Evening star., 1897-03-27
Novelties Prepared by Paris Modistes
for Women's Wear.
LATEST SPRING STYL ES
Dresses With the PoIonaise to Be
Given a Fair Trial.
PRETTY EVENING COSTUM MES

Copyright, 1897, by The Bacheller syndicate)
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
PARIS. March Is. 1897
The coat and skirt suit for the coming
summer differs from last years. ,mong
other points. In the small amount of
shirt front displayed new exam
pie which illustrates a cut that prom
ises TO he very successful is of china
blue and white cheviot in hair line stripes
with shot blue and white silk lining. The
skirt IS untrimmed except down the mid
die pleat in the back where from waist to
hem are set cross rows of narrow dark
blue braid fastened with small silver but
tons at either end. The coat is long enough
to come well down upon the hips; 1t IS
ciose-fittinz in the back and alf-fitting
at the sides with straight fronts that turn
hack at the neck in narrow fiat collar and
small revers. The sleeves are close-ftttng-
The dCuble-breasted waistcoat of tan pique
is spotted with red and blue buttons al
most to the throat, and the small triangle
of shirt it shows is nearly hidden under
rather large cravat. spotted white and blue.
The collar is higher than last years;
closer it could not be.
Plum color viii remain in favor through
out the spring Some very pretty reddish
violet and purple shades appear in the new
materials, with large amount of mauve.
GRAY and orange IS favori.e combination,
as well gray, orange and blue Light
green is perhaps the most fashionable
spring color; il is used by itself in stripes
with dark or light blue. and in odd COM
binations with red and brown. Fawn color,
green and yellow is another combination.
Red and blue plaids are making a struggle
to assert themselves and are sometimes
very attractive in soft shades
Woolen brocades are in higher favor than
for some years. not for warmth's sake.
but to give color and variety to dress
which might otherwise have a silk bodice
blouse IL these did not now require ge-
MUS to keep them from getting wearisome
by iteration. soft. pale green wool skirt,
for example. is trimmed with a fiat band
of black. after the nature of a tuck, near
the hem. and is worn with a bodice of blue
and dark green woolen brocade. made with
pretty cape-like revers. edged with black
band like that upon the skirt and giving
the effect of a light wrap for spring wear.
Conformably with this idea the bodice has
narrow basques showing below the belt In
JACKET style
few Of the spring dresses are made with
the polonaise. That this style, which has
been heraided for months, Is really here
there now be no question. Whether or
not II Will find any large amount of favor
Is another matter. For the present 1t is
tentative, experimental. The most sue
cessful attempt | have seen in this direc
tion is dress worn by Jane Hading on
the stage of the Gymnase- 1t was cream
colOred chine silk striped with pink and
sparkling with silver thread. An orna-
mented panel upon the front of the skirt
Of white grenadine caught with fan
pleat!ngs of lace over pink frill of
coquille pleatings of lace. with a rosebud
In the middle Of every shell, ran about the
hem. except across the front panel. The
polonaise of pale pink chine silk
striped with cream and threaded as be
fore with silver 1t was made low in the
neck and with trim fitting bodice OPEN
ing over the bust in brace-iike revers. to
show the under bodice of white grenadine
like the skirt panel. Below the narrow
belt Of pink velvet the draperies of the
polonaise fe!! In full and graceful lines
almost the skirt length. but with difference
enough TO emphasize the meaning of the
demarcation. The dec0letage was edged
with coquille frills. which also made the
short sleeves The polonaise finished
all about with a narrow gold galloon
As TO skirts. those for evening wear in
the Easter season have very full and very
deep fieunces for trimmings. These are
no. set on straight but fall from ruche
which describes a shallow downward curve
b front and an up curve behind so that
with the help OF slight train. a hounce
may easily be twice as wide in the back
as across the knees. The effect sought Ia
peculiar sweep Of the draperies whch is
fashions dernier cri. Bah gowns have
clustered frils OF lace or gauze at ;he
hem. Reception dresses in heavy materials
are trimmed profusely with rich gold and sill
ver ealloons and with ieweled embr
These are lavished on the bodice especial
~, the front OF which becomes stiff with
its incrustation OF turquoise and steel or
pearls and emeralds- The long gauze or