Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-21
GRADUATING GOWNS.
WHITE BENGALINe, FAlLLE, AND
SATIN AND BROCADE FABRICS.
Snowy white Shoes for summer Teiie's.
sessonabis Dresses Follow Close
on spring Models.

fcorrespondeace OF the Richmond Dispesch.I
NEW YORK, May 20.--The college-ored,
fin de steele young woman, despite seientinc
attalnments and erudition unspeakapie.
at commencement time forgets that sneis
an undergrad and remembers only that
she is girl and that she wants to look az
attractive on that momertous occasion as
it is possible for nature and fetching
gown to make her.
Immemorial tradition dictates white as
the distinctive color for graduation frocks
as well as for wedding.dresses. So the
girl who is just about to shake the dust OF
college. school, or seminary from ner
dainty feet, must choose white toilette
for the inaI tableau. The age Of the
graduates. together with the chsrac-
ter of the occasion, have made IL
rule that the material and general makeup
of commencement costume should De
simple. Girls who throughout the term
have been undressing their classmates by
virtue or superior allowances will proba-
bly, not fail on the farewell occasion TO IN
troduce frocks of white bengaline. faille,
or even satin and brocade. Indeed. seve,,
raj graduation gowns of tho tirst-named
fabric, elaborately trimmed with lace, have
been shown here before being sent to their
destinations.
EXCEPTIONS.
But they are in questionable taste and
are the exceptions TO general RUE OF
plainness and Responsiveness. emma SILK
seems to be this year the favored fabric
The empire short-waisted mode has been
adapted IN several notable instances-the
sleeves very full to the elbows, terini-
mating with falls of lace and intended TO
- IL l. Ia nl
At the waist q sash, which IL worn In dou-
bio or triple folds: the plain,. straight
skirt, finished with a single festoonsd
founce of lace. caught with white ribbon
bows at intervals. Cashmere, nuns veil
ing, dotted Swiss. crepon, cheese-ciotn-
these are all textures admirably suited for
graduation dresses.
A CREATION.
One fascinating creation in the latest
mode was developed III white crepon
with plated round yoke of white surah,
followed bv a circular shoulder-frlll or
lace, the skirt finishing with o circular
rufle from the knees and trimmed with
! two narrow founces OF lace. one at the
head of the rufile and one at the skirt
/ edge. There was n sash. which. indeed. Is
a distinguishing feature of most of these
gowns. All the accessories are or the
| same immaculate hue as the suit itself.
!
WHITE SHOES.
Talking of spotlessness. the shoes ac-
! companying seaside and other summer
! toilets are to be preferably white this year.
! There is an extreme vogue for them. They
! are either of white-fnlshed KID COM
bined with the undressed kid above,
| or else of leather and cloth scom-
bined. OF course low footwear Is
alluded to; these ties are in a new shape
/ The fronts are high on the insteps, but the
: upper outline of the shoe falls quite low
| on the sides. rising again toward tho heel
/ somewhat after the fashion OF the
Romeo" though not so pronounced.
| COUNTRY DRESS.
Dresses in the light summer fabrics pre-.
sent features that follow closely those ol
the spring models. One pretty country
/ dress lately finished is IN malze-colorec
Jndia-twilled silk, with a small blueand-
red pattern. 1t was combined with bright
red surah. forming yoke ana oig puueu
sleeves. There was o double bertha o.
black lace over the little. round frenct
waist, and the skirt was hounced from
short distance below the belt, with mar
row ruflles of lace, headed by fiutlngs o.
bright-red ribbon.
OTHER FASHION NOTES.
French foulards are chosen in dari
| grounds: they are more than usually ar
tIstio I'D design this year, and are verl
salts. ing in every way.
Belts are important. Tue circlet OF SIX
elastic ribbon which used 10 be fastene'
with plain little buckle. is this year hel'
in place by huge wrought clasp OF goi
or silver. The designs are intricate Ara
besques, the workmanship good, and tn
prices, rs the gamIns say. IN the air.
The REFER and Eton suits IN blue serg
are everywhere and are filling genera
utility" roles.
The girls are not going to give the boy
the monopoly OF the blIe-cheviot SHIRT
IL goes with the stylish serge or fianne
Yachting SUIT, almost as a matter of cours
this year.