Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-05
TEA GOWNS IN FAVOR.
Worn by Smart Women Instead Of
Loose Frocks.
BY A. T. ASHMORE.


The word tea gown is no longer very dis
tinctive, for under this head are included
so many different styles of loose house
gowns from the simplest sort of wrapper
to the most deliberately made and perfectly
fitted house dress. The true tea gown is a
dress cut out slightly at the throat SO that
it may be worn at home Informally for din
ner and would also be appropriate at after
noon tea time. This frock is generally made
with a fitted lining, the material itself being
of lace or some transparent gauZe texture
that will look quite loose md flowing while
revealing at the same time the fitted lines
of the boned Slip
The empire model is particularly adapted
to the necessarily loose and graceful lines
of tea gown, and, indeed, this model will
live in all wraps and tea gowns long after
it has lost favor in a more severe style of
dress. In the heavier materials, as silk
and crepe, empire tea gowns are now
seen that are every bit attractive as
those of lighter texture. There is generally
a soft draped bodice carried down to the
waist line in front and then brought sharply
up in the center of the back to be al
most on a line with the shoulders. The
skirt is swung gracefully below, thus the
greater part of the fullness being gathered
in to the gathered plat which eventually
forms the long full train.
An exceptionally pretty tea gown can be
made in deep cream lace with the same
shade of silk and chiffon. The lace and
chiffon may be fitted in with the silk. being
loose only in back for the high empire plat.
There is transparent lace yoke boruered
with a bertha of lace and this is brought
down each side of the sleeves In long
panels which fall quite loose almost to the
knees These four panels should be about
eight inches in width. A lace skirt in itself
would be sufficiently handsome to require no
outside trimming.
E,nhr do hoe oil
been favorite material for tea gown,
and it's popularity is not at all abated.
White embroidered in queer oriental col
orings makes up effectively, and then all
the light, soft shades sure to prove be-
coming. The embroidered crepe shawls
that are SO much in vogue just now make
superb tea gowns, and the deep, rich fringe
helps immensely in the general effect. En-
broidery is naturally expensive, and If out
of the question then plain satin-inished
crepe trimmed with gold silver or else
silk passementerie and lace, will make an
attractive gown.
The wide figured chffons that are so new
this winter make charming tea gowns. The
material is just wide enough to allow of
an empire model, and trimmed with hand
some lace this figured chiffon manages to
make up a gown that is to all appearances
charmingly pretty and simple, but which
at the same time shows it's worth very
clearly. The material is. of course, expen-
sive, but then far less than the regular
amount Is required, and little If any trim
ming is necessary, SO that in the end the
cost will not be found unusually severe.
Any number of the newest designs for the
spring will be made up in this figured chif-
fOn.
A tea gown is now worn many times in
which formerly it would not have been con-
sidered appropriate However, a loose
house gown is never suitable except for the
simplest sort Of home wear, and a tea gown
must be worn outside ones own house.