The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-22

PARIS, Dec. 7-Everyone is deep in the
selection of holiday gowns and garments
All the women you meet on the streets
have absent-minGed expressions, as IL they
were engaged in dreams of cuttings and
= fittings, Innings and laces. AS one catch
.es. snatches of their conversation the mo-
notony of it is impressive; all on the
same subject-Cflristmas finery.
Several really. novel touches have been
introduced on holiday frccks. Persons
E of moderate means expect to wear their
gowns after Christmas and New Years
have passed and so cannot afford to go
extensively into holly and mistletoe APP
pliques and embroideries, as ladies of the
great world can. For that reason they
i demand some unique ideas.
A great many fancy dresses are or
dered for holiday costume balls, and the
tendency of most of the modistes is to
supply gowns of the Henry W, Louis
XIV. and empire periods. The popularity
of the costume ball will not languish so
long as women look well in patches and
powder.
Quite a smart effect is impaired to even
ing gowns by the use of appliqued knots
and lines of velvet ribbon winding over
the satiny surfaces in graceful, vinelike
lines. Such decorations cannot be too
highly esteemed by ladies of slender fig
ure, but should be proportionately shun-
ned by stout women. The long slanting
black bands emphasize too strongly the
ample curves of women of pronounced
embonpoint.
1t was for this reason that I tried 10
dissuade my plump friend, Nine. Dice
argue, from investing in very alluring
dinner robe of this type approximately
urged upon her while we were seeking
something appropriate for her to wear
at the Christmas banquet which her rich
bachelor uncle gives for his, clients and
intimate men friends.
Nine. Dicearque is the only female rela-
tive with whom he is on speaking terms
and so she is always asked to help en-
terrain the wives of the guests on those
rare occasions when he expands into a
show of hospitality. To her it means
expenditure which she can i'll afford, for
in spite of his penurousness the old man
has an eye for smartness, and is not
backward in letting 1t be known that he
likes to see a Well dressed woman at the
head of his board. Nine. DicearQue is
nervously anxious to look her best on
such occasions, in the hope of softening
his heart into literally remembering her
in his will, she always enlists the assist
ance of some friend in the selection of
her Christmas dinner finery. This year
1 happened to be the victim.
AT the first dressmaker's shop which
we visited they were showing nothing
but empire effects in evening costumes.
Nine. Discearque is a person of too solid
flesh to look we'll futtering about in a
diaphanous empire connection, so 1 was
relieved to hear her say:
"Oh, monsieur, my good uncle is most
ardent royalist. Never would he permit
me to appear at his table in the costume
of that period representing as it does the
humiliation of royalty
We fled while the forewoman indig-
nantly shook out the chiffon folds of the
dainty Josephine robe, with it's lines of
gold leaf embroidery.
At the, second shop the smiling fore
woman introduced US to q white Velours
costume decorated with appliqued stream
ers and knots of black velvet ribbon. The
model who Wore 1t was a statuesque crea-
ture with the carriage of a queen, and on
her it was admirable. Why is it that
every woman fancies her own figure the
only one suited to bring out the charms
of q sartorial gem? Scarcely did she spy
the gown than Nine. Dicearque decided
she must have it, and / Imperfect oul
friendship by showing her how little il
would suit her contour.
.tSee, said /, the corsage is cut off al
the waist, and, although that point in
front gives it added length, the mass of
chiffon roses running down the front OF
the pelisse chiffon bodice front gives it 9
thick appearance through the waist which
you, With your well developed figure
should avoid That large-black knot Of
velvet ribbon appliqued upon the upper
part of the bodice front further imparts
heaviness. Very pretty are the sleeves
with bands of the velvet over the shoul
ders edged with rows of plated chiffon
rufaing, but they only add to the widt.
of the shoulders. The heavy trimming
of knots on the skirt of cream net or
your short figure will dwarf your stature
True the beautiful ruching that extend:
the width of the edge of the skirt add:
a little TO the apparent height, but yol
would better try something else.
Finally Mime. Diceardue decided to buy
gown of point d'alencon made ove1
transparent stuffs. with a high Louis Ky
ceinture in silk and upon the front {
quartette of glittering buttons half hid
Gen by deep velvet revers embroidered
with paiilettes and chenille The skirt
with its sweeping lines and well-shapet
train was trimmed with a narrow flounc'
of the lace. a sash Of silk to match thu
ceinture falling from the waist behind
The sleeves. mere bands of silk, wer'