The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-01
NEW IDEAS
FOR WEAR
Hints Of Spring Emerge From
tho Late Winter Novelties.
CONSERVATISM IN SKIRTS
Materials For Both Spring and Sum
NOR are Varied and Make Fascina-
ting Study For the Feminine
Mind, New Styles of Silk

Lato winter L. not apt to introduce any
radlcai novelties. yet there are hints OF
spring to DO gathered here and there and
those women who order new costumes
1eH that their style should be assured.
a few advance models have been sent
over and few Aats are to DO ascer-
tained. but tho tlrne is capricious on.
and no one need be surprised to nno
what IL btated to-day denied tomorrow.
All sorts OF runors are flying about. On
ono side hear that tight skirts havo
passed away. on another that they are
aa Arrnly established as eveE Ono oil
thorlty talks about short skirts, another
SCOTS at the Idea. The truth, as be
lleye It to be, Is found midway between
the extremes and neither statement Is
entirely correct
1t L. quito true that plated ana shir.
red skirts arc to DO freely worn, but,
80 lar, they are confined to the thinner
materials; cloth models arc made 10 III
snugly about the hips and to fare freely
Of the feet; let that result be obtained
by what means 1t may. Unless all signs
fail. more skirts that clear the ground
VIII DO worn than heretofore has been
the case but tho graceful train Is dear
TO the feminine heart and Will not readily
be given up. What It is to be hoped
VIII come about Is tho exercise OF good
sense and judgment as to when they shall
DO worn. Indoors nnd for carriage Dress.
they are charming. The error that Is
made lies in their misuse. Partisan wo-
men, and indeed women OF ell Euro
ptan Countries. use carriages far more
freely than we DO. II the private equip
age Ia not q possibility the cheap cab
Eysten helps them out AS result. fine
gowns are not often worn upon the
street In adopting the styles.
we, on this side OF tho sea are
tho gowns when conditions arc far from
being reproduced No French woman
would consent to coll her skirts by con-
tact with the pavement. II sho wears
ono Of train length, 1t is carefully lifted
well above the insteps and the pctt!coat
beneath Is short Her senso OF fitness
Is far too great to allow Of trained foun-
dalton skirts that slip away from the
hand and that drag or flap about the
feet. When she wears such she Is driven
from place TO place Here, where we all
go much afoot It would indeed be well
II her example could be followed and only
short Gairts or skirts over short PETIT
coats be worn. although personally, I
prefer the former. Few women raise q
long skirt gracefully. The lines produced
are ugly and dis.esteful. The skirt that
5ust clears tho ground allows Of grace and
dignity and Is dnnt!or by far. II the
promised thrush OF such does really come
there will be cause to rejoice indeed.
Materials for both spring and summe,
are varied as never before and make fas
cination studies Of color. As stated
last week. plain cloths will be given the
preference for formal dress. but the
licked and mixed materials for utilita-
rian wear are charming nevertheless,
Gray with white Is always lovely and is
ideal for spring. Some OF the new che.
viots show the gray IL ularveIouBly soft
and tender tones with recks Of white
in varying sizes. Browne too are shown
and both green's end dull blues. What.
ever else may fall, these materials will
be made up In plated slslrts with blouse
coats, either plain or with basoues that
vary from mere peplums to genuine
tunies. Some admirable models include
cuffs and hat collars that are Of velvet
or OF the material velvet edged Fancy
braids too are to be much used An ex.
ccedtngty smart coat Is double breasted,
slightly open at the neck and Is finished
with hat round collar. that Is complete.
ly covered with braid. Tho sleeves are
In the new bishop style, cut In two pieces
and form big dropping puts above the
Teaves. CLEANLINESS oil are SO made
Buttons are exceedingly handsome,
rol-oyer cuffs. Cheyiots, canvass
and, even on these simpler suits, are rich
In effect. Those designed for the hand.
somer wraps are OF carved gilt. Of gilt
sset with stones Of carved oxydlzed metal
go treated and OF porcelain, painted, and
3
Examines are peculiarly charming and
show mixtures Of white with color or
blended shades OF one color IN a most
effective manner Nut browns with tan
and dull green with white are noticeable
and are eminently desirable, They are
light In weight. shed dust and make al
together satisfactory useful gowns.
New toulards and silks appear almost
every day. Ono Of the very newest is
exQE!s!tely SOFT and light and Is shown
IN fndescribabte all-over. scroll-like pat
terms that are tenlptmgly restful and at
eractive, Pnle green, pastel blue and
gray with white and scattered dots Of
black are smart and suggest summer
ooolness, even now, when furs nre well
come. With the craze for names that
lars. .Eal the season, the silk is called
t,=,'-is--., - 1Ss.1y 40 4hQ JuSC wherein
lies the Significance OF the first mon.
tlon .t name do not know, The touches
or black are most effective and are to
pc noted In many of tho best matoriala.
Whatever the color ana whatever the de.
sign. some touch OF black appears and
enhances the whole Not the silks and
WOODS alone show the feature, fine cot.
tons also ore woven with threads or dots
OF n,ach. ran colored Swiss muslin en-
protdered with white and black dots is
much lire and threads OF black ars
found in the cotton grenadines, battstas
and the like. Mercerized fabrics are
simply exquisite, Many of the cheylots
have tho lustre and quality Of sill.
while the vestings show depth Of col.
or never before found In cotton materials.
For immerate wear these last arc shown
with aeoce backs and nro held FAR more
smart for shirt waists than flannel To or
any wool. Tho now shirt waists, by tho
way. add to their numbers every week
One marked feature Ia the wide boy
plaft. another the big pearl buttons. A
most excyellent design shows two central