Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-04
DRESS ETIQUETTE
When, Where, and How CRtiIl 7tnsttes
As Quite Appropriate.
DRESS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS.
How Every woman Can Regulate Ifss W.
: rious Costumes 70 - Aiwsys 10
BE Correctly ALFRED.
fcorre.pondence Of the pispateh.l

NEW YORK, november g. WHAT are
you going to wear?"
oh. that perplexing query that treads
on the heels Of every invitation!
Whatever you wear you'll wish you
hadn't" said q gay little cosmopolitan
just home from a long visit in the smart
circles OF London society. in answer to
this same question a few days ago. Then
she went on to say: Anywhere else but in
this country an invitation for q par
ticular time In the day--breakfast, lunch
con. dinner, or ball. or whatever 1t may
be-makes de riguer q certain prescribed
toilet. But here! II you dress even for
q dinner-that most formal of all social
functions-the chances are that you will
be the only woman in decollette frock
And as for theatre party. the safest
way is to go In opera rig and then put
on a macintosh and galoshes so that
you can keep both extremes OF the dress
OF the other women in countenance.
But this pert young thing exaggerates.
OF course.
It's true as preaching that our social
life In the large cities is as yet so I'M
stable that there are no fxed formulas
vigorously enforced with regard to dress
for special occasions.
And Flora McFlmsy? She Is bidden to
breakfast" shall we say? Or lunch
con? So far az dress IL concerned they
are Identical. Or to n day wedding?
Ditto as TO dress.
And this should be handsome high
necked and slecved gown with either
bonnet or a hat OF equally smart appear
ance. and gloves.
KEEPS IT ON.
Note bene. Flora keeps that fetching
headgear on from the time she leaves
her mirror till she gets back to 1t again.
IT the eating part OF the function Is done
sitting at table. she takes OFF her gloves
after she sits down. Otherwise she
keeps them on all the time
The dress may be light; II better be or
silk or have enough about II to give n
very dressy appearance. and lace and all
other rich stuffs are hu fat so long as
they are adaptable TO the high bodice.
The fashionable sleeve now ends oftenest
at the elbow, but unless ones forearm IS
very good looking, ungloved dts bad
form to take of the hand OF the glove
only and tuck 1t In the wrist better
have a handsome long sleeve. Puckered
Chiffon extending to a point on the wrist
Is very becoming. and not always In the
soup as a fall OF lace has a penchant for
being
II Flora Is asked TO assist the hostess
a. an afternoon reception she can Mear
gown half low In the neck. and II may
be as partyiled in tint and texture as she
pleases. and she must dr,ss her hair nat
tily, and tuck an ornament OF ribbon or
OF gold or shell therein.
But unless She ASSISTS" she must wear
a bonnet or hat, and a calling toilet.
less dressy than for a luncheon. prefera-
bly, stylish cloth gown with effective
trimming and faultless fit and finish.
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS.
A lady should not wear a wrap into a
drawing-room on any other occasion than
when making short call. never at an
affair for which cards have been sent out.
The girls who assist the hostess about the
tea-table should not wear gloves unless
they live beyond the reach OF manicures.
All the women guests wear their gloves
with as much precision as their bonnets.
For dinner Flora should assume n
low-necked gown. and pretty one. If
1t is a formal function she will take her
gloves off at the table. II not she will
leave them in the dressing-room. There
are women still who wear bonnets or
hats at dinners. but their names are writ
large In tho debit ledger Of polite So
ciety.
For any sort Of an evening party in
a private house the rule Is invariably
a party gown and uncovered head, and
gloves. Flora, when u doubt as to what
the others are going TO do, will. never
theless. herself dress correctly IL she is
wise. There is always a happy medium
between the extremes of right and wrong
dress, but draw the line between white
chiffon and pretty pale silk, II afraid
OF over-dressing. Do not wear head
gear In the evening.
Never? Well, hardly ever.
There Is, to be sure. the theatre party
One woman does not wish to be the only
one with uncovered head In a party. II
would be in better taste to honor ones
host or hostess at theatre party by
dressing appropriately. This would mean
swallow-ta!l coats for the men: and in
this country. for the women, gowns the
effect OF which is light and ornamental
but little If at all low at the neck, and
no head covering. and pretty coiffures.
IL there is dinner party first, the guests
VIII, or course, wear evening dress at
least to the above extent. and go In car
riages.
HOW TO DO IT.
Where the party meets at the theatre
or some other rendezvous and Flora Is
at loss to know what the other girls
are going to wear, since she cannot de-
pend upon them doing the right thing.
and does not wish to render herself con-
spicuous by dressing-as Cynious says un-
dressing-more than they do. she can do
this always with safety. That Is in
American cities.
1. e., she can wear q handsome dark
skirt OF silk. or satin. or wool, and a pale
tinted silk bodice, because the latter looks
SO much more dressy than any dark-col-
ored one. This body" may have any
of the furbelows OF the day, as a chiffon
stock" with rosettes or wing-bows, and
lace collarette or revers. etc. Then enc
will wear light, perfectly fresh gloves.
and II she does not 60 In carriage, and
does not like to risk the quite uncovered
head in the theatre or to wear head
scarf OF chiffon In the street-car, she
may wear one OF the taunty little apollo
gies for an opera-bonnet that are now
in vogue Let 1t be tiny. becoming, and
little more than head-dress.
This will look enough like a bonnet to
pass muster II all the others wear them,
and will not be obtrusively a chapeau IL
none of the others do more than dress
their hair modishly.
One thing more. The American woman
is forever finding herself In a hotel. II
she eats In the public dinng-room 1t is
in the best taste for her to wear simple
street-dress. and preferably her hat. a
woman Of fashion and refinement does
not dress for the opera, and then go With
uncovered head and shoulders through
the public corridors of hotel, nor sit
where any one with the price Of dinner
In his pocket may sit at the next table
staring at her conspicuousness. If she
Is going out In the evning and dresses
for the occasion before dinner she should
dine in q private room. II she be in full
evening toilet DINAH STURGIS