The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-07
THE EASTER PARADE.
WHY SOCIETY REJECTS THE OLD
CUSTOM.
The Spring Msidcn-w what She VIII Wenl'
Fashions for the Chiitron-PIquc
Goats and wide Collars.
copyrighted 1895. for The Timeso

1t is no longer considered good form
In the ultra fashionable set TO come
out newly arrayed from head to foot
in spring CLOTHES on Easter Sunday. What
an uncomfortable life the ultra-fashion-
able must lead, by the wayl Just as
they get comfortably settled 10 enjoy
ing a custom the great unwashed'' take
IL up and then they must discard II be
cause IL is vulgar There are several
other explanations that might be offered
for giving up this annual fashion parade.
The most sensible one is the plea OF
economy. Ordinarily, especially In north
ern countries, Easter comes too early to
demand spring clothes. ones fur uppet
is not uncomfortable IN the temperature
which the season furnishes at the last
OF March or first OF April and the cloth
dress Of winter would serve much longer
than these early days Of spring Another
very reasonable explanation for not JOIN
ing the procession is the fact that ones
SWEETEST gown, which otherwise might
make a sensation, is lost in the crowds
OF brllliantly-arrayed worshppers. and re-
ceyes only o passing glance from admir-
ers whose eye hurrles on 10 see what
the next feature of the parade will be.
This Is the view which the elite Will
take Of the Easter parade. but the elite
are obviously In the minority. and they
cannot Immediately do away with the
custom. IL will take considerable time
for the common run of people 10 become
s walked up to the fact that it isn't swell
/ 10 have an Easter bonnet. II is a ira
dition which has sunk very deep into the
minds of women In general. and hus-
bands In particular--whose visions of mil
linery bills have grown TO the dimensions
OF nightmares. and whose idea of the
necessity of an Easter bonnet has been
inspired so arfully by their willy
spouses.
the elite Will, 1oHevcr. be balm TO the
wounded feelings OF her whose spouse
has refused 10 be convinced, and she
may wear her old bonnet TO church with
light heart. assured that IL is the
very best form, and that she has the
support Of the plutocracy In so doing
IL is remarkable how much comfort a
woman can get out Of an excuse OF that
kind.
Nevertheless, though the very poor
and the very rich may not come out
in their fnery on the fourteenth Of
April. they-at least the latter-will be
Il eke X Sab course Of events even the se eor
sons are bound TO roll round and spring
must take its turn.
Among the things which the tickle
maiden brings with her. ii is hard TO
pick out her prettiest attractions. Per-
haps the flower bOaS that come out in
liant of her collection. ahe latest one
Is made OF geraniums In two shades of
red, tied with ribbons to match the light
er shade and having cream lace ends in
'front.' over which the ribbons are drap-
ed. Others are made of peculiar flowers
that look like oleanders ard yet others |
are gladioli- The violet boa threatens to |
become common. IL was only the other |
day thai | saw a dusky belle adorned |
profusely with the modest flower she |
had yiolets in her tiny bonnet and violcts |
at her belt and the aforesaid violet boa !
around her neck. A pretty one for a |
brunette Is made out of daffodis.
The finer howers are very expensive |
ana this would make ones millinery bill |
very large were II not COR the fact |
that the straws are so cheap. one ,an |
purchase pretty coarse straw hat for /
$50. and with little observation and |
a little ingenuity IN trimming q hat |
can Re made very pTesentable without |
great expense. There are not many black |
straws shown this spring The black
hats are black lace or net. The straws
are nearly all i'm colors. a favcrtc COM
bination is a leaf-green straw trimmed |
with deep shade OF bluet II sounds |
hideous, but the colors seem to harmonic |
very well.
II one clings 20 the idea If an Easter |
bonnet. il is not difficult TO make one |
OF those small affairs with q bunch of |
flowers and a couple OF loops standing |
out on each side. \ bit Of lace wired |
into 1T piece about the size OF the |
palm of ones hand makes a crown 1
and bow OF black velvet at the back |
with bit of lace or bright chiffon and |
bunch of roses CT violets. makes |
very respectable hat, as mats go nova
days a jet Da1d for basis of opera |
tons TO simulate a crown. makes a hat |
when adorned with a velvet bow and |
some roses at the back, just In front of |
the high Psyche knot
Everything in the dress line is made |
with a round waist. 1t would be diff |
cult to nj a basque over the gOdet pleats /
which are a necessity IN all skirts One |
Jacket which solves the difficulty has a |
slight point i'm 'front.' is short on the |
sides and has short coattails I'm the back |
but IL isn't pretty. A new outside jacket |
which TO be made purposely to wear |
over blouse. q made waist length. The |
upper part is yoke of fancy embroidery, |
and to this the lower part is fastened. |
being laid in box pleats. 1t is an odd |
looking jacket. and is one OF the results |
OF the attempts 10 devise wrap 10 |
take the place Of the long-used CAPE No /
ordinary coat will button over such a /
pair OF blouses as are shown In the illus
tration.
One OF these waists is made Of rose
cOiored silk. combined with brown vel
vet ana lace. Inc front IS OF SILK,
drap1d on either side with gup1re, which
IS ctnfned with the rest of the blouse
underneath on embroidered girdle. The
collar Is brown velvet with rosette on
each side. At the hips. just below the
waist are a couple OF loops Of velvet
which stand out at a fetching angle. The
81 soVcs are very full being run with
several rows OF stirring al ne top 10
give tha. nat effect necessary at the
top OF a sleeve. and the lower sleeves
are OF lace. The hat Is OF roses ard vio-
lets. trimmed with tall loops OF striped
rose and brown ribbon.
The other blouse Is made OF change
able red and blue silk. IL is shirred in
several rows around the neck below the
collar. Strips OF marten run from the
collar down to the velvet girdle where
the fnish Ia the little heads that seem
20 hold the girdle In their little teeth.
For warmer weather this fur may be re-
placed by bands and rosettes OF red
velvet. The sleeves are trimmed with
velvet rosettes, and velvet ends hang
from one side OF the girdle. The hat
10 a blue straw trimmed with loops OF
blue ribbon and Martha Washington
Seraniums
pretty style Of blouss for ordinary
wear y Of steel gray silk with . Line Of