The Washington times., 1906-10-29
FASHIONABLE EVENING COATS
FOR TFlEATER AND OPERA WEAR
Mandarin Style, Heavily Embroidered, Very Popular
Special Importations Being Ordered

Chinese mandarin coats were first
worn as evening wraps Ia this country
about two years ago. and ever since
then their popularity has been steadily
increasing. Owing to the handsome
embroidery these coats cannot Well be-
come ordinary nor can they be success
fully initiated IN machine work The
Chinese and Japanese seem 10 under
stand effective combination better than
any other nationality. and they seem TO
obtain certain tones which with Us only
make violently glaring contrasts that
are anything but attractive.
In the present craze Tor the antique
even the mandarin coat must be just as
old AS possible and certainly time does
seem 10 soften most caarminsly the
brilliant Colds. puppies, reds, blues. and
greens in which che Oriental maker
ever takes delight. There is nothing
faded about the dull finish that the silks
and satins acquire with the wear OF
half century. the color effect being
only enhanced.
The majority of the mandarin coats
are OF satin, almost completely covered
with rich Oriental embroidery. the chry-
santhemum pattern being the one most
frequently seen. The flowers there are
worked in varied colors. often having
huge gold centers. and their shaded
green stems and leaves generally being
in lust The right note OF color.
Naturally the old coats have 10 be
refined, for even II the thin china silk
interIininC is not worn or soiled il never
seems sufficiently handsome for the EN-
Droidered satin coat. 4 heavy satin Of
some dull. antique coloring is best, the
shade according as nearly as possible
with some one part of the embroidery.
II there is a suggestion OF deep pink or
old rose IN the ttOWe then this shade
Is an excellent one to be carried out in
the lining. There are certain shades
Of dull blue that are effective and not
700 bright, bat perhaps the pest tones
OF all are found among the SOFT FelloWs
and dun ivory white For winter warm
interlininE must be added il the gar
nent is desired for an opera or Jheater
cloak
The very shape of the mandarin coat
makes il peculiarly well ntted for
loose evening wrap. The sleeves are
fashionable shape. and While II IS
icose at the neck il can be made 10
LasIea up a the throat or else a soIl
4eaJatf or lace scarf can be worn with
Il ne coats are 10 be had IN all the
alHereht sizes and naturally the cost
3ependa largely upon the size All
lengths are worn, and as everyone seems
70 IKE one special length OF evening
wrap the length that's generally select
ga IN Ire ordinary theater cloak had
best be selected. OF course the price
Is determined largely by the amount Of
embroidery and the quality of the satin.
small coats are 20 be had sometimes
Tor about 50 and from there the price
ranges up almost indefinitely.
All mandarin clOaks are nor real an
tques by any means and lately. since
they have become so fashionable the
very newest ones are imported and
IL Is said thai many are made in this
country. By many. the new coats are
preferred and naturally there are ad-
vantaEes IN that the newer ones will
give better wear, but they ara rarely
made of as good materials as were
once employed. as is shown by the waV
In which the mandaTins that are nearly
a century old are still In a remarkable
state OF preservation.
4 mandarin or kimono wrap is too