Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-12

most highly priced-had innumerable lit
tie frills all edged with the finest lace.
Others, again, were composed OF alter
nate strips OF muslin and entre-deux, the
half dozen or so of foothills being
edged with a similar lace. In all cases
the material supplied for the bodice was
also similarly embroidered, or belaced,
or entre-deuxed-I am obliged 10 coin
word as know none to properly express
my meaning and the materials. When j
turned my attention TO the plain, colored
muslins, / found that dark-blue adorned
by entre-deux Of Vaenciennes In either
cream or ecru holds the field as nrst
fayorite; while a charming example was
in lime-green and black Valenciennes,
and yet another. which. though i thought
1t Of questionable taste, the clerk as
sured me was selling excellently, was of
vivid scarlet, with entre-deux OF butter
color. Grass lawn apparently holds It's
own as well as ever, the reason being
that the cheap limitations are In reality
limitations in name only, and In no wise
resemble the real article save In color.
Grass lawn, by reason OF the cost In
volved in its production, and the scarcity
OF the vegetable fibre from which 1t Is
made, can never become really cheap as
we understand cheapness nowadays.
And for this reason, II for no other, IT
L
worn. Good news for brunettes, since
this material Is far kinder TO dark than
to fair skin.
A very dainty robe-unmade, OF
course-was shown to me. 1t was in
very fine make Of grass lawn, the skirt
from hem to waist composed Of alternate
strips of the material and coarse lace
OF a Renaissance make and between the
entre-deux was the most exquisite en-
broidery Of narrow black velvet ribbon,
in, needless to say, that mode OF the
moment as regards embroidery, true
lovers knots. In width this ribbon was
even narrower than the baby ribbon
usually employed, so that the effect OBJ
tanned had nothing of heaviness in 1t.
Indeed, IL was light and dainty in the
extreme. The deep hem was bordered on
the inner side by an accordion-pleated
founce of the grass lawn, and the piece
Of material supplied for the waist was
trimmed so as TO match the skirt exactly.
Made up over buttercup glace silk,
and with waist-band and sash ends of
black chiffon, drawn through smart
| amber and paste or steel buckle, such
gown would be chic in the extreme,
especially. II the hat accompanying II
was of Leghorn, with draped crown of
yellowish lace yelled in chiffon, a plume
of ostrich feathers. and cache-peigne
OF yellow silk roses or orange peoples.
The sunshade should be black, lined with
yellow chiffon, and the gloves should
match the grass lawn in hue as closely
as possible A smarter gown for the
races 1t would be well-nigh impossible TO
devise.
Having gazed my full at the seasons
novelties in the shape of unmade gowns.
I next turned my attention to the made
up ones, and almost the first model l
encountered was a gown built of the
yellow and cream checked muslin be-
fore described The skirt-a very long
one-wth a decided dip-it could really
be called a train-boasted six tiny
fiounces set on in wavering lines. Each
flounce was edged with cream-colored
Valenciennes lace, and the top was set
in under a piping Of yellow glace silk
the foundation employed being also of
yellow glace silk, with half dozen tiny
founces on the inner hem-viz., the
petticoat side. The bodice was quite
one of the prettiest i have seen this
season. The back. in no wise remarka-
BILE, was plain aud tight-ftting, its sole
ornament rather deep sailor collar.
edged with knlfe-pleated frill, in its
turn edged with lace matching that OF
the skirt. In front two broad revers
covered with lace, opened to show
tucked vest of the muslin. These tucks
were applied. and each was set in over
a piping of yellow glace silk. BY the
way, both revers and vest were deeply
pouched. The sleeves were also tucked
from shoulder to wrist-broad deep tucks
these. and also applied, each one OF
them, over a piping OF the yellow glace
silk. The waistband was of buttercup-
yellow glace ribbon, with long sash-like
ends adorned with a deep double frill
of the yellow chiffon. Muslins are to
be worn, not alone in the daytime, 1
found, for this charming little gown
was provided with an equally attractive
waist, which could be worn at home
for a quiet dinner or supper party.
This bodice was cut to low square
both back and front, but the muslin
continued right up the neck. where 1t
was set into the smartest of yellow chif-
fon collar-bands. Thus. dressy, but
not unduly decollete effect was obtained,
though, of course. the muslin was trans
parent. The sleeves also, were trans
parent, Georgian in shape, and reaching
only to the elbow. where they were
finished off by deep lace frills. In cut,
the waist YVES just the ordinary round
one, with a moderate pouch in front. IL
was provided with a deep-swathed band
of the glace silk. finished at the back
by big bow. tied baby fashion. and
long, softly-falling ends.