a parasol IN
white China silk over a pale-green silk
lining was partly covered and trlnged
with white lace. The lace was fulled up
to the centre along each rib, forming at
the edge festooned appearance. The
centre Of the parasol was of embroidered
white crepe de chine, in whose design
roses. rosebuds, and leaves were distn-
guishable, the natural colors being used.
THE STICKS.
As to the sticks they are moving the
Dresden China head seems to have by
far the preference. These handles con-
sist of round knobs, in white or black
China, richly decorated In deep blue
and purple tones, red and gold, or else
OF hooks like those on gentlemens
umbrellas. Twisted handles in natural
woods are also to be carried, and the
more extravagantly entwined and &C.
centrically involved they are the better
they are liked. They are called
"natural.' but surely nature. even IN
her widest moods, never produced such
hideous contortons as some OF these
handles represent.
VISITING TOILETS.
On afternoon street-gowns-w which are
usually designated visiting toilets, since
that is their reason for being-the appl-
cation of the multiple skirt trimming is
a feature. The single band of FUR or
velvet at the foot, with which the season
opened, was first superseded by the
double band, one being placed about
eighteen inches higher than the other
to simulate an oyerskirt. This idea
of the second skirt-did not find
such favor as had been expected for
1t. SO tho bands were multiplied.
Nowadays five such borderlngs is not an
unusual number. These are placed at
equal distances from each other so as to
reach little beyond the knee. On dressy
indoor tollets-gowns made tor recep-
tons or to be worn as dinner-gowns -
this peculiar skirt garniture Is also APP
| bearing. The bands are then OF narrow
ribbon velvet, or even OF satin ribbon.
They must in such case completely con-
trast the fabric upon which they are APP
piled.
A SPECIMEN DRESS.
One of the distinguished evening tot
lets of the latter season originated by
one OF tue Paris makers, but worn here
by stylish young hostess, whose mar
rage was celebrated hardly more than a
wear ago, is in one of the newest red
shades something that is a kind OF
compromise between terra-cotta and old
rose. If it has a name | do not know it.
The fabric is peau de so'e. In style,
there is fortunately nothing to recall the
empire. The bodice is entirely separate
from the skirt, and is finished with a
pair of futed paniers on tue hips that
are very effective Down the front IS
double jabot of embroidered crepe, the
embroidery being in pale tints OF rose,
Nile, and in metallic silver. The low,
almost square cOrsage is edged with the
same light material, which also forms
festooned deep flounce to the skirt. The
sleeves consist of high puffs Of the body
fabric. finishing with falls OF lace that
bring them nearly to the elbows. As to
the skirt, with the exception OF the
hounce, nothing could be palmer, but
there is a full train.
FASHION NOTE.
Shaded velvet roses will take promi-
nent part in spring millinery, although
the earliest productions retain the more
distinctly seasonable RESPONSIBILITIES OF
the valley, myosots, violets, and Mar
arites-forming the garniture for many
small shapes.
The bodice decoration, which origi
mated In the Bertha and has resulted IN
capes and frills and shoulder revers OF
all sorts, is to be developed in spring
gowns.
Our Albany Legislature has been
startled by a bill prohibiting the sale
and wearing Of crinolines and hoops
That is not the way to abate the nui
sance, however, and it seems likely tina
the amount of anti-crinoline agitation IL
} the daily press will produce an effect di
rectly contrary to theldesired one.
Women Of taste who are firing OF the
monotony OF sable hosiery are making
an effort to introduce change in favol
OF matching stockings to the color OF th'
gown, and good dressers will make thi