Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-12-15
HOLIDAY DANCE GOWNS.
They are Transparancies and Are
Very Fluffy and Girlish
in Effect

Paris Nov. 24.-"Dance gowns" claim
especial notice at the shops just now.
They are fluffy in effect, and exceedingly
girlish- looking, for their simplicity is one
of their chiefest charms. Chiffon, mousse
line de sole, tulle, net point d'esprlt and
gauze are all used in great quantities
over transparencieS of silk or satin.
To insure 'boutfee' effect the skirts
are made double and even triple over the
transparencies, and narrow ruches or
bands Of satin ribbon trim them pro-
fusely.
Over the tight-ftting corsages Of silk or
satin the fluffy materials are draped and
pulled in great variety of ways, and If
the effect is full and ample it is "A la
mode The sleeves are the only thing
about these dance gowns that DO not
boast a full effect. In most cases they
are conspicuous by their absence, and
high, trimmed shoulder straps or berthes
serve in lieu of sleeves
Pink Holds Sway.
Pink is the color that holds sway at
the present for evening gowns. Not so
much the paler shades, but the intense
coral and watermelon shades are most in
vogue.
Another bright pink dance gown was
made of gauze over a pink satin trans
parency. The skirt was a full double
four bands of pink satin ribbon.
The corsage of pink satin was square
necked, and was covered full with the
gauZe. Around the top it was trimmed
with three rows of pink satin ribbon.
From each armhole seam came strips of
the gauze, that crossed at the front and
were knotted at the back, with long sash
ends hanging to the bottom of the skirt.
Five rows of the satin ribbon trimmed
the ends of the sash. The sleeves were
short puffs of the gauze, finished with a
ruffie of the same. On the right shoulder
there was a knot of bright pink mirror
velvet. Some of the daintiest of these
girlish dance gowns were destined for
young women of the American colony
here. Nearly all the big family hotels
that cater especially to Americans enter
tain with a dance each week, and it is
often remarked that the American girls
are largely in the majority.
gown that was ordered by young
woman still in her teens was entirely in
white. 1t was of mousseline de sole, over
a transparency of white taffeta. The
skirt was sun-plaited, with a short yoke
of embroidered mousseline de sole that
formed rounded point at the front.
A Corsage.
The decollete corsage had a close-fitting
lining, and over that blouse of the silk
covered full with the sun-plaited mousse
line de sole. The straps over the shout
ders were formed of embroidered NOUS
seine de sole studded with seed pearls.
They followed the line of the armhole
and were finished with frills of the sun
plated mousseline de sole. Around the
neck OF the corsage there were bands of
the embroidered mousseline de sole, that
terminated in points at the front and
back, and reached to the ceinture. Broad
white satin ribbon was employed in max
ing the ceinture. 1t was finished at the
left side with a full, tall bow.
A gown that was charming by gaslight
was of white gauZe over lettuce green
taffeta transparency. The skirt was very
full and was trimmed with entre-deux
of weblike white lace. There were four
rows.
The corsage was cut square-necked,
and the gauze at the front was draped
across from under-arm seam to under
arm seam. A band of deep cream lace
gave a finish to the top of the corsage
and the gauze was caught to the lace with
q round Strass buckle. Over the Shout
der fell epaulettes of white satin that
reached nearly to the ceinture. They
were covered with deep cream lace APP
short, full, shirred puffs. A pretty con-
trast was given by narrow draped belt
of bright petunia velvet that was finished
with long full bow.
Pink and Green.
A lovely dress was of white tulle over
wintergreen taffeta. The skirt was piait-
ed with a yoke of pale pink embroidery
The waist was very full and crossed by
bands of pale green satin ribbon edged
with mock gems. The shoulders were
mere puffs.
The bathrooms look like fairy palaces
peopled with the most beautiful of sylph-
like beings. Never were ball gowns SO
delicately lovely and delightfully."- graceful
as they are this year, and never were
| they as becoming.
Dancing dresses are short. They do
not make long ones this season at all
! Even the chaperons wear short gowns,
and those who do not desire to dance find
| it very convenient to have a dress III
| which they can walk comfortably.
| The skirts are either trimmed or plat
| ed. You cannot find a dancing skirt that
| is absolutely plain. Several are shown in
which the trimming is upon the under
silk or null, hangs like a veil. not con
cealing that which is underneath.
The CoIors.
The colors for the ballroom are daffodil
yellow, artichoke green, butter-colored
| buff, cerise, magenta and the long list OF
pinks which are peculiarly the rage.
The cost of the ballroom gown comes
more in the lining than in the gown it.
self; but as this is understood, the lining
! is at once noticed and admired. Waists
are quite bloused, although there arc
those who prefer the tight-ftting waist
Still these are so much in the minority
that you hardly notice them, and in a
| long days shopping tour l did not sec d
tight-ftting ball dress.
Slippers match the trimming of The
dress. They come in cerise, blue, pink
yellow, and indeed all the colors with
which q dress is trimmed. They give a
chance for the most charming harmony
With a dress of butter-colored yellow
taffeta I noticed cerise slippers, belt, hail
ribbon and fan, and the skirt was en-
broidered in the same shade.
Shopkeepers very often display these
| gowns in what we would consider q
mussed-up state. They are wrinkled be-
fore they are sold but this, they say, de-
tracts nothing from their beauty.
Nina Goodwin.