New-York tribune., 1896-01-12
HOW ENGLISH WOMEN DRESS
M1DwINTER NOTES IN LONDON

London. January !.
Theoretically a woman finds It delightful 20 make
thaa.re-go.n- dress function" and to attire
herself accorIlagy. but in practice IN London and
IN mAwinier it is extremely uncomfortable Lon
Con playh0uses are very cold the heating being OF
the most elementary kaiA Tne corridors are
lraughty. and A perfec; b.ast of cold air comes
from the stage The appearance Of the stalls Ia
very lovely w,,h whit shoulders blazing With
diamonds AMI beautifully dressed heads To eyes
crown accustomel % The chic and dark oT..!-
fancy OF French women. the fair locks aAd ex-
quls.,e complexions doubly bewitchIns. But
10 very cold,
There are naturally some beautiful wraps worn
NJ the theatre Just now AMI more big loose cioaks
than capes one huge carmen, ot dark rel velvet
: saw the other evening had yoke and large. loose
-.eeves OF ernlne II was cut TO fall perfectly
straight. front and back. from under the fur yoke.
\ pretty short garment was circular cape OF
black velvet trimmed with rows Of ecru lace ana
sable mounted on tabs OF ;urquoi'e-biue velvet.
The collar was a tremendous affair Of sable lined
with RUNE OF the velvet.
The Bath bun ugly chlgnon IS not worn
now by smart" English women. To be sure. saw
perhaps hlnIreIs OF them the opening night OF
tho pantom!me n Drury Lane. but the place was
throrgeI wlth provincial visitors who cling tena-
cio sly 70 H. AZ well a. % the hnely crinpeI llr
plrted over the forehead some have rpooh
passed. around the chisnon tying IN a, DOW on pp.
Tie fashion certainly suggests youth oui many
conf, rtabe-.ooking gray-ha!red matrons have
a,optel H. noticed one handsome woman, correctly
.resstI In black ve.v-, and sable trimmings WIN
her gray chignon encircled by me unest OaDy rio-
bon IN bright red. tied in silly htte knot on the
Ms, smart English women. however. have
thcir hair most beautifully arranged-rarey very
rich but With elaborate coils in the neck cr hs-
urs schr" twists exactly a. the back ot the head
Ma,rons are wearing great many sinaI Puns, out
In whateyer way the hair IS arranged II Is always
py way Not sr9SAt na nT ndTfIe,y Is TO e syen sye
Jcwe,l,I side combs are universally worn
A. the first performance Of Mr. Grundys new
comedy took note Of two particularly attractive
gowns. one very elaborate and the other extremely
,rllsb and slmp.e. The ingenue frock Of
a dainty pink silk with tiny figures in it. The skirt.
cut round anl full. hal two narrow crisp ruties
at the bottom. The round waist was OF white
null over pink. ami was trimmed with lengthwIse
ru,fes Of very narrow Valenciennes lace set very
closely together The sleeves were Of the same.
There was a deep sailor collar OF the fancy silk
elgel by two ruffes of nch-wde Valenciennes.
The other gown vas OF pale yellow brocade. The
skirt hal plated hip pieces which EXTENDED down
the back seams on each side OF the train. These
were lined with green satin. on the front OF the
skirt at the hem were bows Of green velvet and
punches Of violets. The corsage had sleeves and
a peculiar cape collar Of the yellow. The cape
collar vas faced with green and turned away in
front TO make the square decolletage Below the
collar was a blouse OF white gauze with silver fig
ures embroidered on IL There were stin bows OF
where the collar ended. There were two more be-
low at the wastline. and two in the back TO take
Engllsa women have taken kindly to the bourant
skirts. see great many OF the godet nip pieces;
and move. skirt for an evening gown Is prac-
ried buck into the back piaits L suggested the
oli-tlme paner idea. The trimmed skirts are not
nearly much worn here as In Paris. Although
i Plris where fashions are supposed TO originate, is
only a nights Journey from London its styles ase
adopted more quickly in America than they are in
London. English women arc prone 10 nave ixed
IDEAS one might say prejulices. regards dress,
which seem almost % mater or inneranie m ana ARE are
they are obliged 10 modify and often change their
Parisian models materially before their clients will
accept them
II there is one thing admirable in English dress
ing II is smartness and exquisite finish OF their
tallor-made costumes In week or fortnight the
taiors here Will have new models 10 show. Just
at this moment they trying dispose OF their
early winter models. and a description OF these
would be OF value. But few models that
7 have already would indicate that
buttons will be very much used on cloth gowns.
that the unlulating Jacket skirts will remain in
fashion sleeves will be decidedly moderate. and
that an attempt Will even be made to reintroduce
the ordinary sleeve for jackets pretty little
spring jacket OF tan melton cloth has sleeves only
a little larger than mans coat sleeves. This
change may be too radical TO be generally ac-
crpted this season. but 1t is to be attempted the
London talors say. They also add that the small
sleeve when II does appear. will probably be
welcomed sooner in England than anywhere else,
for English women have always had foadness for
IT, and have felt quite at home in the ex-
treme sleeves belonging their Paris toiettes.
A new taror-rnade gown. suggestive OF spring. is
OF tan cloth trimmed with deep red cloth and any
quantity OF small. round gilt buttons. The tss"""