Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-12
OMAHA WOMEN DRESS WELL
Experienced MOdiItes Say Local Feminine
Taste Is Excellent
FASHIONS DICTATES CLOSELY OBSERVED
Easter Season only Begins the Time
for Display of Elegant Apparel
and Cultivated Taste I'm
It's Arrangement.

merely symboliZes the emergence from the
dreariness Of winter into the budding bloom
Of spring, hope and happiness. The gray
and white of winter have given place to
the soft, velvety verdure Of brighter days,
and womankind has appropriated the sea-
son to one Of brighter surroundings,
brighter raiment and to vie with nature
in giving to humanity that cheer that
comes with the birds. the grass, the odor
Of lilacs and violets, peach and cherry
blossoms in the north and the orange and
jessamine in the south. But yet 1t is the
season Of dress, and nowhere in this broad
world will feminine adornment be more
charming than in Omaha. And that sug-
gests the query: How women dress in
Omaha?
In taste7 Perfect, be It in spring. sum-
mer, autumn or winter. Such at least Is
the verdict Of modistes, with whom the
question Of dress is a life study. And this
was only recently accumulated In the award
Of the first prize in Chicago, only last
month, to an Omaha woman. Mrs. Hartell.
for exhibiting the handsomest and most
tasteful gown before the National Associa-
ton Of Modistes, at which there were rep
resentatives from nearly all the states, and
particularly from the eastern states. where
the question Of elegance and taste in
woman's costumery is a studied art.
what is Now the Taste,
Taste in dress does not always belong to
the Eastertime, but its general effect is
perpetual. 1t may be more elaborate in
specific adornment In the opening spring
days. This season wolfe and CLEANLINESS are
mostly fancied in the lighter fabrics, with
blue shades predominating. though all col
ors have their favorites. Some very pretty
costumes are from white canvas and many
suits are Of fancy w%oolens. and they are
veritable pictures in CLOTH
A large number Of silk and white serge
top coats will be worn this season, which
are the latest creations Of the modlste's
art. In the make Of gowns there was never
a time in the history Of Omaha when they
were subject to more elaboration. They
possess a quiet elegance and are OF the
most extravagant effects, though simple in
their rich and regal beauty. These gowns
are made here, and as a matter OF fact, not
one woman in Omaha sends abroad for her
gowns today, where a few years ago 100
did so. Real laces, handmade laces, are
used much in gown decoration, and also
many colored laces.
Partisan costumes are made the basis
for the Omaha modistes, but they improve
upon these with unique and original ideas
that are at once elegant and in extreme
good taste. There is no tendency to imi-
tate the English fashions, which are re-
garded as too prosaic for the vivacious
American and Omaha woman. Cluny and
Yak laces are the popular fad for the
season. They are both heavy laces, but
at the same time much handwork is done
on the more elaborate gowns, producing
the most charming and rich effects.
About the Bills.
The average cost Of making a gown will
approximate $25. 1t takes one girl about
three weeks to complete the garment. The
average cost of making a chiffon or lace
gown ia from $50 to $40. On these there
is of course much ~handwork, and the
modistes come out about even in their
production. and that only. The material
Is the smallest consideration In the makeup
Of an elaborate gown
The gowns Of today are much better
made thar those of a few years ago. More
labor Is put on them and the artistic
effects are far in advance of those Of ten
and twelve years ago. In Chicago recently
the modistes advanced the price Of making
gowns from 50 to $40, and with the char
acter of improvement going on in the de-
mand for elaboration of costumes in Omaha.
it need not be surprising II a similar ad-
vance was shortly to ensue here,
Cut Out the Birds.
1t is gratifying to note that Omaha
women are eschewing bird adornments for
hats and bonnets Few II any are to be
seen on the streets now, and the time is not
far distant when they will disappear en-
tirely. This season burnt straw effects are
the decided favorites for atwea The
Tuscan straw is also very popular, being a
lighter shade than the burnt straw. The
hats are fiat shaped, with stiff bands below
the crown which give them a raised effect
when worn. Blue is the favored color for
hat decoration, with small flowers Of the
fo~rget-me-not, daisy and foliage elabora-
ton. Fruits are also largely used in hat
adornment, but these will not last long be-
cause of there being too heavy for comfort,
and flowers will be the rule. A very pretty
effect is noticeable in v~eilings. which are OF
the black dotted on white and white dotted
on black variety. Many hats are also
adorned with a profusion of laces, ap-
plique and narrow velvet ribbon, which
give a catchy and attractive appearance.
and thus add to the beauty Of omaha's fair
ones.
In the abstract, Omaha womenl dress
well. Those who are able to lavish con-
siderable sums Of money on dress do so un-
| SpdEAuBlgs ln0g ~ " pAohS " bduhy ga
travagance, but TO elegant simplicity, which
is the embodiment of perfect grace. but not
prudish austerity. Those Of more modest
means present costumes of dignihed ele-
gance and beauty, and nowhere can bt
found a more pleasing galaxy Of well
dressed women than in the shopping dis
tricts Of Omaha during a pleasant after.
noon.
The apothegem of costly thy habit al
thy purse will bear" is practiced nowhere
more completely than among Omaha woman
hood. "A picture in cloth receives It'll
chief charm in the creature that 1t is de-
signed TO adOrn. And no more pleasing
picture can be conceived than a charm
ingly dressed woman. She is the essence
and inspiration Of art. and the brightest Of
minds are constantly on the ebert to make
her more charming, and the perfection o.
that art is assuredly found among the well