Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-12
PARIS FASHION LETTER!

Paris. Feb. 25.-With Lent upon US. Il
is proper that We should be turning our
the Ishts toward sobcrer garments. AS
a matter of fact this is not the case
Lent. with its outward formula OF pray
ers and repentance. is but an opportuni-
~ for the surreptitious preparation OF
new garments in which to inaugurate
another season of social dissipation.
a costume we'll suited to the .subdun5
ana pcnsive pose of the Lenten saint 7
had the pleasure of seeing yesterday. 1t
was not n gown on which one might
save much for the poor. for it was made
by one of the best drcssmakcrs in Paris
ana The materials were expensive Nun
like gray was the color and the material
inc new satin faced cloth. The skirt was
cut in five cores. with trimming CON
sisting oc two tiny frils of gray silk rih.
bon carried down either side of tho
front and around the hem in panel ef
feet. n wide collar of lace was carried
across the shoulders. Down each side
OIL inc gray satin vest were applied two
pointed pieces of lace. which were
caught under the gray silk girdle.
a house gown of rather elaborate nat
tern, but OF equally quiet gray. wos
shown to me at the same time. 1t had
been ordered by Il fair one who cxpect-
ed to wear ii in her boudoir in the morn
ing when receiving her dearest friends
IL was of tight fitting, soft flbcred silk
ana incrustcd with lace. The cascade
drnperies Of the front and the hem were
lace trimmed: so also We're tho >vi,lo
LOUNGES on the edge of the sleeves md
the short. loose overslecves. Deen
squares OF lace formed the upper part Of
the bodice, the quality being the ponu-
lar suipure. The neck was cut low and
round. from which I presume madame
l" proud OF its beauty. From the middle
OIL the back yoke fan Nhapcd arrange
ment oil the SILK caught by crystal
buckle fell in long TutteaulllSo fold
that broadened into a graceful. stately
train. The silk muslin fronts OF the
gown were elaborated with Chiffon
ruchcs and lace.
Not all Parlsiaas are dcyofoee no
learned. Ono frivolous Youn,: rlarouise
VINO lifted away to the Riviera with n
gay party of friends the very day be-
fore Ash "Wednesday carried . new
promenade gown which was evidently
constructed for conquest 1t was of
the outdoor tyre suited for wear In
southern climates. Antique cashmere
was what the fabric was called. the
edge of the material that formed the
long tuniclikc drapory in front being
eIaporately figured in n sort of oriental
pattern in dull yet rich colors. The
waistcoat, which showed considerably
between the lines of the crossed bodice
drapery, was of dull red velvet. The
velvet was continued in the skirt and
showed between the pointed space
where the loose tunic fell back over the
front of the skirt. a runlc OF velvet
was rather unique use of the mate
rial, and, rs it hung well, was n very
pleasing effect. The sleeves were very
tight fitting. and just ~ little above the
elbow. beginning under n ruche of lace
they were of velvet. a touch of white
chiffon was shown between the lace
faced rcvers at the throat, the high coll
lar being of cashmere. with two deep
pointed pieces of lace falling over it.
The cuffs on the sleeves consisted of an
ingenious arrangement of lace squares
and silk.
Many of the soft materials when
made up are, like this gown, made with
gracefully crossed drapcrics. All skirts