The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-18
LouNG1NG GOWNS.


| Now perhaps at the moment. in spite OF
the brown linen revelations in undergar-
ments and the augmenting splendor Of the
millinery displays, nothing is more refresh
! ing TO the already footsore shopper, her
brain dazzled with money changing and
| close bargaining than those chosen corners
| of the big shops where tea gowns and
| breakfast negligees are displayed. There lie
much doing In this quarter just now for
revival of fashion has sprung up uneNpect-
eddy, women have decided that it is both a
pretty and appropriate thing to breakfast
| in artistic yolantes, crown their heads with
caps and rather make a function Of the
early toilet that none but the family see.
For this reason we find, in both elaborate
| and simple styles the most charming break
fasting robes, which are something of n
| cross between the untidy wrapper and the
too elaborate tea gown. With each and
every one, though, a cap is worm whether
| the wearer is a debutante or the mother OF
a debutante. The older women however
rather affect caps that tie under the chin,
while the spinsters and young married wo-
men cling to the coquettish topknots. snooda
of ribbon and bowknots or falls OF flmy
lace and muslin.
TEA JACKETS.
Some OF the smartest of the breakfast
toilets are made OF brown batIste. bright
ened with pin head dots Of scarlet embroid-
cry and tiny boleros OF scarlet silk, worn
over the top Of a full wrapper front and
slightly trained vatican back. One and all
these informal costumes show sleeves only
to the elbow. while in the white muslin
breakfast gowns the prettiest sleeves come
not quite the elbow and the fronts are
made like square. high bbbed aprons. with
pockets and big muslin strings tying In the
full backs.
For O'Clock honors there are either Jack
cts or stately robes worn, though the JACKIE
is rather relocated to the tea tray In ones
own room. and is donned with a very
smart red satin and batiste under petit
coat. The tea coat almost without excep-
ton. belongs 10 one branch of the vast and
ever growing family Of boleroes, or par
takes of the distinction of a Fourteenth
century cape, and one made for the trous-
seau of an Easter bride had It's very fun
front made wholly Of pale tan chiffon, In
terspersed with narrow lines Of cream lace
insertion. The back of the coat was cut
from poppy red liberty satin, with a cane
OF the same hanging from the shoulders
and the red satin wrlnkled sleeves turned
away al the elbows in flaring cuffs, while
from there ON to the lace, matching that
used on the full front. Flat from the neck
turned back a wide collar of chiffon and
lace cut In deep points and when assumed
the wearer fastened at her throat a large
feweled brooch from waich suspended two
long and very fine gold chains. These,
looking far below the waistline, caught in
again at the long, slender. jeweied buckle
holding the front Of the Jackets ribbon
girdle.
Both buckle and pin were movable orna-
monts, to be applied at any time to any
waist. for Oh the chains odd little orna-
ments and pair Of small gold iorgnons are
hung this Arrangement OF chains marking
the last novelty nut forth by the jewellers.
TOILETS FOR THE HOUSE.
More elaborate than ever are the tea
gowns that. IN the English sense. and En-
sllsh women were the inventors of tho COS
tune. are not tea gowns at all. They are
rather elaborate snowy house toilets. worn
by the hostess on her spring afternoons at
home. or even for her ceremoniOus recep-
lions. with an abundance OF jeweie. IL
such arc possessed. The Illusion and mean
ing of the word gown Is destroyed at the
sieht OF a costume undeniably divided into
skirt and waist and the skirt Ia usually
accordion pdaited. Staring combinations OF
colora are boldly ventured on Ia the new
gowns. as for exmaDle the O'clock tea
toilet shown, with its plated skirt OF vivid
grass green MORE yelours.
In fine point beading sprays of copyen-