The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-28
THE TEA GOWNS
FROM PARIS
PettiCoat is Made of All Materials
from Muslin to silk,
THE WONDERFUL NEW RIBBONS
The Fade Tints are the only Ones that
Are Fashionable This Season Tor
the House-Some Fairy
Like Creations.
THE WONDERFUL NEW RIBBONS

PARIS. Dec. 1i.-Nearly every house
gown has its petticoat, which is very
good thing for the house gown as 1t gives
if q grace which is not always assured by
The long. straight lines Of the gown
which is all ia one piece.
They are selling these pettcoats, sep
arately. all runled and trimmed WIN iaee
ana needlewoTk of all kinds, IN me SHOPS
with applique and other decorations.
The French. who are prudent IN all
Things. have 80 arranged this matter "l
the petticOat that il is much less cosby
than one would suppose. In all the pcse
shons of the Rue de Ia PAX they sen
tbese vobes Of silk snugly fitted 90 the
bios and belt. They fasten in the back
fat without gathers, and iit very ushus
MS far as the knees. On a counter hot
far from the yokes are displayed the
most beautiful nouuces. d yard deep
which can be attached TO the deep SIX
woke. The hounces are OF all co.ofs anu
are in chiffon, taffeta. satin ana hneat
cambria embroidery. They are attached
bv small buttons and bultonholes 10 the
yoke.
This is A fashion which has been adopt
ed for the silk petticoats that are worn
in the street but il Is new for house
dresses Its object is principally econo-
my. as the nOunc1 cost much less than
the petticoat. when bought complete
The pale fade tnts are the ones that
are employed for house dresses. There
is a positive fad for these fade tones TO
the almost entire exclusion of the DIli-
liant hues which We're chosen b. Mrs.
Iangtry as her only loves and were pop
ularized by her The rarest. fade green
is fashionable. so also the lightest OF the
pastel colors and the most delicate OF
blue white and pearl gray.
Gauze in these pale tones comes thick
~ strewn with violots. the whole so arr
tistically arranged that the material
looks as II the viOlots were thrown there
BY accident. Panne velvet comes with
vines straymg over st. and taffeta has the
most beautiful floral patterns lightly
traced upon It's surface in the natural
colors Of the flowers.
A word may be said about the wearing
Of the house dress. tea-goWn, so ca j.
ed Is bv no means a gown to wear IN the
afternoon, for tea pouring. u Is a NOR n-
ing dress. of the kind known popularity
al home as q wrapper. In Paris "a woman
OF fashion dons many gowns i'm day
of twelve hours. and she can change her
dress many times. without once going our
az ihe house. In the early morning she
wears dressing sacQue and skirt of
dainty design. but meant only for her
own room. or the family breakfast table.
Then she puts on tea gown which is
worn all the morning. and which IS very
pretty for luncheon ln the afternoon,
when callers may arrive she is dressed
in q home gown which may be called "a
reception dress. For dinner she wears
quite a pretentious evening gown But il
she is going TO "a dance In the evening
she will want 20 wear deconotte Five
gowns will carry a woman Or fashion
through the day AT home.
THE F1CHU.
The nchu PLAYS an important part IN
the tea-sown. II is one of The distinctive
marks OF This particular style of dress.
s Paris modistc displayed TO an admring
group a large trunk snueiy packed with
fichus all of which were 10 be shpp d
to London as part of the troussedu NJ a
very wealthy English girl. The ichus
were cut square from the new shining
silks with that sheen finish which is so
beautiful Flowers OF all descriptions
were scattered over the silks and vines
traiied in graceful lengths. They were
bordered with fine lac. These square
nchus were Ia be folded around the neck
aud caught AT the front with d iewelled
pin.
Others were diamond shape with very
LONG taperinC points that when brought
10 the front. would fall nearly 10 the
floor They. too. were edged with lac
for this is the softest and prettiest finish
q iichI can have
Then there were the three-sided ones.
so cut that two OF the ends were very
long and tapering These were TO be
tied upon the bust In a large decorative
bow
Quite novel was the arrangement OF
one tea gown. Il was of taffeta glace
with a petticoat Of fine muslin embrold-
cry The bodice and tunic was in one
piece. en- Princesse. and were buttoned
down the front with enameled buttons.
The tunic was draped high upon each
side indicating re-neckwear. IL is used
upon the ends of long ribbon stocks and
borders the half handkerchiefs that are
tied around the throat.
Fringe plays an important part In turn
10 the pannier shape.
II IL now that difficult between season
when there IS nothing new in actual cos.
TUNES and when one must he conten;
with the small noyeltie. Of the season.
One Of these Is found in the remarkable
ribbons which are now seen in tho shops
1t comes all widths and Il hrocaded. oe-
ured. and corded. IL Is also IN open work