The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-15
ELLEN OSBORN'S
FASHION LETTER.
Pretty House Waists and Robes and How to Make
and Wear Them

NEW YORK. oct l3-Thc newest fad
I'm house dc grafton calls ior Che e ri O.
great deal OF deep, oriental red-a color
which has the double advantage OF set-
lc Oft evening dress much more bril-
family than the white and gold o. recent
seasons. and Of according with the desire
4 many h0stCsses t0 make the tea-loom,
in which the afternoon beverage is serv-
ed. warm and cosy and, 20 greater or
less extent Eastern.
The practice Of setting out conspicu-
ousiy in some portion of the reception
room q few pieces of cold crockery, In
tended for no use but posing as tea
Service has been pretty definitely aban-
doned Instead, those houses which have
not the English "tea-room' have added 10
themselves. I'm library or boudoir' tea
corner. whose COuches, pillows, rugs and
hancings supplemented or not by East
EN- lamps and tabourets-ln'lle Iepose
and Oriental ianguor.
Here the tea SIS brewed for callers, and
here women who like experiment OFFER
somtimcs Turkish coffee pulverized with
am ANTIQUE handmill-toO rough work
this though. for tender fingers or they
daily with the harem tea of Morocco
aforementioned ana giving the tang OF
fresh lime Juice. instead of lemon. The
honest. old-ume cream and sugar; how
ever. is again the standby OF many who
deserted it temporarily for false gods
The tea gown. as donncd at the loung-
ing hour takes fits tone In color and in
soft. rich materials dusky OF cleaning
from such surroundings. Eastern crepes
and moueselines. eold-tonod embrOiderles
clingng silks and deep-pleG yelVcts are
it's constituents: and only i'm its trailing
princess shapo-Orientll robes are short
does &c beIay IT'S Western origin.
One little woman of my acquaintance
has what she calls "tea gown days, when
either the weather or her own moods dis
incline her 10 exerti0n and when the
reading or scribbIiug which occupy her
until dinner are done I'm the tea corner
and in rObe-this present autumn-of
palo mauve crepe de chine. Verging on
rose. This sybaridc lady ifs pretty de-
spite The fact that her hair is of so male
a blonde and her complexion so delicate
as TO suggest that she would fade in the
wash. and the colors she has chosen are
precisely those which give most life TO
her somewhat fragile charm.
Her mauve-rose is cut as q grace
ful princess long. close-htting and with
out decoration. except that ITS high Med
ici collar and fits open fronts are edged
with narrow ruching of slightly dark
or chiffon This dainty garment, mar
now fin the back as street dress, opens
ON a soft. not very fun front OF the same
crepe. confined at the waist by broad,
folded band. which disappears under the
rrlnccss dress. so that the beautltul un-
dcr-arm curve is unbroken It's sleeves
are tght-ntting to tho elbows. where
they are scalloped and chinon-ruched
and allow the escape OF mousseLnc THIS
partly covering the hands.
10 SUIT ANOTHER FANCY.
sniff her
fancy. she d9ns one almost equally eftec-
tive OF soft. black satin. over which
hangs-right away from the shoulders ar
The back-a long train Of black chiffon
lightly embroidered with a squirming de-
sign Of black spangles. The loose efeci
of the transparent train is repeated In
front. where the nlmy chiffon hangs from
the bust from a deep yoke OF cream lace
traced with black chenille All the hem
of This cobwebby robe is lightly weighted
with long black silk fringe. The sleeves
arc Of cream lace. and the black seems 10
be slipping Off the creamy Qace) should
ers. Through the shadowy gown, the
slim. pretty figure in its tight satin
bodice is dainuy defined
Stately tea robes have been made this
autumn Of the new ruby velvet. whose
trailing folds are enhanced by embroid-
cry OF gold bullion thread and rubies and
by fFlNRtr OF NAiAiHN ana fItNlllt. Alt
Of black velvet set off with lace motifs IN
sprawling flower patterns sunk deep in
the rich pile. And OF magnificent gray
velvet cut up in points from the bottom
to show Brussel lace nounces and lem
on-tfnted crepe painted with forget-me-
not And Of cleaning water-green panne
with shoulder scarf and under-robes OF
pink chiffon. And Of hundred other
things But tea coats Of panne are
more novel than any OF these and more
drcssy.
A tea coat lately made-for export
for an American woman living in Lon
don was Of white panne patterned With a
blurred design IN roses. Close-httlng
and short IN the back, Il had In front
narrow triangular basques and even mar
rover revcfs, whose deep, triangular
poirts came 20 the waist line It's stand
ing collar nared into point on each side
Of the throat. and left a pointed opening
in front. whose V was defined by the
draplngs OF the nne. lightly patterned
Lace vest, which. blous!ng slightly, was