Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-17
Charming Toilettes for
Social Occasions Elab-
oration the Rule : The
Corselet Skirt Clever
ly Handled -Laces and
Applied Embroiideries
Replace Handwork to
Some Extent.

The old question as TO whether women
dress to win the approval and admira-
ton Of men, or Of one another, was the
topic Of conversation at the club the
other afternoon. and one gray-haired but
still young looking matron ended the dis
cussion by declaring that women dressed
to please themselves, and none other.
Each woman is-or ought to be-a law
unto herself. where her clothes are con-
cerned," announced the young looking
woman, who made no secret of the fact
that while she goes In for light blue
dresses she is already grandmother.
ut is not one man in million that has
the faintest feeling for clothes, where
his womenkind are concerned. He is
Just as likely to admire u shirr-waist
frock, If it happens to be his fayorite
color, rather than ballroom gown that
Is really n dream OF beauty, simply be-
cause he does not understand the diff
ference.
''Now, the other evening when we were
going to q reception at his club, wore
that crystal gemmed tulline-you know
the one with little crystal beads drop
ping oil over 1t. l know that in spite
Of my gray hair that white1is my most
becoming color, and pale blue next Well,
John, dear soul, wanted to know why
| did not wear that pale blue thing
had ON at dinner, 1t was no use to tell
him that the pale blue was teagown, and
not at all suited to u public reception.
| explained that 1t was all right for a
family dinner where we dlned en- in
time, but that If we had even a single
guest l could not have taken my place
ut the head Of the table SO gowned
But Just the same, he held out for that
pale blue crepe de chine, and would not
admit the charms of the dewdropped
tulline."
1t is positively fact. and not a theory
that there are no old ladies any more.
Fashion, for one, takes no cogni2ance of
age, and the grandmothers Of today are
as keenly alive TO their possibilities in
the way of line and color as are their
granddaughters--if these latter happen
to have been presented and are ''out" In
society.
Quite n marked difference displays itself
in the gowns that are intended for the
daylight hours, and those that are to
be donned after dark. There is a sweet
simplicity about the former that cannot
but commend itself to even the most fas-
tldious. One point that cannot be too
distinctly emphasized Is that frocks OF
Empire persuasion are intended for the
more formal occasions only, while those
that follow princesse llnes-either In fact
or merely In effect, are equally suitable
Tor TOfInul uHu lulOrundl OCCdblOuS hllkes
And speaking of Empire gowns, a
whole-souled woman, who makes no
secret that she has yearnings after the
culture that She has not yet attained,
threw a bomb at the tea-table the other
day by inquiring earnestly;
Won't some OF you tell me what an
'Um-peer' gown isl The dressmaker talks
of II, the shop girls rave about IT, and
l haven't the falntest idea what It is all
about. The dressmaker says that l can't
wear 1t. as my figure is too stout, while
the corsetiere declares that any we'll
cOrseted hgure looks well In It, and that
It only requires graceful carriage TO
wear IL to the best effect. Won't you
tell me what II isl"
"Why, my dear, It is merely the AFFECT
ed fashion OF pronouncing the word 'em-
plre' that some people who have smat-
tering of French think It smart to use.
Those same folks would doubtless be In
the same boat with the English woman
who bounced into the reception-rooms OF
a famous French artist In clothes.
"I want some "Um-peer' gowns, she
announced, breathlessly; and ! want them
right away, quick.
".Does madame desire 20 see models OF
the modes OF the hrst Empire, or those
OF the second EmpireT Querled the amia'
bic Yendeuke.
How should known retorted the