The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-26

Automobiling and outdoor sports of all
kinds, which are so much the fashion
this winter. have occasioned a perfect
craze for fur coats. 50 that every woman
feels that she must POSSESS two or three
OF these comfortable, warm garments.
and whether she owns IN open automo-
bile or merely goes about in an open car
rage, as is the correct thing to do, she
must be 30 warmly dressed as not to look
cold or thinly clad
Many Of the shaggy fur coats remind
ono irresistibly Of the old winter times in
New England or Of the present winter
days in Canada, when people really try
to dress sensibly and to protect themselves
against cold.
There is nothing smart or becoming
about a great big. shapeless fur coat, ex-
cept that 1t looks appropriate, and after
all that Is q great oeal.
The medium length coats are extremely
becoming and are made OF the Persian
lamb, sealskin, shaved squirrel, moleskin,
sable or mink.
The two first named are not so smart
as they were last year, but are most be-
coming and attractive. The style that mas
e blouse effect in front Is either close or
sized sleeves, Is one Of the most practic-
able, but there are q variety of other de-
signs that are greatly In demand,
There are loose box coats. there are
ehort Elton jackets, there are boleros and
then there are long overcoats, the only
term to use for. the coats that cover the
gown over which they are worn.
The Persian lamb long coat, with revers,
collar and cuffs of ermine, Is a very, cost
~ garment, but at the same time Is ex-
tremely handsome. The three.quarter,
costly q garment as ever could lie de-
vised, but is not becoming to every figure,
as the long haired furs OF necessity MAKE
q woman look stouter.
The squirrel coats of the gray shaved
squirrel are very expensive this year, and,
after all, the fashion Is but a passing
fancy. The shaved squirrel skins look like
nloleskin and are more becoming in the
It is still fashionable to trim these coats
with ermine or with the black and white
them, and. although mink has been at
tempted with them, 1t has not proved a
success.
Moleskin is undoubtedly the craze of the
winter, and, although it Is known to be
perishabie kind Of fur, it is made up not
only in the more or less elaborate styles
that are trimmed with passementerie and
but is also used in the rather hers severe style
of fur coats without any trimming. such
as have been relegated to hard wear OF
late years.
coloring and Is quite a becoming fur.
much more becoming when used by itself
instead Of being trimmed with ermine, as
is one of the fads of the time 1t makes
charming trimming used in bands, and is
also possible with much elaboration in
embroidery or cut work, and this year
there is a shade Of cloth that matches it
exactly. so that 1t Ia really extremely
fashionable.
Tho short Jackets of fur of all kinds,
trimmed with lace and velvet and passe-
menterie, are most intricate and elaborate.
They dtIite hide the lines of the ff1ira and
seem almost like wraps instead Of coats,
but they are In keeping with the more or
less fantastic effects that are so popular
this year, and are quite conspicuous as
being absolutely new
The Persian lamb Jackets Of last year
have almost, without exception. been done
over this season and singularly little of
and lace are required in the doing over
that the original Persian lamb is hidden
under It all