The times., 1898-01-16

ways hats are going TO tilt for spring
wearing, but just in this midseason a
tendency is making toward piling ev-
erything in front. Take look, for in
stance, at the crowning glory on the
head of the model in the braided coat.
1t is typical of the daring frontage now
used. Here the hat brim is of modest
proportions; it is the mounting of black
and white ostrich tips that lend the
! stately effect. Another hat worth men,
/ tioning boasted brim az inches wide,
and this was turned directly off the
! face bent into three perpendicular
flutes, and over the edge of the brim,
finished by puffings of black chiffon.
nodded the heavy heads of half dozen
| prize tail feathers.
But who can reckon upon the sweet
inconsistency Of fashion, which is half
her charm. To January balls dancers
are going shod in white suede and sat
in slippers over black stockings, or ex-
hibting pretty heels in black kid and
satin slippers over fiesh-pink hosiery.
The stockings are either openworked
or embroidered up the instep. and
young and giddy girls attach to the
toes Of their slippers little metal bells.
no bigger than the end of ones thumb.
Nevertheless they are sweet, loud tink
lers and pretty ornaments.
White suede gloves are pushing the
glace kids out into the cold for even
ing and afternoon wear, and the last
news as to sashes shows one fastened
on the left hip, the other about the
region of the placllef hole, and the two
lengths knotted together gracefully
about an inch above the knees, letting
fall thence lace-edged or ruffie-bound
ends to the bottom of the skirt. 1t
contributes thus a graceful bit of drap-
cry to a very plain skirt.
Perhaps this is significant OF some
thing in the future, for all those wonl-
en- who can in January afford to reju
venate their winter wardrobas ara
showing coats and gowns, the least
dressy in nature, elaborately gar'nish-
ed with countless little buttons.
Glance at the girl in the plumy hat to
remark the double row of small cut
steel buttons down the braided front
of her jacket and sparkling on her
cuffs.
In favor of these little fellows big
buttons are everywhere coolly discard
ed and the tailor dresses are brightly
decorated, on skirt as well as basque,
with rows of buttons made of glass.
cut, colored, and polished to represent
cabochon gems. Gowns in all the coll
ors of purple twinkle with little cabo-
chon amethysts, green suits with bull
let-shaped emeralds and brown toilets
with small round topaz.
Beside buttons it is essential to
chronicle the fact that many very
smart but simple cloth dresses have
their seams strapped or piped with
soft. highly dressed leather This may
sound excessively bizarre, and, there
fore, not tempting to conservative
women, but rough red or brown cloth
walking skirt is all the smarter for
simple patterns in what seems to be
Russia leather, stitched on the skirt in
a panel and up the box front of tha
coat Suits of winter covert are great
ly enhanced by touches down the seams
of pig skin, and the green cloth suits
set off with black leather trimmings
in place of braid, deserve all praise and
patronage.
After all, it is very much go-as-you
please with regard to cut of skirt. One
woman elects to wear a petticoat that
fits down TO her knees, almost like
sheath, and from there to her feet
flares most outrageously, and meas
ures six yards in circumference. An
other equally fastidious daughter of
Eve wants her body fiounced to the
waist and her skirt barely three yards
about the foot. If she is very OPEN
eyed, this last mentioned, she will de-
mand to have her fiounces laid in fine
knife plaits. and possibly every plait
edged with lace or fur.
Now, to make this babel of tastes
more apparent to the placid onloooker,
take note of the skirt in the big pic
ture this week. 1t is neither flounced
nor full. 1t is betrained and displays
one of the novelties in coloring. In the
original the gown is of burnt orange