The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-25
A SHOW OF Spring SHOES
Fashion Favors High Heel and Egg
Shaped Toes.
Gowns of beauty and nliss-Eibow
sleeves Are Coming Bnck-Points
season to BE Biliowy With Muslin
and Lnce-The Inspiration of Dress.

NEW YORK. Feb. PIT have been TO
the ouaintest OF exhibitions only this very
morning" quoth n maiden in blue cloth
and chinchilla trimmings across the white
damask of the hostess hospitable lunch
con board to Mrs Van Knickerbocker, wac
was appreciatively disposing of a generous
bel .,ing of marion salad
"a show Of shoes" continued Little Girl
Blue. THE shoes of forty years ago oil
my mothers day; walking. dancing, call
ing, driving and equestrienne footgear IN
all colors and sizes. were displayed IN
great showcase. and after examining them
with eager curiosity l went away wonder
ing whether the bellies OF mammals day mad
less vanity or lovelier feet than the wom-
en- OF the present time.
After interviewing those Anticipated
foot coverings made of uncut velvet, drab
cloth and other materials equally unsuited
for usefulness and comfort, went up in
the light TO my bootmaker's sales rooms
and gave a thankful little sigh for the
blessing Of living in this sordid period
when the science of shoemaking mas
reached point where no woman, unless
she be perverse, need display an ugly
foot
"Right YOU are my DEAR quoth the
nlumn rna,ron across the fairy barrier oil
ferns and yellow tulips. but ! am Gown
on the newly revived fancy for high heels:
Yesterday l. too. went TO Duy PAIR Vi
pretty dress shoes and the man who grow
aIed before nv silk clad toes swore by all
the gods of fashion that none but the
highest heeled Oxfords with what is called
an egg shaped toe and constructed wholly
of the thinnest most glittering French
vanished kid. are worn. These were lac
e1 with the broadcast black silk ribbons
threaded at the tag ends with big, bright
let beads. Expressive as they were IN eS-
cry line of beauty and that excessive
daintlness women now consider necessary
in foot dressing, / objected; thereupon ne
brought forth new type Of shoes to me,
made nj black satin-surfaced cloth, bright
ened with stitched straps, and toe cap OF
patent leather.
HE ,hereupon gave me his professional
word of honor that. though extension sores
were going to remain in FASHION, me
straight last and big rounded toe have
narsea into the limbo of things outside
fashionable esteem. while a more pointed
zoe and high. slanting, military neel are
developing into favorites. Or course. Inc
sturdy golfers will cling to the more
manly type Of shoe. and while l oeoaieu
nervously whether or no / should go PACK
10 .be thralldom of stilt-like heels and
cramned toes. a woman swan graciousiy
as a swan down the aisle of the shop, sank
;rto a yelyet-lined chair, lifted her skirts
a bit and ordered a pair of ties such as
had been considering. She wore most
cor,ely robe of that newest OF the new
figured panne, a tunic skirt, and quantity
poiuted bolero drawn upon body ana
iInderdress of lead-grey chiffon. The loot
she held out for fitting ! think l correctly
diagnosed as shaped for number Two shoe
made on a double last, and when ! saw
The childlike ext -emity slipped and laced
into one of those pomDadour shoes
boldly ordered a pair for myself. mus
softly moaned the youthful matron'
helnine herself a second time to chocoiate
mousse vanity doth make towards oil us
ALL"
well. my heart for once is light and
ze,f-confident" spoke up the hostess from
nor and of the table. ABOUT six months
ago | stumbled upon that which is usually
the most cautious womans Cndoing and
greatest extravaganza, namely, bargain.
II was an occasion in blonde lace, and hid
den in the depths of my guilty conscience
and in the drawer where / try to bury my
shopping mistakes. that lace has lain heay-
fly as plum pudding on delicate diges-
lion. Stopping down the street In the colo
and rain but yesterday l was CONFRONTED
,,v the window of smart shop dressed like
a fete champetre in June, with clouds OF
parasols. of white and tinted silk, a-crisp
with rows on rows of blonde lace. A little
further on and 1 came to another plate
glass paradise, where beloved the iilmiest
muslns loaded with blonde lace, and then
l ran into my favorite milliner from the
shower to learn IL there was anything new
under the sun promised in hats. and, To-
the hrst new model she showed me was a
chiffon tooue striped with the most deli
cate rice straw lines. and winged and
crested with blonde lace"
THE luck is so often On your side.
solemnly remarked a handsomer luncher
in second mourning. land woman should
be able 10 bear anything when she wears
so good gown as yours. The hostess
blushed delicstely with pleasure, for it was
a good gown. The skirt OF sage-green
-.i5th laid in fan tucks from few inches
below the waist 10 the hem, and worn With
it that sweetest inspiration OF fashion for
a home reception gown, namely, waist OF
coral pink crepe de chine. made with
elbow sleeves and tucked yoke Of white
nousseline de sole Pretty figures in
cream lace set into the crepe de chine
gave IL the aspect OF rich embroidery.
Broad rolling cuffs at the elbow, shoul-
der straps and a high, straight collar
band OF coral velvet enriched with lace
applique and a big bow OF cream lace
fastened like bouquet de corsage TO the
front of the garment. ali lent their effec-
tive aid TO the completeness OF the charm.
at is : rather pretty thing" ad-
mitted the wearer with becoming reluc-
lance. land like these elbow sleeves and
the delicate fancy waist worn with the
cloth skirt, for my dressmaker tells me
there is really nothing newer"
We'll, ii is not often that ! can &C
cuse myself of coyetousness." came in q
very cultivated and slightly plaintivt
voice from Mrs. Back Bay. who was eat.
ing sl0-a-pcund grapes with as pleasing
a nonchalance as If they had been baked
beans, "but in spite Of my lofty ideals
and my Interest in things literary ! fe,
plump from the artistic empyrean into &
state of vulgar material desire yesterday
1t was. as / hardly need tell you, gown
that disturbed my serenity OF mind. one
OF those gowns that comes before the para
sol dares and fills the bleak March days
with beauty"
II guess" spoke up Miss Chicagoest
from her end OF the table. that it was
blue"
Right my dear"
And Il was encrusted with lace" added
Mrs. Van Knickerbocker
Right again" admitted Mrs Back Bay
81 see you girls know what is going 10 b,
fashionable. My IDEAL or my cherished
ambition is to have steel blue cloth
light as nuns yelling. but smooth rs fac,
cloth. cut as a long princesse tunic. wais
and oyerdress seemingly in one. and drop
ped upon an underdress OF blue tanfets
seyant. My tunic up the front. round th'