The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-19
Gown for The
Sunny south.


many weeks to come, but those women
who are able to do SO are planning to
Shun the most trying winter months and
to start for Flor da, California or some
similar land Of sunshine, as soon as tho.
s. asons gayety comes to an end. AS
result the intervals between dances and
dinners, luncheors and teas are given ov r
to preparing a suitable wardrobe and
from, these gowns and wraps many hints
of spring can be cleaned. Willie the.
wisest and most sllrewd designers will
b. you wat a bit, and TO be wary, there
are many indicating straws lying about
and some few facts may already % &C
scented as established beyond all doubt
STREET COSTUMES.
Street costumes are still something of
. mystery. We shall have the b coming
Etons and the jaunty bolcros. So much
is uui.e ccr,ain In addition, skirts are
known to be growing steadily more snug
above. and more fluffy below the knees
FIounccs. frills. ruffles of all sorts will
abound Habit backs are promised. but
the flat inverted paits will remain first
fayorites Even the latest improve.4. MS
on the labit style fail to rob it OF all
objection The ripple effect undoubted-
ly rel ewes its overs y and PROVIDES
greater grace, but even the ripples are
not sufficient to render 1t becoming to the
generality OF figures. For the lew WHO
possess IDEAL or nearly IDEAL lines, II Is
adrira BILE, but both the oVer-stehdec ana
the over-stout will do well to pause ana
study their neighbors before selecting the
model. The fiat plaits are far safer
and are quite snug and plain enough TO
SUI, the average taste, but whatever the
cut founceS are quite certain TO apfet1'
For the most part those designed LOT ,ile
street will be circular, but foularns. ana
an thin soft materials Will show tucks
and gathers both, as means or proVlollls
fulness. Tuchs, far from haVlhs ieaeA-
cd their limit, can be relied upon as
feature and will appear IN every poss1o'e
combination and size
THIN DAINTY GOWNS.
Tho fret gowns made, after the winter
e,n,1x, is complete are always the thin
7,;1ty ones for midsummer wear, ai1
tho nrcttv foulards, challies and crepeS
which Droyide the needed weight LOT
southern evenings, while the muslilis
make most satisfactory morning tollet1es.
As have already stated boleros VIII
have great vogue.
charming gown, in preDdfatloll ioi
wear at one OF the Florida resorts, IS
of foulard in pastel blue dotted Will
white The skirt is made IN three pieces.
so providing circular sides, and is tenn
mated to simulate founce. while liie
snug upper portion is laid in fiat plalts
at the back. The waist includes cor
larless bolero and is adapted alike to in
door. and street wear. The waist be-
meath, of white chiffon. is tucked to
form a pointed yoke, below which the
lateral is soft and full.
The iau,ty little jacket is cut out we'll
at the neck ana is short enough to re-
veal several inches of the pretty waist
above the marrow belt, and includes bisll-
or sleeves and the new deep cuffs that
are pointed at the upper edge Both
skirt and bolero are trimmed with bands
Of plain blue silk arranged in groups OF
three and the belt of the same SILK
held by a narrow clasp OF gold, set with
semi-precious stones. The Jacket, small
as it is gives that comfortable sense or
being clothed for the street, which we
ali have felt, and makes an admirable
model for spring gowns of lightweight
wool as well as for the fascinating fou-
lards and Indias which few women have
the stoicism to resist The silks, by the
way. are extremely beautiful this season
and include many excellent designs. Few
stripes are shown, and l.ose which are
seen are, as a rule, formed by the tls-
ures, or of self color and tiny, satin on
silk and rather suggested than aggres-
sive. Both the silk and satin surface are
to be worn, but satin appears to be CIV
Ell the greater favor. Blues, tans and
green's are favorite colors, with the al
WAYS elegant black and white. Etues
run tho entire gamut from dark navy to
ell but the intermediate cadet blue, new
and pastel shades make by far the most
attractive showing.
TANS AND BROWNS.
TaDc and hroU-I1c ALWAYS good
taste for street wear and make exquisite
backgrounds for the white figures. Con-
ventional designs, such as spots, rings,
lines scrolls and the like are most con-
spicuous, but some lovely semi-realistic
floral patterns are shown. Exclusive nov
elites include what are known as ''peau
de niege" and brocIe backgrounds, but
are costly in the extreme The former
show Jacquard backgrounds that are a
mixture of silk and satin and have a pc
culiar soft and beautiful weave. but five
dollars for 4 fouard, even though it be
forty-four inches wide, seems 4 big price
when one remembers that it can never
become suited to really formal wear The
designs. too Of these special silks are, to
my eye, rather over large. Too small.
a pattern is lacking in snartness. as we
ali know. but really big ones are apt to
dwarf the wearer unless she be Juno-like
in her proportions as well as resemble
the goddess in perfection Of line.
Lightweight cheviots are always cor
rec for street wear during early spring,
and are sure to be included in the south
This season tans and browns
promise to have great vogue. An ex-
&C. .ns.y smart costume that has the
merit Of usefulness and Simplicity as
we'll, is of the material in blended browns
md tans. ard is made with a single
breasted blouse, that is worn over odd
waists. The skirt, an exceptionally
graceful one, is made with graduated
circular founce that is approximately
inches wide at. the front, where it is
laid in an inverted box plat and runs
up to nearly wo-thirds the depth OF the
skirt at the b9ck The blouse is single
breasted. wi h bell sleeves, and is fini he'd
with coat collar and lapels the collar be-
ing brown velvet, and held hv handsome
carved bronze buttons. Beneath it will
be Worn a severe shirt list or a dainty
blouse. as occasion demanSs. The acc n
pa.nying hat is of tan maine. with bands
of brown velvet and tan plume. Among
the more fancy waists are several of fine
white batste, tucked and trimmed with
lace Insertions that close al tha hack q