The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-03
lat the Fashionable Women of Paris Are Wearing

VA ARTS Jan. 17.-Socially speaking
nowadays we are women with
out a country, for the functions
IA which affect the mondaine in
great lands like England. Amer
lea and France react upon each other
This international feeling is having full
sway here in Paris, where we have been
almost as excited over the durbar as
the English themselves, and the reflex
action is felt in the number Of costume
dances which have cropped up modelled
upon the very elaborate affair given by
the Curzons m India No doubt in
America you are tripping the light fan
tastic en- costume as enthusiastically as
the Parisienne. The women here invite
their particular friends to meet at one
anOther's houses and listen to cos
tune talk given by an authority on the
subject, who also illustrates the little
lecture with historically correct pic
lures.
OF course my lady goes to a great
couturier. and he selects the proper
gown, but the fad just at present is to
be able to talk as one having authority
consequently she must be posted to
the different periods which have decid-
eddy Influenced styles. We are almost
Of one mind concerning the becoming
ness and beauty of gowns worn during
the Louis reigns- The majority of wo-
men look their best in a bal poudre
costume. Another very attractive con-
sideration for choosing Louis period
gown is that if we 60 to a fancy dance
as a lady of the French court we shall
be able to use our brocade afterward
Some Of these brocades are very beau
tiful especially the gold and white ones.
If you get a thick silk, the skirt hardly
requires lining when arranged in full
folds or gathered from the waist The
wise woman who adopts a frOck of the
Louis XIV. style will take advantage Of
the coy ringlet at the back of her Golf
fure which should fall prettily on the
neck. But she must not favor this
sweet conceit unless the hair is well
coimured in a distinctly French fashion
A promiscuous curl hanging from lank
locks dragged back from the face is
ludicrous.
A regal costume. If one cares to be
so magnificent is the dress represent
ing the Indian empire. The skirt is Of
chiffon Of a lovely color known as rose
fragonard. trimmed with roses and TO
lage. The foundation of the gown is
of gold tissue. over which the exquisite
pink chiffon permits the glitter of pre-
cious metal to be seen. The bodice and
transparent skirt are trimmed with
long vandykes Of white satin orna-
mented with pearls and small ele-
plants. dark green velvet bolero
displays decoration of gold elephants
IN relief. and the velvet is draped. across
the bust with pearls. showing the
crown of England in diamonds and the
shield in enamel. The turbanlike head
dress is composed Of green and white
satin interbIended with Indian orna-
ments and the aigret is q bird of para
disc plume. The day has gone by when
one is content to represent little Bo-
peep or peasant girl. and we must
now be stately and elegant. classical
and severe.
We may talk as we win Of the supe-
riority of mind over millinery, but
there are occasions when to find one
self i'll equipped or wrongly equipped is
g matter of positive torment And the
matter is less one of extravaganza than
OF thrifty forethought. 1t is often not
so much a case Of new and costly gar
ments az Of a sufficient variety Of items