Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-17

! below the waist, and stand out grace
fully beyond.
OPERA CLOAKS.
Perhaps the most expensive and i'm
| portant part of dress In Paris this season.
are the opera cloaks.
1--WE have had for some time" says
! our correspondent, "a reproduction Of
| the Venetian mantles of medieval times.
but that is passing away, as far as the
/ high fashion is concerned. The newest,
though they reach from the neck to the
feet in an unbroken line, and are wide
at the hem, are cut most carefully to the
/ figure, retaining all the grace and style
which a good carriage entails; the heavy
folds and. box-pleatings are attached to
yokes. which were in favor In the
Middle Ages. The redundancy OF orna-
ment. the masses of lace and fur intro
duced among them, have given place in
the newest make to light but graceful
embroidery, carried down In front, also.
under the arms. and down the centre or
the flowing Vatican. which starts be-
tween the shoulders in a point instead
Of a thick box-pleat, and is so contrived
that IL blends into the material and does
not stand out from IL too boldly TO de-
tract from the beauty OF the dominant
fabric, which is generally the softest of
serts itself either in the front or through
IT'S outer covering. All the collars are
high. but they are filed In with soft bou-
illones: this is most becoming to the chin
and neck.
The undoubted good taste displayed IN
the selection OF the opera-cloaks reminds
me OF an innovation which Is gaining
foothold In New York, and for which
tremble The fronts and backs OF many
Of the fashionable dresses seen are en-
tirely different. For instance, a black
satin. the front TO the waist and skirt
handsomely covered with diamonds; while
the back OF both skirt and bodice is pink
satin.
have been surprised to note how
spangles and tinsels have kept their hold
on the students of dress. Verify. some or
us-especially, the young women-look as
~ one were prepared for entry into the
circus-ring when we are bedecked in our
glowing colors and glittering gems. The
.hollow spangle' is now all the rage. 1t
is. of course, intended for BALL or eve
ning-dress: but, between ourselves. I have
seen one or two OF the -Four Hundred
wearing the little variety on the street.
The ball spangle Is placed In the centre
OF a large cabuchon. over an ordinary
spangle. thus redoubling its brilliancy.
A
TO me the other day, said that, from his
viewpoint the hollow-spangle made
woman look like search-light; but one
cannot account for mans taste. though
n "a not wise 10 say too much against
them in public.
have very little that is new from Lon-
don. Several Of my friends tell me that
everything there is much the same. and
ons of my correspondents limited some
thing about the whole season being very
dull.
We women. she says are debarred of
lots of amusement enjoyed by our
American sisters. In many instances. be-
cause we cannot adopt a BETTING COG
tune. 1t Is so awful here, dear. to be
considered forward. The young people
have to await for their elders to take
the lead. and 80 we are always behind
We have some hope Of fun. however.
IN the spread Of hockey" The sport
has been taken up by the school girls.
and every one expects It win meet with