The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-30

Special Correspondence of the Globe
NEW YORK, Jan. 27.-We can drop
in on our friends now in the costume
donned for shopping, or in a tailor
made pure and simple. This sounds
delightful and it is true, but the state
ment must be qualified. The visitor
CARRIED il a severe tailor-nade costume
shows in every line of her dress that
she is lacking in appreciation of the
niceties of life: a lace cravat, few
jeweled pins, a simple yet elegant hat
in addition, and VOLTA, she would have
expressed to her hostess that, though
the eXigencies of the moment compelled
a severity of attire, she desired to
honor her by those slight etceteras.
The stress of life under which we
live has probably dealt the death blow
at the visiting dress of ancient tradi-
ton. When half a dozen things have
to be got into one afternoon, a costume
for calling only would be an utter i'm
possibility. We must cut our coat ac-
cording to our cloth, and wear what
is ''convenable" for every emergency.
It is almost mot Quite superfluous TO
suppose one would not choose to make
an entrance on the "at home" stage
in a waterproof or a heavy fur lined
cloak, or the useful, warm jacket dear
to the country mind, but there are Of
tenders ready and willing to commit
these atrocities. No, If a heavy wrap
is a necessity, leave it in the hall, but
the complete costume, en{ suite, is by
choice the most desirable. From al
this it would seem that the visiting
HracG 70 oil oil CHI
sound the note of individuality; it must
express personality-if women would
but mark, learn and digest that. 1t is
the foundation stone on which the YER
dict of being we'll dressed or badly
dressed depends.
In regard to material, a face cloth,
fine serge, cashmere, any of the soft
woolens now in vogue, or Irish poplin,
are all suitable for this special depart
ment of dress; the make should admit
of a pretty vest, soft frilling at the
throat, and a rich Ceinture. Talking of
belts the fiat has gone forth that the
greatest novelty we can hope to com
pass just now is a collar band and
WaiStband to match of velvet, plain or
embroidered, passed through slides of
paste or jewels; the neck band is IN
derneath a high Medici collar Capes
for visiting are almost entirely relegat-
ed to eldeTty8 aides and none too soon:
granted thai they are~aseful, but un-
der their voluminOus folds the grace
of a. perfectly appointed costume and
trim figure is lost.
A muff is a, precious etcetera Of a
visiting costume; it serves as a handy
receptacle for the necessary handke1-
chief, generally notwithstanding from
the inaccessible pocket; and it solves
Of try1,o 10 n
hands, which, absurd as it seems, are
sometimes in the way even of a past
mistress in the art of department 1
should like to enlarge on this subject
/ promise myself 1 shall some day; if
more women knew how to enter a
room better they would add consider
ably to their social reputation, and do
fuller justice to their dressmaker. AS
it is, the proportion of women who do
know is very small. Finally I would
ask hearing for a very essential
maxim; whatever else you omit frcm
your calling clothes do not forget the
French s9ying: Isl on est bien chausse
ct bien gante, la reste ne Vaut rien.'
DO not brand yourself in the eyes of
the observant by. wearing clumsy boots
and soffed. iH-fttffrg gloves. To the
majority; @of course, such advice is out
of place, and to them I tender my
apologies; but my excuse is that this J
IS helnOuS crime committed day 2f-
ter day by those who ought TO know
better The prestige of white gloves is
on the wane; the pendulum of popu-
larity seems to have swung them too !
near the hands of the million; now
pearl grey and delicate fawn are pre- !
eminent.
NEW MODELS IN SHIRT WAISTS. |
The waists we illustrate are some of
the daintiest designs shown at the |
Shirt waist opening of one Of the |
largest New York dry goods houses. |
No. is guy plaid mostly red, but the !
red is so toned down by side lines of
green and black that the effect is be-
coming to blonde and brunette alike
No. is a while Madras striped with !
pale pink.
No. a percale plaided in floral Law
ender stripes and black bars.
No. wears a light pique lightly |
figured in spots and dashes.
No. wears one of the new quarter |
inch checks in Madras Bingham. |
These come in lovely colorings Pink |
and white, lavender and white, red and |
white, yellow and white, and the pref
TEST are made like our model, the !
fronts tucked down from the yoke for |
about three inches.
No. Z wears a cream cheviOt striped |
with grey. White cheviots are being |
bought up by swell women until one |
would imagine that the summer resorts |
will present this year the appearance |
of cOntinuOus-fete. A clear bright red |
Madras waist is considered very ele- !,