Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-01
Lace Gowns, H~igh-Necked bodice and
Picture Hats.

NEW YORK. Jan. 3O.-Never was the
mower OF dress felt more than now, and
never was dress in all its details more per-
feet. At home or abroad the clever woman
Of the hour is she who makes obeisance TO
the Goddess Fashion, and they who turn
their backs upon the lady may be likened
to the virgins who allowed their lamps TO
20 out. The old saying that beauty I'M
adorned is adorned the most Is now read
only in the copy books. The world knows
better as, indeed, It has always known
except in sentimental maxim.
Consider the costume OF the women who
dine nightly at many smart restaurants
about town. and see to what heights OF ele-
gance fashion doth aspire. The old So
brietles in color and material, the grave
restraint in the matter OF jewelry, which
once marked the diner out. are conspicu-
Gus by their absence. At the more pre-
]tentlous places a riot of ball room fnery
is seen, white lace frocks blooming on the
showiest nights, gems ,twinkling in lavish
profusion from every bosom.
There seems to be only one restriction,
and that is that the bare neck cannot be
shown in public dining rooms, though many
compromises for the decollete waist are
made with lace yokes and guimpes, whose
fragile meshes are anything but conceal
ing. The stockless bodice, something cut
out only a trihe below the collar line,
may be admitted, though the wearing Of
a hat with them is one Of the require
ments Of good taste. II is only the woman
who has apartments in the h~ostelry who
may go without a hat at the public table,
but even she is most frequently seen with
head covered.
SurpriEinH simplicity.
White and tinted cloth, with insets
Of rich lace and bands Of fur, compose
many Of these beautiful gowns, whose
models are often Of a surprising SIM
plicity.
A lace bodice. with a black velvet, net
or silk skirt, is also a frequent combina-
tion and one which affords endless posi-
bilities for variety, as it is always easier
TO achieve a waist than an entire costume.
Some OF the lace bodies seen at the best
restaurants are as modest in material as
they are charming in effect, plain and hg-
ured nets OF inexpensive sorts being COM
bined to produce elegant results. The
plain net is folded in narrow biases. which
are fagoted together to form stocks. cuffs
and ornamental yoke bands. The rest of
the bodice, which frequently closes at the
back with tiny net-covered buttons, will
be Of the figured lace. and a bias OF colored
velvet, fastening with a gem-set buckle,
will girdle It at the waist.
One stunning odd bodice lately seen at a
fashionable restaurant was Of white gros-
grain silk and Irish lace, this four inches
wide and showing one smooth and one
scalloped edge. 1t was put on with a yoke
and jacket effect, with the tucked silk cut
away underneath to show layers Of chiffon.
All bodices and gowns with Transparent
cles are built upon chiffon foundations. silk
surfaces being considered too hard for
proper relief.
With this fine waist, which may be copied
with imitation Irish lace, was worn a
sapphire blue velvet skirt and a hat re-
markable for it's oddly, one OF the scoop
ing shapes of the season and white zibeline
felt in material. Ermlne faced the high
upcurving brim. At the back fell the only
other trimming, a long, straight end OF
lace and a queer looking black plume
whose thick quill pierced the furred brtm
Sitting Bull never owned a more warlike
headdress, yet the pretty girl who was
lunching in 1t seemed eminently civilized.
Deep Fringes.
At the same table was a costume gar
nished with deep fringes. which are nov
seen on the most elegant imported gowns
Made OF pale brown satin-faced cloth,
network of pistache green braid surmounte,
this brown and green bordering, whicI
edged the bolero and a tunic in deep points
A vest Of green velvet, embroidered wit
black, coral or green, showed at the from
Of the little jacket, which was completed
covered with the braid netting, The bel
vas also of the velvet and the open sleeve
fell over puffs OF plain cloth.
White ostrich feathers deck many OF tn
large hats worn at these public luncheon
end dinners, and breast knots Of white G
purple violets, fashioned by the milllneI
are not, These are made
barrow satin ribbon, so cunningly bunche
and knotted as TO seem the real thing. wit
green leaves OF the plant and the ribbo
and cord tyings OF the florist to aid tn
deception. The price charged for such
bouquet Is $3.50. one of which will outwei
twenty of the florists; wherefore the reasc
Of the ribbon violet is obvious. Convei
tional artificial violets are never worn
this way and even ribbon ones must a
company costumes of the dressiest descriI
ton.
"Oyster-white" is one of Dame Fashion
new titles for a tint that is neither viii
nor gray. Entire dinner gowns, vii
fingers cut in the cloth, are seon in tn
off-shade, which is radiantly enhancing
pale dark women. One very fine costun
in this material showed lace bands in Il
same tint and borderings OF chinchilla fu
This was recently worn at a dinner,
huge white flower at the left side of a la
and chinchilla hat contrasting magnii
Gently with the inky locks Of its wearer.
smart FrOckS.
Another smart frock showed the poss
bilities OF cut-out cloth against velvet, al
displayed one Of the daintiest fads In triI
ing. This was a ruche Of raw-edged bla
net, which in a single narrow line trimm
the bottom Of the skirt and the edge Of I
eccentric little bolero. The other materia
were ivory white cloth and black and Two
checked velvet.
Gowns in ombre and lace-that n,
brownish cream-frequently show touch
of the most delicate shade Of violet,
painted or appliqued flowers, and with t