The courier., 1901-11-23
FASHION

Weren't the gowns lovely ex-
claimed one Of the best dressed women
in New York, as she made her way
out Of the Victoria theatre last Satur-
day afternoon after the matinee per
formance Of The Way Of the World, "
and her opinion was echoed by every
woman of taste in the departing
audience. The gowns We're lovely.
In the first and much -taIked-of auto
mobile act, in which Miss Elsie De
Wolfe appears sitting with her hus-
band in a high and horseless victoria,
with her dog Riquette in her lap, she
wears a very simple gray cloth costume
with a collar and vest Of lace and null
The bodice and skirt are trimmed with
stitched bands of the cloth, each one
ending in gray cloth button. On the
skirt the bands end in points at the
knee, giving the effect of a row Of but
tons topping the flare. The sleeves are
close fitting to the elbow, where they
open to let out narrow white double
ruffie, after which they close again at
the wristband.
With this nine o'clock in the morn
ing gown Miss De Wolfe wears most
becoming hat made entirely Of pointed
green leaves. 1t is rather close fitting
and looks extremely we'll on her dark
hair. At home in the second act, she
wears a gorgeous negligee of some
gaUzy material made over flesh colored
or pinkish satin, with a belt of the
same showing in front. The back of
this garment is semi-fitted and hangs
free from the front. 1t has four col
umns of large lace medallions let in
from the waist to the bottom, where
deep lace woven with dull silver scales
makes an elaborate finish. These sill
yer scales also trim the front of the
skirt and the bodice. The sleeves are
remarkable. Two bands of the scales
leave the shoulders and top arm visi-
bic. To the lower band a long chiffon
mousquetaire sleeve is attached in some
mysterious manner, ending well over
the hand. 1t is most artistic
At Mrs. Lakes crush the gowns are
gorgeous. Mrs. Croydon Miss DE
Wolfe appears in a peculiar pink
white and silver combination not quite
so becoming as her other gowns. The
main part of this toilet is of palest
pink, ending at the feet in many
fiounces of deeper pink with startling
effect. About the waist. or from the
bodice somewhere, falls a great quanti-
ty Of trimming made up Of beads and
silver, and reaching a point front and
back almost TO the knees. The sleeves
look like the wings OF busy butter
fly. They fly out loose, full and utter
ly open from the shoulder and rarely
touch the arm. The cloak in which
Miss De Wolfe responds to the encore
which follows this act redeems the
gown. 1t is exquisite, but we see little
of it-just a glimpse az the curtain
rises and falls. Ii was of some heavy
white material, trimmed about the col
lar. sleeves and down the front with
narrow bands of sable. OF course. II
was spangled some. too. as are three
fourths of all the gowns worn in the
play. but tastefully and delicately. The
wrap was Of three-quarter length. and
lace was deftIy combined with the
sable trimming.
1t is at the christening that Miss
De Wolfe wears her prettiest and most
becoming gown. This is white. with a
lace bodice fastened i'm the back ana
fullcd artistically. and bioused slightly
i'm front Her belt, which is of white
satin ribbon, finishes i'm a sash tied IN
a short bow At the back. with enGs
reaching to the bottom of the gown.