Evening star., 1896-11-28

box lifted a bunch Of roses from her lap,
and her fan fell rafting to the floor. 1 look
ed at her. without knowing that / was
looking. and l nave a photograph of her
now in my mind One does not boast of
having studied costumes under such cir
cumstances, but when costumes are ones
business and costume is particularly nov
ell and notable, one may be allowed to set
it down.
My neighbor was young and fresh-look-
ing blonde. Her heavy flaxen hair was
drawn back from low forehead over
which one struggling curl fell innocently.
Once / saw a young woman artfully ar
range one of those artless curls 80 that a
man would think it bit out Of order and
wish he might fix it for her." But that is
arother story. My neighbor was pink and
white. and so she wore white and gray.
Gray is color that is being pushed this
season, and that is why / specify my neigh
boris complexion Gray is good for some
people. but 1t is very bad for colorless and
especially for muddy skins.
a Striking Costume.
The groundwork of my neighbors dress
was white silk striped with broad gray
liars. Horizontally the stripes were crossed
by lines of black and pale blue. Against
this background was flung a bold design of
sound like white and gray. 1t Is just the
fashionable idea of white and gray. with
vast deal of piquarcy and emphasis.
The skirt of this rich silk was quite plain,
except for narrow band of sable fur at
the hem- The bodice was a trg coat of
silver gray velvet. fitted like habit basque.
1t had a lining of pale blue silk and this
lining was cut longer than the coat, max
ing border to finish it at the bottom.
Just a line of sable edged this border, Civ
ing the relief of it's rich black to the feebler
Eues. My neighbor was slender. Women
with large hips. IL they are wise, shun fur.
The coat was cut open in front, and grad
uated on either side in three hanging tabs.
on each of which was button of lace and
fur. Cascades of lace foamed under the
tabs from shoulder to waist line. Under the
ceat was white silk front draped with
loose folds of mousseline de sole, the last
delicately embroidered in the colors of the
flowers with which the face of the skirt
vas covered At either side of the white
silk collar. jabots of lace softened the neck
outline. There was a blue silk belt. and
there were tight sleeves with jabots of lace
from the elbow down. To describe the de-
tails OF such a dress is telling very little
about the dress. To see a gown as it lives,
you must see what is given to 1t by the
vearer- My neigEbor wore. it is sufficient
to say. one of the most artistic creations
yet on view this winter.
The hat was not so good, though 1t cor
re responded with the gown in a way. 1t was
fantastic arrangement of blue velvet
with Hover wreath and plGmeS.
Simpler Gown.
There were other women in the box, and
as the music went on, I watched them
idly. They did not present the bare shoul-
ders. or the jewels of grand opera, but
their high evening dresses dainty wraps
and bright bonnets were up-to-date ex-
annples of the best that city modistes are
turning out this season.
teresting was worn by a young matron,
who had the air that everybody recognizes
of having already seen much of the world
1t was shot silk. with glancing lights of
blue and mauve, and striped in lines of
blue velvet dots. which added greatly to
IT'S rich effectiveness. 1t seemed to be a
very soft silk and yet heavy: one of the
sort that dressmakers are threatening to
experiment with in the proposed double,
skirts and draped skirts As yet. however,
ton alone. The bodice was of white silk
veiled completely by high blouse of ex-
qu!site lace. Over the blouse was one of
the many variations upon the bolero jacket
theme.
Cut low in the neck and very open. IT WAS
long enough to be belted by a draped sash
or blue satin and to rise about the sash
IN waist friil. 1t was made of blue velvet.
Dy tne way, and edged about with tur-
quoise-dotted passementerie. The lace
sleeves had dropping puffs on the Shout
ders. were close and wrinkled to the vurjsta
and then expanded in frills Much simpler
than the dress of the rosy blonde, a wise
woman. not altogether sure of her ability
70 stand well an overplus of decoration
would choose of the two this costume n
Is only the exceptional woman who is NOT
suooruinafed by many trimmings.
Dark Green Brocnde,
A pretty brunette. who seemed to resist
temptation to fuss constantly with her
gloves, wore. half falling from her shout