The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-02
BY MARY WOOD.

The great modist had been display
ing the beauties of hand-painted chif-
fon drop skirt, whose rose garlands
were the work of master hand. He
dropped the outer skirt of white chif-
fon. half regretfully.
The colors are softened," he said,
but much of the effect of the paint
ing is lost"
But why" asked his practical visi-
tor, why not obtain the same effect,
at infinitely less cost, by using drop
skirt over a Powered organdie under
the chiffon overskirt?"
The modist shrugged his shoulders.
Because, madam he replied nom
chalantly, at would not be extravagant
enough to suit my customers. This
dress will cost milady a cool thou
sand. while the one which you suggest
would amount to the mere bagatelIe
of hundred or two. Nothing can be
too luxurious, nothing can be too ex-
travagant to please the American
woman in society to-day"
The same microbe of extravaganza
in dress Which permeates the fashion,
able world has infected every grade of
society. The American woman, what
ever her station, this summer goes to
the limit of her means-or beyond
to appease its cravings. To appease,
but not to satisfy, for even the purse
of a millionaire could not sat
isfy. These modern Cleopatras do not
dissolve pearls of great price in their
wine, but they make a necessity of
luxury and ignore even the ethics of
beauty in their feVerish search for the
bizarre and the unusual.
The CSOmb1ned Extravagances of
All Nations.
The American society woman of to-
day combines on her person the ex-
travagance of all nations. She shares
the love of her English sisters for
feathers of all sorts, for ostrich plumes
and costly Maribout tips. She bor-
rows laces from Italy, from Ireland,
from Holland and from every land
where days Of ceaseless toll over the
lace pillow create fairy-like fabrics.
She thrills with true Oriental delight
in barbaraS 1eSelry, in the color play
Of flashing gSsns, and the dull CLEAN
of gold and silver ornaments. And
lastly, she has become infected by the
French passion for dainty dress garni-
lures Of silk and chiffon, for marvel
lous hand embroideries, and for APP
pliques which are the product of
weeks instead of days. In material, in
design and in workmanship the sum-
mer wardrobe of milady has reached
the climax of extravaganza.
Never have the picture hats been so
loaded down with sweeping ostrich
plumes. When it is considered that
single fine plume costs anywhere
from $40 to $50, it is small wonder that
the milliner's bills outdistance any of
their caricatures In the comic papers.
The Duchess of Devonshire, who set
the fashion of the Gainsborough so
many years ago, never conceived that
| the day would come when not one such
hat, but ten or fifteen would be requis-
| lite. The fad for matching every cos
| tune, however simple, with especial
| headgear was not then dreamed of.
And, Furthermore, the fancy for shad-
ed plumes, which is the mistress of
the moment. doubles the cost Of a
feather hat.
Feathers That Cost Fortunes.
Feather stoles are even more extrav-
agant. Time was when an ostrich
feather boa two yards or more in
length was considered the hight of ele-
gance. It's glories pale before the lux
urfance of the feather stole. This lat
est creation of the milliner modesto
may be as much as ten inches in
width and reach to hem of the skirt.
Small wonder that it's cost runs up
into the hundreds of dollars. Maribout
| feathers are most often used in its
| construction.
The same plumes form a fringe or
border on some of the most elaborate