The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-14
RNlNG SUMMER AFTERNOON. GOWNS OF THE PARSIANS

season. ass Sa ..l1sss imsss' GOWNS ON s'ss' ss
tain the perfection OF summer
\ toilets. Fashioned of lawns. OF
dimities, of soft, clinging silks
and OF diaphanous organdies. their
daintiness and brightness challenge ad-
miration. With pleasant weather the
popularity OF the afternoon costume has
grown apace: Il is the proper frock for
q garden party. for an after midday
promenade, musicale or tea. Few calls
are required during the dog days. but
when they are paid a huffy afternoon
garment Is the dress to wear. De-
coming hat and a suitable parasoi seem
to be essential adjuncts TO the postme-
ridian costume. At Versailles, at ron
tainebleau. in the Bois. at the races or
at flower shows one catches glimpses
Of the sweetly simple yet ravishingiy
elegant midsummer attire In whlch
Frenchwomen are at their pest oh
warm afternoons when the ladies OF the
smart world fit like gayly colored how-
ers about the well kept walks or the
old Versailles gardens one sees many
robe worthy af the most radiant queen
of beauty who graced the halls OF Louis
le Crande. But 1t IN the court or Mas
Antoinette and of Louis XIV. that -
gowns of the women OF today recall
Pompadour or Du Barry might have
worn similar apparel Fashion design
ers have copied old portraits and prints
with fidelity that is more indicative OF
taste than of originality.
Not all these costumessare expensive.
Ono of the neatest, worn by the belle
of a smart coaching party which
lunched yesterday In the neighborhood
OF the old palace. was nothing more un-
usual than a spotted white muslin. The
robe had plated insertions OF plain
muslin forming panels on each side OF
the skirt and a band across the middle
of the back. Lace insertions framed
the plain material and formed a van
dyked head for the series of three lace
edged frills that covered the lower part
OF the garment. The straight skirt
front was untrimmed and terminated
In deep insertion outlined scallop. The
bodice. OF spotted muslin and deep
toned lace, was cut very low in the
neck and had no other decoration than
a band of the narrow insertion. A mus
lin collar edged with "a lace frill fell
over the pouched underbodice. which
consisted Of alternate bands of lace in
sertion and plated muslin. The sleeves
terminated just below the elbow. and
very deep lace nounces covered the
arms TO the wrists. a series OF narrow
lace insertions on each sleeve formed a
between elbow and shoulder decoration.
The girdle afforded an opportunity to
Introduce into the costume a touch OF
the new vivid green. This gave an ad-
mirable suggestion of youthfulness and.
In contrast with the pale blue of the
crinoline picture hat tied under the
fair owners chin. was very chic indeed
The hat itself displayed the faintest
touch OF the new color in the green
tulle which was combined with the pale
blue drapery. 1t is I'm deftly arranged
combinations OF color that the artist in
dress demonstrates her genius.
An aesthetic gown OF cream colored
linen was sketched i'm my notebook the
same afternoon. The delicate, fair
haired girl who wore IL is just the type
TO set of To advantage its dainty wedg-
wood blue embroideries. Rosettes Of
various sizes were worked in silk below
the plated yoke Of the skirt and COW
cred entirely the bloused front of the
waist A wide girdle OF Wedgwood blue
silk was fattened about the body and
clasped at the side by a gold mounted