The herald., 1896-11-05
CZAR'S wIFE'S NEW DRESSES.
She Went to Paris to Buy Frocks-Her
Costumes Criticised.


l am led to believe that the empress.
whose graciousness has won every heart,
has ordered some lovely Partisan gowns,
and l have also heard that her imperial
majesty has equally chosen some very
fascinating hats and bonnets. This Will
be good news to those who consider that
good looks are enhanced by tasteful
"fiXings." The empress is a sweet-faced,
charming woman, whose qualities de
coeur ct d'esprit" are undoubted but her
taste in dress has not been widely de-
veloped OF course, l admit that it is
frivolous remark to make. but we Par
isians had looked forward to seeing a
vision of simple elegance in the young
tsaritsa, and We're, there is no disSuis-
ing the fact, somewhat disappointed in
her appearance, from sartorial point
of view. On the day of her arrival in
Paris she was dressed entirely in white,
bonnet to match, and carried plall
white silk parasol. In the afternoon,
when attending the service In the Rus
sian church, she wore ~ white skirt en-
train, embroidered with golden trefoil
upon the hem, g colet of vivid orange
velvet, spangled with gold. lightly trim
med about the shoulders with cniiion
and encircled around the neck with
ruching of leafiess Gloire de DIXON roses
Her small bonnet was composed of sim
liar blossoms. while a cream coloied Ve!l
was worn over the face.
AT the ceremony the tail ard COM
manding figure of the Russian amba2-
sadress, Baroness de Morenheim, stood
out from the surrounding dresses ana
uniforms, robed most beautifully in
Parma msuve satin. the edge OF the skirt
very simply ornamented all around with
II 4-allo" Jounlonne oi silk muslin the
same shade as the satin. n collet OF vel
vet tone or two darker. out or Sli!ll!af
color, fell to below the waist in richly
cleaning godets while the shoulders
and neck We're gracefully trimmed with
exquisite Nene tiaD point and 1ouiils
of delicate chiffon. Her bonnet was
dainty combination of lace and velvet,
simple, elegant and exceedingly srande
dame. Princess Galitzine was also IN
mauve. she wore long gray silken
cloak, and a curously old fashioned cab
riolet bonnet-pecuiiar, certainly, put
not unbecoming to the features or the
mistress of the inperisi wardrobe
Baroness de Frederica wore beige
slken popeiin fawn colored jacket, ana
a very pretty turquoise velvet bonhet,
trimmed with cream lace and black
feathers. At the same ceremony Rus
sian princess whose name. l am sorry To
say. / have quite forgotten, looked ex-
Quisite in dress of pearl gray more
antique, the corSa9e entirely covered
with nneiy pleateu mOusseline Gle sole,
encrusted with exquisite Suipure gray
satin band outlined the slender and sup
pie waist, while the neck was PRETTY
encircled with a fluffy ruching com
posed of white ostrich plume ana NOUS
st Inc de sole. the accompanying hat
was i'll toqua shape, white, with trim
ming of pearls, ana, nigh standing on the
left side, a snowy osprey alsret-e anu
uvercurling ostrich tip. A pretty olonde
woman, wife of one OF the attaches, wore
white peau de sole with overdress OF
Killed chiffon. also white; the collet worn
was of ermine, the upper portion of
white satin covered with rich guipura,
the fur forming deep liouncing around
the shoulders, affixed with large rosettes
of black satin. full ruching of chiffon
and lace al the throat. With this dress
a Louis XVI. hat of white felt was worn,
trimmed with a tuft of black ostrich
feathers on the left side. and a drapery
of rose colored velvet and lace. Another
! lovely dress was of cyclamen mauVc
moGsseiine de sole over pale blue failie
Corsage and skirt alike, belted at the
waist with sky-biue MORE ribbon. The
corsage and sleeves We're entirely puck
cred over the silk, and full rufiiing If
chiffon of both colors ornamenting the
neck. The hat, trimmed with combina-
tion of both colors, was charmingly fin
ished with dark purple and mauve vel
vet flowers, rising from the left side ana
giving Just the requisite touch to the
faint opalne tints of the gown.
AT the opera gala on the same even
ing the empress of Russia looked We'll
in dress of pale blue brocaded satin
She wore a handsome tiara of diamonds
on her dark hair. very simply dressed
ana round her slender throat several
rows of large diamonds. Her opera
cloak was white. brocaded or embrod-
cred with gold and trimmed with white
fox fur Nine. Felix Faure favored a
magnificent Lyons silk, ivory in tone,
woven with clusters of flowers, Cut low
| and round, it was trimmed with green
velvet of a peculiarly pleasing shade
| and exquisite lace. Her ornaments
| were diamonds and pearls.