Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-10
The Ethereal Neglige.

The present season witnesses the apothe-
| osis Of the neglige gown. Madame Il
Mode has fairly outdone herself in evolving
| the ethereal CONNECTIONS of cobweby lace
and pale-hued 81 that the exclusive stores
display for the undoing of the susceptible
| feminine shopper. For alas, these delicate
| creations are as expensive as they are
| beautiful. 1t is the misfortune Of the mod
ern woman that fashion takes less account
than ever of the unelastic income that
most of us possess.
Lace enters very extensively into the de-
veiopment of the new neglige. From the
short matinee Jacket to the elaborate tea
gown nearly every model is enveioped in
pillows of lace. most of 1t of the 1imSieSt
description. Heavy laces are rarely en-
pioyed in the decoration of these dainty
house garments. Falenciennes seems to be
the favorite garniture. though various Other
hne-mesh laces are used. Except in very
rare instances they are all machine made
limitations, though none of them is of a
cheap grade.
A charming princess model. full length
and slightly trained. in the back Will serve
to illustrate the extent to which lace is
employed since it is composed entirely of
inchwide alternating strips of paleblue
chiffon taffeta and Valenciennes insertion,
arranged horizontally. The pulled elbow
sleeves and wide cape collar are made of
the same delicate materials, all being bor-
dered with deep, full frills of wide lace.
His gown mas no lOF tndl mat
ter, have any of the new creations.
The favorite models for full-length gar
ments are the close fitting princess and the
short-waisted empire gown. Either de-
mands a perfectly fitting corset and bfas-
siere and undergarments guiltless Of bulk.
The term "neglige' Is. in fact, a gooG
deal of misnomer. for there is nothing
about the gown that even remotely sug
gests a hasty or "undress'' toilet.
The kimono. in the loose. untidy. yet emf
nently comfortable, form for which famil-
iarity long since bred contempt, has passed
quite beyond the pale of polite recognition
being. in truth, only degree less unfash-
| ionable than the Mother Hubbard Of exc
| Is permissible is the true japanese. made
| of white or soft-toned silk or silk crepe and
exquisitely adorned with floral embroider-
les. wrought by hand in their natural hues.
| from Japan and ere identical with those
| worn by the dark-eyed maidens of Nippon
| are dreams of beauty and elegance.
Few Of the short matinee Jackets are
permitted to hang loosely. nearly all of
them being drawn In at the waist with
pleats or shirrings. over which Is ribbon
girdle which Is tied in a careless bow In
front. 1t goes without saying that the
materials used for making these little gar
ments are not only thin. but capable of
are the most used. though soft. pliable
woolens are preferred by women who arr
susceptible to cold.
For real comfort lounging robes. to be
worn only in the boudoir, there are loose.
flowing models cut on distinctly orienta
lines and developed In the sOftest and
daintiest of wooden fabrics. White cider
down. figured with pale rose, blue or Law
ender. is often selected for these eiul
robes, though a warm shade Of red Is also
popular The only decoration is the rib
bon binding around all free edges and the
ribbon girdle to match. -'--.-