Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-15
PARIS FASHIONS
Special Correspondence Of The star.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
PARIS. December 1, 1905.
The Louvre and shops where old prints
are to be found are popular haunts these
days of the smart woman. For to be
thought modish this winter one must at
least boast an afternoon or evening frock
copied from an old master. The portraits
of Gainsborough, Reynolds and Sir Peter
Lely have long been fountain heads from
which inspiration for fancy ball costumes
have been drawn, but now we are applying
these modes of long ago to gowns for more
prosaic occasions. or course one would
prefer being the copyist of some less We'll
known canvas, still there are points even
In the hackneyed picture of Nine. LIE
Bruins "Muff With the Girl" as frlv-
olous critic dubbed this masterpiece. that
might be used with advantage. The hat.
for instance the saucy little cutaway coat.
with it's kerchief of muslin, or both.
would be fetching if reproduced In some OF
the fabrics of the season and worn by the
fright girl" But the examples are mum.
berless and it is spelling sport to suggest
them.
But you see what head-splitting process
of thought accompanies the pursuit of up
to-date dress The other day a few of us
WHO nave IiiOic lucas VI " Aie@e
is what in dressdom than we have money
with which to carry them out had serious
debate as to whether not the present
modistic era tends to more or less extrav-
agance than its immediate predecessor.
Naturally there was much to be said on
both sides, it is an incontrovertible fact
that each season it comes along seems
to bring with 1t some new and quite In
dispensable attendant, something that pre-
viously never entered our minds. but when
once placed there by Dame Fashion dis
content reigns supreme IL we can't get 1t.
Then fashions change rapidly nowadays
that it takes all our time even to keep
within a measurable distance of the front
ranks And yet one so soon grows accus-
toned to every new vogue that last
months possession becomes demOde IN our
sight and strenuous efforts are resorted to
to possess La Modes latest decree
-
This of course, is where extravaganza
comes In. On the other hand home dress
making has taken enormous strides.
don't mean "botchy' clothes. with all the
earmarks of home manufacture about
them, but really smart. professional look
ing creations. In most cases we have TO
thank the scientifically cut paper patterns
for these productions. Then the shops are
equally encouraging to the home dress
maker In providing ready-made accessories.
Why, at the Bon Marche and other shops
fere in Paris one can get sleeves, berthas,
collars, belts, etc, OF every conceivable
style that would give touch of chicness to
any costume. Again these same shops are
filled with artistic materials at prices that
are really astonishing If takes the
trouble to compare them with those OF
few years ago. And certainly there never
was time when such attention was be-
slowed on the reproduction of famous laces
and trimmings of all kinds.
Taking all things into consideration. We
are rather inclined to the belief that while
the opportunities for spending money never
were more allurng, with careful selection
a very good appearance can be arrived at
with quite a moderate dress allowance. In
dividuality In dress, in all other mat
tiers, Invariably stands for distinction. and
that worthy end it is the aim and object OF
every dress-loving woman to achieve.
One of the most extravagant and attract
I've features of fashion at the moment Is
fur. We revel in fur, and as a trimming 1t
takes precedence of all others. 1t is worked
into stripes and circles, it forms rOsettes
and assumes the modish shape of the
lozenge Chinchilla is more used for this
adornment than the other pelts and is SO
cunningly unanswered as to suggest the
elaborate intricacies of design in mosaic.
Personally 1 think this a great liberty to
take with handsome fur, but 1 am bound
to tell you about the latest and most i'm
oortant novelty of the season. In my