Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-24

predominance of dark and light
colors in evening dress, but as the
weeks go on and the newest crea-
- tions of the dressmakers skill are
exhibited it may be noticed that
the all white and the light shades are
gaining in popularity, so that at the mo-
ment it cannot be said that the white
gown is not so smart as the blue, the
pink or the green, which have been so
fashionable all winter.
There is no question that the per
fectly carried out white ball gown. espe-
clally when white is becoming, is one of
the smartest and most satisfactory that
a woman can own; but be it realized that
much stronger effect can be gained in
any color for less expense than in white
or black. The best of materials and the
handsomest of trimmings must be used
to make an all white ball gown notice
able in ballroom filled with gowns of
more vivid color, and often it is disheart-
enlng when, after the expenditure of
much money, time and thought, an all
white gown dainty and beautiful in de-
tail is fairly lOst-swallowed up, as it
were-in the riot of color and brilliancy
of vivid satins with sold, silver or rhine
stone embroidery and paillettes.
The embroidery on the evening gowns
this season is most artistically carried
out, not overdone, but exquisite in detail.
Palllettes are coming into favor, but en-
tire pallletted gowns, unless of the most
costly description, are not considered as
smart as usual. The exceptions to the
rule are the gowns of spangled net in the
shaded colorings, made by hand and with
the spangles or paillettes entirely cover
ing the material so that almost the eff
feet of scales is obtained. On the white
net or satin the lighter designs in span
gled effect are far smarter than when
the gown is entirely covered, and more
attention is paid to the design itself being
artistic and effective than to the number
of spangles required. Quality, not guam
tity, might indeed be taken as a test for
the fashions of this season, for the ap
parent effort is to use as little material
of any kind as possible, but to have what
is used of the best that can be obtained,
on which are to be noticed what at first
seems rather a scant amount of Ornamen-
tation often cost far more than a much
more elaborately trimmed one.
CRYSTAL EMBROIDERY EFFECTIVE.
Crystal embroidery is one of the new
fashions of the winter, and is most eff
fective and dainty in the white gowns.
Crystal fringe, always effective, is being
used more and more ali the time, and
white satin or panne velvet gown en-
broidered in crystal and trimmed with
crystal fringe is as smart gown as the
most ambitious woman could wish. Crys-
q tai embroidery on satin or velvet is made
more effective by bugles of crystal rhine
stones or a few silver paillettes being
cleverly interspersed. Embroidered on
net, there is rather lighter appearance
but on the velvet or satin there is a GER
tain air of costliness that is generally
irresistible. For the benefit of the many
women whose dress allowance is limited
be it known that there never was time
when all sorts Of trimmings, passemen-
terie in silk and jewelled effects and
spangled net could be bought at so small
a cost as at present. This is the season of
the year when veritable bargains are to
be found, and while unquestionably
many are of short length, it is possible
to carry out, or rather to modify, the
model, not to use trimming recklessy and
not to give the same general appearance.
Most unusual effects are gained Inv tho
introduction of faint tone of color in