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

bodice trimmings. Lately l have felt
this myself and have tried the expert
ment OF having my every day frocks made
with entirely plain bodices, tight In
the sleeves, and without trimming at the
neck. For the house / have q series or
yoke shaped collarettes, to which are
added at the shoulders double hounceS
OF chiffon, which act as shoulder wings,
and a Medc ruff completes the toilet.
In this way save a great deal OF money,
or rather / have money TO spend on other
things. which should not otherwise have.
Are there any girls who would like to
acquire this result?
A yoke Of white satin overspread with
lace and black chiffon wings, and a
neck ruff OF alternate rows of satin and
lace make a most charming adjunct TO
the ordinary house gown, and can as
sure you the disguise cannot be detected.
Velvet Jokes, plain, or edged with fur,
do nicely for cold days.
FANCY FOR GRAY.
1 find that gray has been generally
adopted as the color for the season.
This l fancy is because gray accOrds so
well with the popular chinchilla, which.
IN spite OF all assertions. 7 do not think
is shown 10 its best advantage with black.
There Is "A comfort to be found in the
thought that this year. at least, 1t does
not matter whether or not the winter
gowns are of a dark shade. With the
exception OF the severely tailor-cut, nearly
all the bodices are trimmed with light
colored material.
With gray dresses specially, cerise satin
or corded silk belts OF a good depth APP
pear below the bolero with its edging OF
fur, and above this is lisse or crepe or
some other variety OF the kind. Many
of the boleros have oblong revers, and
everybody now seems to wear lace
cravat or lace tie fastened with a jewel.
Stripes are not at all assertive on this
side; indeed the striped materials seen
here are few and far between. This must
be regretted by our shorter sisters. but
they like us, must suffer. EntreZnous.
/ am awaiting with horror the return or
the hoop skirt.
Our Paris correspondent says that
stripes are absolutely rad in the gay
capital. Vicuna cloths which have a
hairy surface have been brought out In
decided stripes, which have been made
I'D the wrong way OF the stuff, horizon
tally. while the sleeves show perpendicu-
lar lines, and the waist is cut on the
bias.
No one but frst-rate dressmaker
would dare attempt TO make such cos
tune, ana i am SURE oiiiy a low VI eAo
most advanced leaders would care TO
wear one In this country at all events.
AS we must all bow more or less be-
fore the exquisite taste Of France. l will
give YOU an idea Of what our Paris cor
respondent says of the fashionable skirts
there: They have to be fitted. she says,
more carefully than ever-"fancy"-and
must stand out we'll at the back. although
they are not nearly so full at the sides or
front, and it appears that there are many
cunning devices 10 secure this much-de-
sired result.
Very flexible steels find place at the
hem of the skirts. and sometimes a
ouarter of yard below the waist. In
deed, wire and steel have many unac-
customed uses now. Not only are most OF
the outstanding collars wired. and great
deal OF the lace and many OF the bows.
but not a few Of the silk bolero jackets
are thus treated. Cording has come back
20 US once again. and a great many OF
the newest skirts have three cordings on
the hips. which makes them set very nat