The herald., 1896-02-16

standing collar and the revers in front
and the odd flaring turned-back cuffs are
of white kid braided all over with soutache
sewn on upon edge in guipure designs, pro-
ducing an indescribably rich effect. The
double buttons-two, four six. eight, ten
of them in al-in five sets down the front,
are fur balls caught together closely with
loops. The chapeau is a pert. fetching ca
pote of the velvet, with windmill bows in
front of white satin, and some nodding rus
set feathers and aigrette. And the tout
ensemble is bewitching.
Or, you have a good figure and can wear
anything, and wish to lock quite AL fat,
but do not wish anything very elaborate.
You have little rich lace and few heir
looms OF buttons that are wonderfully fine.
Laferriere makes you think that you Sc
lected that narrow white and black
striped velvet, aud the white sat
in for the unique bodice, but
it was her own unerring instinct that
decided that you could wear the striking
creation of them in combination. The skirt
is plain: the sleeves are plain. She sets
the lace on the hips and over the chest,
and lines the plastron and the fiat paniers
with pale green satin. She borders the bod
ice, which is short over the hips and laps
below the waistline IN two slender pointed
tabs, with sable, putting it only round the
shield shaped opening at the neck and
over the sleeves. Some white satin ribbon
Of narrow width is carried about the neck
band and made INTO several loops on each
side at the back, and the result is gown
that holds its own among the smartest
frocks ! have seen anywhere since the sea-
son came in.
The holidays were made into scenes OF
"refulgent gayety'' and all that sort Of
thing in good sooth. Many of the most
splendid toilets of the winter have put in
their appearance at the house parties
where fancy dress functions have been and
are the fad of the hour. TableauX vivants
may be death struck in America, but when
counts and countesses and barons and
baronesses take up the living picture or
der OF amusement there is no gainsaying
that they make a gorgeous success OF it.
The prettiest picture you can think was
the Countess Rochefoucauld at Baroness
i Chaubry's at Congy. gotten up la Marie
AntoiDettc CD her famous farm. A Wat
teau shepherdess. whose garments are
silken and whose festoons are ropes OF
roses. whose lacings are gold, and whose
beauty is bewitcning, is sight for guests
| ii not for gods.
Baroness de Plin> al gave brilliant ball
! the other night, looking herself like divin-
ty, in white taffetas. made. like the eketCn
with embroidered chiffon de sole used fol
sleeves, coqliles down the skirt and fol
/
the smartest evening gowns. fall off the
shoulders. and where the line from the ealt
over the shoulders is one of much beauty tn,
strap over the shoulders is omitted. Cus
! ters Of geranium were used for garniture.
about the TOW line of the corsage, and amons
the frills of chiffon de sole down each side
and very nirrowshaped revers OF geraniun
velvet. wrought in seed pearls, with a mar
! row vest IN front to match, brought in JUS
the right note of high color dnlcng the
materials.
! The French mind adores eleganciss I
goes into raptures over its own devices
! in garnitures. 1t dreams and enthuses ove
piece OF white velvet, conceves The ide;
of stamping out CT down the pile all Owe
IL to look as If the pile thai il left wef'
growing up between the interstces cf lac
then applies Jet spangles and pearls rea
as the real article, and gets wonderful,
handsome result. Or patterns which yol
must call motifs are cut from fur en'