The Washington herald., 1906-12-23
How to Wear Them Is the
Hardest Question.
WASHINGTON IDEAS VARIED
Conflict of Opinion as Noticeable
This Year ms Ever-The Effective
ness OF WOman's Costume De-
ponds Greatly ON the Manner in
Which Ii Is DOnned.

How to Wear IL. might, with a fair
chance of success, be revived and en-
larged at the present time. when the
wealth and prosperity of the country Of
which we hear so much in speech and
print seems to find its expression in the
very elaborate dressing Of all the fem
mime world.
What 10 wear II followed by an in
terrogation mark. might be answered by
ANY new thing" for Fashion IS running
riot at present, and seems as tickle as
Fortune. which every one knows is pro-
verbally tickle. How TO Wear It. is
a much harder question, as upon its
answer depends the real success Of the
milliner's or tailor's skill or art. Many
really beautiful creation is ruined by
being worn by the wrong woman, or
possibly by the right woman at the
wrong time. As a consequence the all
around well-dressed woman is much more
rare than she ought TO be for the amount
Of money spent In feminine adornment,
and the many precious hours given over
/ to the aforementioned tailors and mil
liners.
/ In Washington more than in any city
[ in the country one finds a diversity OF
taste in dress. with many conflicting
opinions Early as the present season is.
the man in the dress coat and the lady
with a crepe veil have appeared at
afternoon teas. while the high-necked
gowns at dinner parties, four-in-hand
| ties and frock coats at White House
receptions. not to mention the ladies in
b0nnets. promise 10 be as numerous as
ever despite the criticism OF many years.
Among the socially elect. however.
clothes are worn according TO reason as
well as taste, and it is Of these costumes
and their weaTers that this column pro-
poses to speak from week to week.
One Of the very smartest of the now
popular creations in white and black
demi-toilettes was worn by Mrs. Shaw.
wife of the Secretary Of the Treasury
at the large reception at which she in
PRODUCED her youngest daughter. The
chief portion OF the gown Was in chiffon
cloth in narrow stripes Of white and
black. the white slightly wider, but about
the size Of an ordinary piece OF cord.
The larger dots were probably the size
Of d silver quarter: the top ones. as
small as the Cld-fashioned silver three
cent piece. The bodice was made with
the chiffon cloth draped slightly on a
tight-htting lining OF white silk. which
was cut away at the top, and finished
by a transparent collar of point lace
The latter being much deeper in front
than in the back. where the lace was
continued in q narrow waistcoat effect
TO the pointed girdle OF folded chiffon,
under which skirt and bodice Joined The
/ sleeves were three-quarter length and of
the striped chiffon cloth. with short ruff
fies of point lace, a reproduction of the
smaller velvet dots being used on the
edge OF the chiffon sleeves, Just above
the lace rufles.
To give the skirt a desirable airiness.
an interlining of white chiffon was used
between the striped material and the
white tafeta foundation. All the mod
elm gowns of chiffon, lace. messaline, and
kindred fabrics now demand al least
two Innings.
Another very handsome white and
black afternoon gown is that OF Mrs
Theodore p. ShOnts. This. like Mrs
Shaw's. came direct from Paris 20 Wash
ington- The foundation is of white tat
feta, with a rather full skirt made of
bands OF black velvet ribbon, between
two and three inches in width, with
entre-deux of Chantilly lace, also in
| black. The hem is finished with a band
| of silver embroidery in conventional de
sign, and the round waist of velvet and
lace is brought into a girdle of silver en-
/ broidery, picked out in light blue The
upper part of the bodice is transparent,
and finished in a lace stock collar.
Mrs. Nicholas Longworth wore at the
first dance Of the season a superb gown
of emerald green velvet made princesse.
with long rounded train. The gown is
untrimmed except for the ruffies Of hand
some lace about the deconete neck the
lace also entering into the half-length
| sleeves
With this, Mrs. Longworth wears the
dog collar of diamonds, and the famous
pearl necklace with diamond clasp pre-
scented by the republic Of Cuba on the
occasion Of her marriage and also long
| oid-fashioned pendant earrings, the lat
ter being composed Of pear shaped soil
taire stones. surrounded by a loop of
small, but very brilliant diamonds, which
! show their fire with every movement OF
| the head of their vivacious wearer.
Miss Elkins. daughter OF Senator Elk
ms. from West Virginia. is another hand
some young woman. showing great par
uality for the untTimmed princesse ball
gown, her favorite and most becoming
gown being of heavy white satin. This
is a princesse creation with moderate
long train, and absolutely untrimmed
| except for the soft folds of tulle about
the decOllete cOrsage, and chouex of
the same at the shoulders. The sleeves
are little more than shoulder straps of
satin with graceful loops of tulle.
Miss Elkins, who each season grows
more like her handsome mother. wears
with this a couture ornament of white
and silver, somewhat akin to a single
Mercury wing, which is exceedingly be-
| coming, and also Il pearl necklace, very
similar to that OF Mrs. Longworth. but
presented to her by her father on her
entrance into society two years ago.
That no woman in Washington dresses
more appropriately to the occasion than
this young daughter of Senator Elkins
was verified a few days ago. when she
drove her smart trap down Connecticut
avenue, wearing a loose DOUBLE breasted
coat of long-haired gray fur. and stiff
black hat that might have been the prop
erty of one Of her brothers. The same
costume, with the coat coming to the
hem of her short cloth walking skirt. also
does duty for the morning hours she has
devoted to her Christmas shopping, when
she has gone about in the rain, always
without an umbrella, and always ami
able. giving any chance beholder the i'm
preston of having seen a new fashioned
Santa Claus, of the feminine type.