Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-03
lur Letter From
Paris
PARIS. April n

'NdElE seems to be one featr-a
CT paramount Importance in
Il spring fashions revealed to us
by the foremost couturiers'
creations and that is that the figure
must appear as slim as possible.
Every detail is carefully studied 10
add extra. length to the silhouette
the skirts are clinging. the round
waist and sloping shoulders are still
In vogue. and the materials chosen
are or the softest variety.
Entire dresses OF thick tulle, chiffon
or hne square meshed muslin ara
trimmed with cloth in bias bands
around the hem, intended to hold
down the light fabrics. The sleeves
are of tulle finely SHRED, rufTied or
pleated. clinging tightly 20 the arm
and finished with a neat ruf,,a IN
match the narrow ruch.ng at the coll
lar.
Foulards. crepes and liberty silk,
are sun being worn, as they always
are in Paris. for the French. women
DO not take very kindly to the stiff
linens and starched ginghams so much
admired by the Americalnes
For suits the best tailors arc show
Ing costumes of tussor in every fmar-
Unable color Plain cloth Jackets and
skirts will hardly be seen I'm the
boulevards this spring. A rema rka bic
novelty is shown in skirt with
draught-board checks. increasing in
size from the waist downward. SO
that at the hem they are quite two
inches square. while those around the
waist are barely one-quarter OF an
inch. The effect is very odd. but dis
tinctly smart The tailors are also
building skirts of tartans in blue and
green. the design in large patterns
These are invariably accompanied by
dark blue jackets. The Louis XIV
sleeve is still favored. but the newest
model is slightly draped near the
shoulder. cut square at the elbow and
shows a narrow killing of lawn and
valenciennes
In hats it is very evident that high
crowns will be the fashion for at least
the early spring, and some of these az
fairs are monumental. They look al
most too large for dainty feminine
heads, and were it not for the elaborate
coiffures they would quite eclipse the
wearer. They are trimmed with fancy
excessively huge or very small. while
all sorts OF contrivances in shape recall
the complicated headdresses of the first
half Of the nineteenth century.
Here In Paris there will be no return
to the separate skirt to be worn with
white shirtwaists. The idea is so thor
oughly American that it has amounted
to national uniform. and SO far as
i
in this city of fads. There is a separate
skirt which is cut very high, and it is
the top of the fashion. though it really
amounts to the return of the corslet
skirt. but with the skirt is worn a coat
of the same color and while the blouse
may be of different ma terial it must
also be Of the> same shade. Chiffon Is
the foundation de rigueur" for these
blouses. and there Is great absence
OF lace in the gowns this season. filet
net having quite usurped the place of
the beautiful fabric Tucked and pleat-
ed tulle is employed. however. together
with finest embroidery. and it seems to
be very popular at the moment, though
no one knows what may find favor in
the eyes of the Parisienne next week
The corslet skirt to be thoroughly cor
rect should be long. supple and I'M
trimmed. and the fulness In lines of the
skirt must be decided by the figure Of
the wearer.
In the Cafe d'ArmenonviIle yesterday
/ saw a most attractive woman gowned
in a wood-brown panama with a corsix
skirt and cutaway coat. with brocaded
vest. The skirt was untrimmed. but
the coat had collar and revers OF Per
sian embroidery. On her head was
worn the most charming creation OF
grass green straw with very high
crown and trimmed only with SarIancs
of cowslips. The costume was very
chic, although perhaps the combination
of color was a little daring
ELOISE.