Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-26
..LENTEN FASHIONS.
SACRIFICES or THE SOCIETY GIRL
DURING THIS SEASON.
p,c,u,c.oue Dinner Taiiets-oddify tho
chief Characteristic of the New """'-
iens-Hoops Voted a Nuisance

,c..r.s,o,s,rce Of tho Ricbnrr oispatch.l
Nrw YORK. February %. Tho advent OK
Tho I,enten season brings the annual NOR
tiGcation Of tho flesh TO the society Ou''er-
Az which il is supposed to impose upon
ali Good church people. Aud tue society
civil ;s always a good churchwoman. Only
:. r,o,,;f;cationn III her case is construed
IN mean n very gentle Utilization; ana II
she parts with few worldly vaniues tue
sacri6ce is compensated for by extra de-
votion TO certain others that are nOt 50
conspcuously sinful.
Rastdes. she has always the consolation
that Faster approaches. without Lent
there would be no Easter, ana without
Easter no Easter bonnet.
The chlefest of Lenten prohibitions IL
that laid upon formal functions. Evening
dances are quite out OF the question. 10
dinner parties assume new importance
and dinner-dress occupies much OF the At
tention recently bestowed upon dancing
gowns.
DISNER-DIEss.
These dinner toilets are really more pic
turesque than full evening dress. One of
the most charming Just produced consists
OF princess foundation in apple blossom
peou de so,e. draped from tho bust with q
complete oyer-dress or white tulle dotted
oil over and embroidered for a foot or
more at the bottom; putfed sleeves OF
ruby velvet and the waist open in front,
just so that the throat and the upper pOr-
ton Of the chest become visible. the back
extending upward in a high collar VITA
rutlie of lace. The sleeves also have falls
Of lace which extend them TO the elbows.
STUDY IN HELIoTRoPE.
Another dinner-gown is n study in hello
trope, pink. and Nile green. the skirt be-
ing ell hdne in magnificent brocade COM
bining these colors. The waist Is of PINK
satin with epaulet revers-as they are now
sometimes called-by which are meant tho
crepe-lIke additions 20 the bodice which
are carried from shoulders to WAIST, of tao
brocade edged with passementerie en-
bOdying similar shades OF color. Between
these revers the N-front of the waist IA
filed by crossed folds of the satin, with
negligent filing above of palest pink chit
fon. not carried so high but that the neck
of the wearer Is well-revealed.
FASHION FREAK.
OF the new woollens oddly il the chief
characteristic. Beauty has been little
considered IN the composition of a great
many of them. One favorite is produced
in all the quieter colorings as background,
or warp, as, for instance, snuff brown, slate
gray, sage green or graylsh blue. Through
this are drawn threads of many-colored
silks, not in regular stripes, but IN short.
broken lines. giving peculiar RAINBOW
effect, the cOlOrs of the silks beng
of the brightest description. Another
wool fabric which @ dressmaker here
spoke of as extremely stylish has tex
ture of q similar character and about a5
fine az canvas. On this surface appear de-
signs woven in the same shade. but with
perceptible elevation. like worsted en-
broideres. These figures are OF the
crudest, most elementary KIND, having
hardly any ineligible shape or form. The
colorlngs include all the shades IN which
dress goods are being worn.
PARlsIAN WEDDING GOWN.
One of the most unique wedding gowns
of the season was worn at recent Part
sim marriage The bride appeared IN
white satin duchesse, the shoulders dis
appearing beneath q double peterine OF
MAGNIFICENT lace. The seams of the SKIRT
were outlined and emphasized by en-
broideries in seed pearls. which followed
them from waist to foot, IN Noral ylne-llke
designs beautifully done.
Mourning weer does not necessarily
mean total Abandonment of fashion. In
deed. the modlstes find their ingenuity
more taxed 10 produce stylish mourning
dresses that will yet look appropriate than
they are in the creation of any other form
of attire. One recent production that
solves the problem most completely Is IN
Henrietta cloth trimmed with nun's-veii-
ing. 10 IL to be noted right here that
nun's-veiling is rapidly suppantIng crepe
for mourning wear. The trimming 10 APP
piled on the gown in question IN the form
of fiuted or rutfled bretelles, carried over
the shoulders and terminating at the waist
in front. Five bands Of black MORE rib
bon are carried around the skirt.
AN EXPERIMENT.
Hoops have already been seen in our
city streets, tried by certain ladies merely
az an experiment. The verdict arrived a.
seems to boz that. however our mothers
and grandmothers managed TO navigate 10
these contriyances, present conditions
would render them most lntolerable and
offensive nuisance. The elevated-Tallroad
stairways alone present a difficulty which
will be obvious to every modest woman.
Ammo of Austria, the famous Queen who
had such tender penchGnt for the equally
famous Villiers. Duke of Buckingham. IN
the days of tine great Cardinal. is response
BILE for the latest fashionable modes.
OTHER FASHION NOTES.
Organizes make up beautifully with
berthas OF either white or black lace, the
girdle and bands about the skirt being OF
ribbon velvet, in shade to match the figure
of the lighter fabric.
The reform IN theatre head-gear is
making further strides. Many ladies at
the frst-class houses are removing their
bonnets entirely. OF course. elaborate
couture is demanded If tits custom comes
into vogue.
The cape n militdire. in cloth, will be
among tho spring outer garments.
A Partisan sOrtie de bal. In white satin,
with immense square crOss-reyers faced
with palest Nile-green satin. covered with
embroderIes in seed-peorls, was among
the choicest features OF late importa-
ton.
Many charming afternoon and visiting
toilets exhibit combination of bengalne
cloth aud velvet IN the same color, but
slightly darker IN shade.
Large felts will be worn IN colors TO
l.. a. "A