Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-20
Quaint Costumes

| give their imagination and inge-
nuity full sway. Quaint ideas are
quite the thing, and If the costume
regulations are far out of the ordinary
the ball is sure to be a much-talked-of
success. Some of the regulations of
fashionable balls have been odd in the
extreme.
A fancy head" party was lately
given by one of society's leading hos
tesses. The masquerade, which was
confined to the head had most novel
effect, and many of the make-ups were
both striking and clever. Among other
heads present were those of Juliet
Marguerite, toreador and wild In
dian, besides divers heads surmounted
by original and fantastic coiffures.
At a ball given by Madame Della
maire at her residence in the Avenue
Perrier Paris, the guests wore the cos
tunes and coiffures of 1880. This style
was obligatory, and the Old World
scene, wherein the grace and beauty of
seventy-five years ago seemed at the
touch of a magician's wand to have
sprung into vigorous life, was exceed
ingly beautiful. Most of those present
wore costumes that had formerly be-
longed to their grandparents.
| An equally pretty idea was that of
Miss Fay, who gave a dance at Copley
hall, Boston, to which only flowers
were admitted. Every guests costume
represented some bloom and the ever
changing combination of color as the
gorgeous petals flashed and glanced in
the dances were both novel and eff
fective. To heighten the realism of
the scene the hoisery worn by the
flowers was green, to simulate
stems.
| Eccentricity often strikes the key
note, as when an American hostess
started the vogue of poster" parties,
at which each guest was constrained
| to appear in the guise of some well
known advertisement. During the en-
tertainment a large frame was intro
duced. behind which each guest posed
as the poster represented, and to the
most exact copies the judge awarded
various prizes.
| About the same period ghost" par
ties, at which those present were re-
quired to dress as spectres, goblins and
other weird phantoms of the night,
caught on.
To another ball admission was alone
granted to those who appeared with
their clothes hind part before. By this
bizarre arrangement the heads of the
dancers seemed to be turned the wrong
way.
When, however. a year later the same
hostess gave a party at her country
house the scene was far different. The
approach to the house was made to re-
present well CLEANED grain field. while
the great hall was changed into farm
granary. Ladies were obliged to dress
In peasant costume-the typical peas
ant costume of comic opera; while fer
gentlemen white suits with colore6
sashes were compulsory. At supper ths
table, instead of being laden with costly
plate, was covered with such homely
utensils as farm hands might be sup
posed to use.
Paper can be adapted to almost any
use, so that the order issued in March.
1893, by Mile. Forester, that all such
as attended her ball should come in
paper dresses, did not present any great
difficulties. Indeed the costumes of
those who thronged her house In Paris
on that occasion were in many cases
of most elaborate description and, al
though only of paper, Wed in taste ana
elegance with the most costly confec-
tions in silk and satin.
Original was the idea of Berlin doc
tor who gave a ball at which the guests
were obliged to masquerade as well
known criminals. Naturally high born
malefactors Of history, such as the Bor-
gias, in that they afforded most scope
for artistic costumes, were chiefly IN
favor. though one of the hits of thu
evening was made by an Englishman
who, got up as Charles Peace, the no.
torious burglar. mingled with the ar
stocracy of crime.
An equally odd whim was carried into
effect by the Catonsville County club
which a year since at Baltimore gave
quired to appear as a tramp. so that
battered hats, boots down at the heel,
battered coats and all such disreputable
articles of clothing were in great de.
mand,
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re- NF4an q.