The times., 1897-12-19
A FURRY OF FASHIONS
Brou ;ht About by the Generous
Spirit of the Holiday Season.
SOME LUXURIOUS FUR GOWNS
AidwfDter Brides Insist Upon Er-
mine, and PoIarfort for the
Dresses of Their Maids-Irish
PopIiI FroCks-A Poland Jacket
New Chatelaines and GirdIes.

New York, Dec. 1S.-Christmas holiday VS.
bring Invariably a pleasing fIuHy in fash
ions, and 10 ladies Of high degree and long
purses the chief matter Of moment is the
gentle but absurdly luxurious fancy for fur
gowns. From an economical standpoint
these novelties in costume represent about
the most dGrinply eXtravagant outlay that
oan be made in dress.
A fur toilet is thing OF beauty, and in
the KlOudiAe regions no doubt it would be
q JOY forever, but il is a princcIy in lul-
gence TO the woman Of our temperate
zone. Nevertheless, those exhibited SO far
have found put chasers at Jnce, for In phase
OF Jewels or new furniture or q pair of car
riage horses, a fur gown is The sort of
gift many a woman wishes to find in her
Christmas stocking. Whether the spoiled
beauty desired one OF mink, Persian lamb
OF moirc bToadtail s OF no Importance.
1t suffices to say that al the fur gowns
are rich and sumptuousIy splendid in ap-
pSdiditt tnh No>tuitAes yet tfbtl
the dressmakers' hands, and that they are
likely TO consist only Of a skirt and coat
basque. The skirt is usually quite plain.
rather widely gored; in mink the stripes
all converge pIetttly to the waist and lend
any figure infinite grace and slenderness.
Some OF the broadtail petticoats have
deep vandykes OF ruby red or pansy purple
velvet let in about the bottom, but all the
fur basques are coat shaped. That is, they
possess a waistcoat. of velvet most often
over which rcvers of fur roll and button,
or turn back, as the wearer goes in or
out doors.
But where are these astonishing frocks
worn, il The natural query of the unso
phisticated woman, who does not yet
aspire 10 go clothed like the wild ones
of the woods Well, they are used on the
very cold days for shopping, for driving
and short calls, and il is no exaggerat ION,
but plain, unvarnished fact, tnat a
good fur gown costs its owner. or her
inaulgeut husband, the very best part of Il
$1,000 CHECK.
Apropos of fur, and 10 complete dis
CNsSlOD Oh lnB kUhltSi With q Dlt OI
news. il may bc told that all this winter s
bridal corteges have very furry ex
preston indecG-that is. the feminine half
of the immediate participators in the pro
ceSs!oR 10 the altar.
It is pretty within of those young
ladies who marry in the month of SHOW
20 have their attendant maids dressed ali
in white and then 10 trim the lily gowns
with white fur. Daughters of rich parents
adorn their bridesmaids dresses with
ermine and white fox, and wear white
felt hats with fur edged brims, besides
carrying big white uiuffS. Even the bride
herself now frequently has her train edged
with fur, and IL she and her maids cannot
afford fur they do almost as well by
themselves in adopting the ever-decora-
tive ana lovely bordering of comparatively
inexpensive swans down.
Sometimes, even in fashions, Common
sense has her own way, and every WON Al
is chucking with glce over the defeaI
of the great Partisan dressnIakers who
wish to do away utterly with crinolines.
Two months ago those great and gifted
men, Worth, Douret, pingot and their ilk,
cut new skirt with just four straight
seams, actually sloped it in at the foot,
and leftth bottom as limp as q wet mold.
ing leaf. Right royalty they ordered this
TO be worn, and the secret leaked out
that Greek draperies were TO be our
models for the coming half dozen years
Witt oue accord the women have 1iouted,
scorned and rejected the new skirt, and
until further notice, crinoline, hair cloth
or what You plea sc to use as stiffening
will be Worn to a depth OF six inches AT
every skirts foot
There is no denying, thongh, that French
ruling az to the length OF evening costumes
is followed everywhere. Great is the joy
among small women over the arrival Of
the train, and their stout sisters rejoice
with them, fer a train makes long lines
and equally fervid self con gratula ion
should Stout women express at the mark I'd
advance in favor of the black and white
gown.
All manner of striking and pretty
schemes OF mixing black and white .r,
now carried cut Black lace I'm draner;
fE rarely laid over white, but if anyone
happens TO lave an old black lace sha "
or flounce let her carefully cut out che
patterns liz the net and group them ef
fecttrely on white silk oil even a witt
Cashmere ground. A dress, very soryao,, rs
In appearance, and yet not bit costly y
make, is often thus resurrected from AZ
parently hopeless materials, and If tiIar,
fs little jet added here or there the re
suit VIII be astonishing.
BY way of an exemp.fication let IN,
reader refer To the woman's figure in tn.
group about the Christmas tree. Here Ii
a skirt Of whatever You win -poplin, n,oir,
velours, cashmere or liberty silk. 1t 4
white witt lace patterns tack ed on it. TIL,
waist is white chiffon, accordion plated