The morning times., 1896-07-12
COSTUMES FOR RACES.
Some Adorable French and Eng.
fish Creations.

| become here so much the fashionable fad
| tits in France and England, that suit
able costumes to wear to the races are
no longer an inconsiderable question Each
year the racing season opens brilliantly
at Morris Park, the display OF fine clothes
being as much a.feature of the day as the
running of the favorite horses-
All society turns out in Its sayest feather,
dressed in the first summer styles, and
be ewidering the admiring popular eye with
the ease and elegance with which IL cares
to sport unfamiliar modes.
This year was no exception TO the rule
Indeed the racing season opened with
more than common eclat, ana The paraae
OF smart clothes was carried on at
Sheepshead Bay and will be contin ued later
at Saratoga in all the airy textiles suit
able for midsummer.
What society wears to the races is al
ways looked forward to by vast numbers
OF pretty whnen who aspire to be well dnd
becomiDgly costumed.
1t is there that the fashions are set, the
| toilets displayed being in the main French
creations. :.
Worth, Felix, Doucet, RaudDitz, and
many other great bigwigs too numerous
to mention, send over their best efforts;
| and though here and there will be seen
an English frOck, such rs VIII be worn
on Ascot Day, English modes are in VAST
| minority to the French.
At the drcssmaker's the English frocks
are called Ascot models, but the severe
styles are only becoming to large. timely
made figures.
An Ascot gown seen at the running of
the Brooklyn Handicap, however. is worthy
of mention. The Brooklyn Handicap IS the
Ascot and Grand PTix day OF America,
and is considered the most brilliant event
OF the racing season.
sicillienne mohair, in pale lavender tint.
and with the seams stitched heavily with
white tailor's silk, was the material of
this gown The skirt was in many narrow
cores. and had funny Pen wiper sug-
gestion in the wide flare at the bottom.
The bodice was c.ose-Iitting with basque
and the back scanned staidly English fash
ion. Then there was a narrow waistcoat
of plated white satin. ending al the waist
with "a folded belt and finished at the neck
over little lavender cravat, with a turn
down collar, also OF the white satin.
This likewise formed the gauntlet cuffs
to the gigot sleeves, which were quite
small and entirely without stiffening-
With tbs gown was worn a great sailor
hat, heavily trimmed with white silk
muslin. vioets and bay leaves. The shape
is known at the English hattefs as the
Henley model; but as with the English
gowns. they are eXtinguisiIers to dny
but large women.
At all of the races so far have been
seen frr'ibrrs OF fne big tulle trimmed nafS
so fashionable this season. The crowns
o. these ia4s.y ur.ssI, WIN bin, "a - 49,,
a vivid green and violine tints predomi-
mating: at the sides white, back or colorcd
paradise aigrettes curling over the brim
to hang downward, in a way as fetching as
eccentric.
Lately certain trim, smooth maidens be-
longing to the sailor hat brigade have taken
to palmer headgear, trimmed sailors, per
haps and for very hot days Others show
ing simply Il ribbon band With the latter
variety Will be worn frequently a taffeta
silk shirt waist, made exactly like the
cotton affairs and finished with i stiff
linen collar and narrow bow tie.
The favorite coiors for these are purple,
the fashionable bright green mentioned,
black, and white. A plain stuff skirt in
black is the usual Accompaniment TO
taffata shirt waist. and there is commonly
4 narrow leather belt TO match in tint, or
else one OF white kid.
So rigCed the smooth sailor hat girl
is dressed in way etninently becoming
and much more elegantly than it sounds.
But 10 return to the French confections,
with which society is wont to confound
the un;nitiatei and make horsey occasions
ike so many leaves OF n fashion book.
French women, as all the world knows,
are not reuownsd for their love OF horse
flesh and rarely risk their francs on the
speed of horses legs.
The races for them is simply an excuse
for an elegant dress parade. They appear
in toilets more than ever perfect in every
detail and appointment: gowns frivolous
and adorable, pale in color. and al mid
summer or a balllike airiness. With these
are often worn satin shoes in the palest
colors, expensive evening fans, and lace
and tulle parasois as delicate blossoms.
II n sudden shower comes up, Min
porter These flowers OF fashion have
blooined only for the day; and when the
shower is over down will go the fr.IIl
satin Shoes the thin skirts and iIuttering
ribbons. to trail with beautiful indiffer-
ence over the wet sand.
This season white is much seen at the
French races. and combinations of black
and white are regarded as extremely
elegant. Again black and white striped
silk will show color in the trimming
apple green or violiue. perhaps. under
white guipure or all over linen embroidery