Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-30
OUR W0MAN'S PAGE.
THE VERY LONG SKIRTS OF THE
NEW GOWNS.
THE BLOUSE is STILL WITH Us.
Boas Worn I'm the House as Well
as I'm the STRAIGHTFORWARD Collars
Linen.
Correspondence Of the Dispatcb)
Linen.

Correspondence Of the Dispatch)
NEW YORK. October 29.-In a recent
article l mentioned. casually. that one
! Of the smartest combinations OF the mo-
! ment was the skirt Of plaid worn in con
| junction with a plain cloth coat Thi.
| mode has since strengthened it's hold upon
our affections TO such an extent that al
most every other well-dressed woman
one now meets on mornings is clad in a
tailor-made of the above description. The
vest and the shape Of the coat may vary.
| but the skirt remains the same. Just
now black and white. or black and gray,
combinations are in favor.
One really very chic model of the sort
had a skirt Of black and gray plaid cloth,
with a broad white line running through
It. 1t bore a simulated tablier, outlined
in black velvet. and was as the latest
and most extravagant mode insists on
having It, at least inches longer in front
than its wearer, who, am bound TO add,
seemed at loss TO know what TO do
with her superfiuity of drapery. So few
women there be who carry their skirts
gracefully. The coat was garment OF
exceeding brevity. 1t was lined with
white satin. the tiny revers and collar
being faced with white kid. When the
wearer unbuttoned it-by the way, the
buttons were also covered In white kid
and had centres Of black jet-I caught
81 lpse of a blouse of white satin. much
IL Ked and adorned with motifs Of black
ff- 1foI a..
simulate a Swiss belt, and, Of course. had
the effect Of making the waist appear
considerably smaller than IL actually was.
/ wonder, does there live a woman with
soul so dead that she does not care what
size her waist is? !, for one, doubt it.
But TO return.
Down the front Of the blouse as far
as the bust line ian little bows Of rather
broad black velvet ribbon, each adorned
with a button Of pierced glass. The
sleeves were tucked; know it, because
/ made so bold as to ask; ct voilatout.
/ have mentioned the coat buttons of kid
with the jet centres; these reappeared
on the gown also for the better adorn-
ment or security-perhaps both-of the
placket hole. And as to cut, that skirt
was a veritable eelskin. Indeed, If skirts
get any tighter the fashionable woman
OF the near future will have to take her
meals standing or lying after the man
ner Of the old Romans, for sitting down
will be an impOssibility. Needless to say.
these skirts require the most perfect cut
ting and fitting, or else a mass of un-
slightly wrinkles are bound to result.
We are threatened with hand-painted
cloth gowns this autumn, or so / was
informed, when l paid a recent visit to 4
noted Fifth-avenue firm. Thus far, only
dark browns, blues, and greens have been
so Ornamented, and most Of the designs
were Of a leafy character. though one
very pretty one consisted of tawny chrys-
anthemums on a brown ground. But
If these gowns take. other colors are sure
TO follow in their wake. These hand
painted robes differ from those which
have been so popular for evening wear
during the past season, in that the edges
of the design are, in every instance, out
lined with an embroidery in coarse silk.
Whether or no they will become popular
TO be seen. Doubtless the search
er after novelties will, without delay
make one Of them her own, but for my
part, l do not think a gown-be 1t built
ever so well-of this description, will ever
favorably with the quiet ele-
gance of plain tailor-made One merit, |
however, we must concede TO them. They
are not likely TO become vulgarized, for
the simple reason that their shop price |
is prohibitive, although any girl who is !
clever with her brush and her needle |
could easily transform a dress-length of |
cloth, and then have 1t made up by a |
reliable tailor. Many firms l feel sure |
would consent to this, If they were al |
lowed to supply the material.
The Nm above alluded TO is making |
a speciality in autumn dresses built Of the |
new cloth; this is rep. almost poplin-
like on the right side, whilst on the re- |
verse It resembles face cloth. Both are |
used on the same gown. Thus, one model |
saw I'm tomato-red cloth had the skirt |
OF the rep side Of the cloth, the tabler
being made up on the reverse-i. e., plain |
side. / may remark, en- PEASANT, that
this was piped with black satin. The
bodice was OF the rep, with revers Of the
face cloth also piped with satin, and |
there was a tucked grille Of black satin
At the neck? 1t was rather a smart lit
tie gown. and l was informed that this
cloth WILL in all probability, be the mate
rial Of the winter season. II has GER
ainly made a good start, for I saw some
lalf-dozen models built thereof, though
IN slightly different lines.
The blouse is STILL with us, though ele-
santes and dressmakers unite in an
its, departure, and declare that
he world of women is quite tired OF IT,
To be sure, il is no longer exactly a
blouse in most cases, but rather a sepa-
ate bodice. We Illustrate quite the latest
novelties in these this week. / know
l.. 1.