The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-08-13
7 oilettesofFor>
NAL Intent.
Late Summer Functions
Demand a Degree of
Dressiness.

Fashion demands so much formality In
functions that there Is really coming to
be no season Mt all expressed In ones
clothes that are intended for such uses.
Time was when the winter gown could
not possibly make an appearance after
Easter; and the summer frocks were laid
away In enmphor, or Its equivalent once
the Indian summer had gone-and even
that date was looked upon as unduly pro-
longing the season.
But now pretty much the same ma
terials prevail for formal frocks the year
around, and the summertime dinner
gown and dancing frock, IL they have
withstood the ravages of wear. can well
be used for the dinner and the dance In
town later. Perhaps velvet offers the
only exception to this rule; for one hut
rarely sees velvet gown on this side Of
the water In warm weather, though both
the English and French women retain
them In wenr the year around. But then.
the seasons do not run to such extremes
over there. Here In June the whole
country was sweltering, while the Paris
iennes witnessed the Grand Prix huddled
up In fnrs and raincoats and winter cos.
tunes generally.
Il t ittt kpNu IN ont Vi int btrl ihftot-
ments that the fashionable woman can
make; and 10 many kinds and characters
and weaves of lace are considered modish
that 1t Is quite possible to have some
dozen of them In wear at once, and yet
not produce nm impression of monotony
In the wardrobe. There are simple little
frocks fashioned from the oriental nil
over laces; and the alloyer German Walls.
the title sounds somewhat contradc-
tory does 1t not2-are In high esteem for
both entire frocks as well as blouses.
Rufiilngs In various degrees of width are
furnished for these, and there is much
and excellent use of them In the elabora-
tion of the gown.
The bebe bodice is quite favorite for
these, with its transparent yoke, the tut
ness bloused above conspicuously deep
ribbon girdle. In many instances this
feature comes half way up under the
arms, taking to itself well-fitted corslet
lines. The slender girl may have this
quite separate feature, and vary the
frock by different colored ribbon ncccs-
series; but her more developed sister
must have this feature mounted upon
the well-boned and fitted lining OF the
bodice so that II retains all Of Its swell
shape nndisturbed In the wearing.
Sashes have become snch prominent
features upon all sorts of frocks, and are
being worn by everybody, from grand
mamma-the youthful grandmamma OF
today--down to the llttlest toddler OF
the nursery-that their use really de-
mnnds a degree of cleverness to attain
and retain just the right touch In the
wearing. The plain stir bow, two loops
and two ends Is the exception rather
than the rule. Ii Is the deliberately
made and trimmed sash that 10 worn.
No matter how rich the ribbon, 1t must
receive some touch of trimming Of extrn
adornment To make the sash retain Its
allotted shape is the real raison d'etre
of many of these devices Lace is whip
ped on to the ends with a tiny feather
bone cord held or rolled into the ribbon
hem Bouillonnes OF either net or lace
or a narrower ribbon are fashioned with
these same shaping cords; and In some
instances the sash takes the form OF
eascaded position, and then the silk
interlined with featherweight haircloth
so that the pleats are increased and I'M
disturbed through all the yicissitudes OF
wearing.
The dinner froek and dancing frock.
which were once almost interchangeable
terms are now fashioned SO widely diff
ferent that there Is simply no chance
of confounding the one with the other.
The dinner gown has taken to Itself an
mir of formality which the dancing frock
lacks The dinner gown displays a state
ly train, even when worn by the de-
butante; while In the ball gowns the
trains are relegated to the dowagers
only; the younger set who do the dane
Ing elinging determinedly to the sensi
BILE short frocks that were originally In
troduced with the Cinderella dances
There are charming toilettes In linen.
lace, French muslns and batiste for the
piazza; and these are worn with smart
hosiery aud shoes to match. Another
feature of the matching craze that is
surely launched has the hat and the para
sol to match, entirely irrespective OF the
gown with which they are worn. Es-
pecially is this the case when both hat
and sunshade are fashioned of lace or OF
ribbons, or some one or another of the
clever combinations Of both. and In quite
n few instances there IL a charming lit
tie neck or shoulder piece en- suite thus
completing the harmony Of the toilette.
For afternoon wear there are any num-
Der of fascinating little wraps pieces
that are intended to complete the out
door effect OF the toilette rather than be
worn for any intention as a wrap. or
these the little cnlined lace coats are
easily the leaders. although one sees all
sorts of FUZZY little capes and mantalettes
In silk, ribbon. lace aud other ''hottant'
materials.