The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-26
A PARIS FASHION LETTER.

Paris, December 16.-Such ideal Novem-
Dor and December weather Paris seldom
boasts. Day after day of bright sunshine.
until people are beginning to hint that a
few snow flakes would be acceptable.
The brisk little winds that come flying
up the Champs Elysees carry along the
brown leaves with whirlwinds of dust. The
black velvet and the violet velvet gowns
that one sees so often are powdered with
THIS fine light dust, but the fair pedestrians
congratulate themselves that it is only dust
and not rain drops that they must guard
against.
Dame Fashion must have consulted the
clerk of the weather before she issued her
decree favoring velvet for the usual rainy
winter weather of Paris would have made
1t rather impracticable to invest in vel
vet walking gown.
1t is just at this season that one gets
the best glimpse of the "grande danes" Of
rarls. The summer deserters are all back
ana the Nice goers' have not begun their
pligrlmages. The elderly danes depend on
.neir carriages for their outings. but the
smart pedestrians that stroll along the
onamps Elysees in their ravishing prone
uade gowns are treat to see.
VIOLET FOR STREET.
rlch promenade gown that l noticed
nau plain skirt of violet ladies' cloth
alade close fitting over the hips, with atne
t.uIIess laid in two narrow box plaits at
:, ,ne oaek. OF course the box plaits did not
.ie nat, for in all the smart gowns there is
uhy cushion Of hair sewed at the back OF
a ehe skirt that adds a wonderful touch of
'nlc 10 costume.
win this skirt was worn corsage or
n
t,ie curves Of the figure back and front
oIodd revers OF plain violet satin turned
NAY IRON the high Medicis collar and con-
hlueu 10 the bottom of the corsage, where
my ended in points, They were covered
~ I'm heayy cream pale applique, and over
49, lace there were straps OF shrred, mar
white satin ribbon running crOssways.
me nigh Medicis collar WIS filled IN
s Suh iriils of white chiffon that formed L
500 80, al the front. Four bands of narrow
,n.eer passementerie, set with turquoise.
u,iinnied the bottom of the oorsage The
ive'es We're close fitting and long, with
sus. suspicion Of fulluess at the tops They
ere trimmed at the bottom with four
"ands OF the passementerie.
A FUR DRESS,
a most original street gown was made
)" sort green astrakhan cloth. Around the
'ouom 1t was trimmed with two rows Of
s''hops. These scallops were cut out TO
show an underskirt of bright tartan under
network of heavy green silk cord that
neld tue edges of the scallops in place.
ne corsage was blouse of the cloth.
,nat opened over a narrow bed of the tar
II was made with short. pointed
nsslues, that were faced with the tartan
1iu edged With fold OF dark green velvet.
Two Two broad round collars OF the cloth,
.sed with velvet, gave the effect OF revers
ne 'front.' Round the neck there was
nisn mn OF ba,isto. worked and edged
MIN silk in the same colors as the plaid
saileta. This fiill formed a sort OF jabot
- the front OF the vest. The sleeves wsre
.ns ami had very little iullness al The
UPS They We're finished With small. f!ar-
,ns cuffs. and al the top were trimmed
"'.n three bands Of the velvet.
an attractive promenade gown worn by
: young American girl at the chrysanthe-
'n show was made ~ light tan tork-
,, ew The skirt WAS sored 50 that u
ss 'td closely over the hips. and the little
Illness there WAS In the back. laid ia
,yur Tiny overlapping 9aits. Eight mar
"s v panels Of white MORE. covered close
IN running pattern in black souiache