The Washington weekly post., 1899-12-05

Gowns grow In elaboration day by day;
.-.nm.gs are more ornate. and designs
...r. complicated. whilst COlOTings are
fa.T.v mixed and blended, until We reach
cutie au Eastern effect. Yet. 20 far, the
faz. %. color Is not given by the .uo-
.r.re. ~ the gown nearly 50 much as
d. tra decoration Of 10, but al present We
"a. !r.rlCIug in the lOvcliest shades OF
..s- aa.ye. brown ecru and blue, eacn
being frightened by a daring addition OF
-.r.... orange. or purple velvet. OF passe-
-lrtre in rainbow shadings. or of'glis-
-.-.re. clitteriug sequins judiciously SOM
tr-. ty brilliant jet.
The war of the skirts IS sill waging
s.ss and furious. The tight-ftting, eel
skin variety has been doomed by many
0g OH greatest authorities, but II still
rar.l-tsuIly holds its own, surprising
'-ursa il may De-. There are few figures
that look really well in these sheath-like
..ruer.s. but once having adopted them
MANY smart women seem loath 10 discard
rstrg. ana srreruousiy refuse 10 don the
newer skirt which Is far more becoming
.y reason OF the addition OF a single,
foull.. or treble boX-pleat In The center
Il The back. For the derai-trained skirt
these arr particularly pretty. as the Dleat
farfluues down 10 the train i'm very
,aural form making its sweep delight
fully gracccul-a quality that can be
scarcely attributed 20 :he tight-itfing
,klrt-. which only flare outward as they
reach the ground. and which are apt 20
give anything but { happy effect should
The Wear-r attempt 10 walk al more than
The prJyerbia. snairs pace.
samples of the New skirts
one u the most beautiful examples Of
The ueW skirt has just made its appear
ance. Il was for evening wear, and con-
sisted u black satin. having a. the base
a full hounce Of fine black silk lace. which
looked Oh the richer from being laid
against q background Of rucked black
chiffon The satin, which was spotted
with steel jet paillettes. was slit up IN tne
front 10 show a pettIcCat Of black NOUS
sa.lG- de sole. whilst at the back the
broad single boN-pleat flowed away into "a
short train that was perfect in its SYM
m,t-y a huge spray Of red roses and
rEsru leaves, affixed halfway down the
l-'t side Of the front Of the skirt. gave
the necessary touch OF color.
Another cXquisitely smart black satin
skirt had the size breadths tucked in V
shape. the front ana back being left Sc
v'reiy plain; then each seam was out
lined hy narrow ecru insertion. whilst at
the bottom OF the skirt there was love
lg oTuameutatiOn OF ecru lace, which was
here and there backed" by black selvet.
This design looks very charming when
usie In iaWE. brown. or blue the velvet
always exactly matching ia tint \ de-
Iightful walking costume lad II separate
vest. and bOlero. this latter being OF black
velvet with iaDels and hign collar OF
white satin, trimmed with ecrU guipare.
The chief novelty OF the little buleT0.
however. consisted in the back, which
was made TO appear as though il had
been crossed, in ''cEOss-Over' fashion, be-
ing fastened on the left side by couple
of huge paste buttons. The skirt and vest
mer being pieated 10 shape perpendicular
ly 10 within "A few inches of the ground,
each pleat being outlined with narrow
white braid. which was formed into Il
circular button" where the pleat ended.
These pleatS started several inches from
The belt. thus leaving a plain yoke. The
bottom of the skirt was surrounded by a
broad band of black velvet The notion
uf tuckiug, cGTLlng. and Dleating skirts
90 shape l. quite craze at the moment;
and certainly Is very smart ana novel,
but for real uaintineSS and charm | LTe-
fer the black silk skirts which are 2JFdeu
closely IN circular form 10 within some
six OF seven inches Cf the waist.
Very attractive was a toilet Of prune