Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-20

hlem,sh. Her hair has changed TO iron
eray-black hair rarely becomes snow
white. that piece of good fortune peihs
mostly reserved for erstwhiie bionues-
but 10 go one. noting her iron-gray locks
and the excellent contrast they anord 10
black. she Immediately decides without
further consideration, or even cursory
glimpse at the face framed by the gray
hair. that black, and black only, suits
her best whereas, as a matter OF fact
n moments reflection would have shown
her that though IL may-probably does
suit her coiffure her skin looks quite two
shades sallower, and her wrinkles are
twice as apparent as IL she had modified
her gown with some redeeming touch OF
color near the face. But dress the same
woman in a shade OF gray, Tor preference,
dark steel or silver-the very pale tones
of this hue are best reserved for the
young-and. hey! what an amazing differ
enoe we shall sect The sallow skin loses
half its sallowness. There Is almost
touch Of the bloom upon her cheeks
which twenty years ago was there In
reality. TIE black eyes have a brill
nancy. and the gray hair sheen which
was totally obscured by the black gown.
1t Is also a fallacy which deserves 10
be exploded that white should only be
worn by the very young. This Is dis
tncflN an error o. iSSic. i GRANT IL tle
nassee girl or woman should avoid white,
but once the rubcon OF middle age is
safely passed It may be INDUCED In its
ivory, cream, and oyster-gray shades
with absolute success. Pure white-what
dressmakers call a SNOW white"-should
not, however. be chosen. but this Is ths
only exception to the rule
At recent smart function ! saw good
Illustration OF this in the garb OF tho
hostess. She was handsome. weil-pre-
served woman Of perhaps hfty-odd years,
with bright, dark eyes, silvery hair,
aquiline features, and complexion
which. considering her age and the fact
that II owed nothing TO art, was Simply
wonderful Her gown was of dark-iVory
Drocade, very simply fashioned, the
bodice tight-htting, with yoke OF old
lace, the basque long tailed la direc-
toire. the sleeves small. set into the shout
der with the smallest possible amount OF
fulness. and finished at the wrist with
ruffles Of old lace. She wore for air orna-
ment a diamond brooch and one or two
fine rings, and yet, In spite of the SIM
plicity of her attire, she was far and
away the best dressed woman in the
room SO much fer the afternoon.
Upon another occasion--this time in the
evening-she wore a gown of silver blue
brocade, so pale that II looked for all
the world like moonlight. Inc SKIRT Oh
this was amply trained. and the placket
hole fastened with small diamond but
tons. The bodice. slightly decollete, had
broad revers of the brocade covered with
point lace, and the sleeves also of the
brocade, reached TO the elbow, where
they were finished by deep frills of the
same lace as that adjoining the revers.
In her pretty silvery hair, which she
steadfastly refuses to dress low, because
that mode does not happen to suit her.
she wore q wired knot of old lace and
pale-bme aigrette, and once again am
bound TO admit she held her own, ard
held it WELL with far younger women
than herself.
Space fails me just here, and 1 am
compelled TO defer until next week tne
description of several other gowns for
the same wearer. They are Sd artistic
and handsome that l am sure you VIII
like TO be told about Them.