The Washington herald., 1909-03-05
GOWNS And JEWELS
ARE MAGNIFICENT
Those of Empire Period Are
Most iii Evidence.
ECIIPSEs all FORMER SCENES
Never Before Has There Becn such
an Array of Finery at an Inau-
EurnI FunctiOn-Was a Revelation
of DresSmaker's Art-Mrs. Taft in
Robe of Heavy White Satin.

The gorgeous gowns OF the women made
the memory. indeed. dream Of fair
woman" for truly fine feathers make
tine birds. They were. with few eXcep-
-tion, modelled on those OF the empire and
airectoire period, with long slender lines,
and jewels worth more than the ransoms
Of several kings Never in the history Of
Washington have there been such gowns
and such jewels seen at the evening re
sCeptions Is have been this season, and the
baH which marked the coming OF PreSi-
dent Taft was the climax
The gowns were a revelation OF the
dressmaker's art. and the keynote Of the
seasons fashions was sounded IN the cos
tunes OF the first and second ladies Of
The land. and those Of the lesser lights
Of the Cabinet circle Mrs Tafts gown
was in the modified empire fashion Of the
present day Of rich. heavy white satin,
a Grccian drapery Of white chiffon cloth
embroidered periodically with the nation
al flower as recommended by President
Benjamin Harrisou's wife, the late Car
cline Scott Harrison
The embroidery was done IN silver thread
and appears also in the court train %
satin The sleeves were OF rare OLD rose
point lace which was also used effectively
on the bodice. Her hair was dressed
quite high on her head and a spray of dia-
monds was the only ornament in il.
pearI dog collar with diamond clasps
was the only other jewelry she wore and
she presented a figure Of grace and dig
nifty.
YRS. Taft's Gown.
Giss Helen Taft. the next debutante OF
the White House. wore a gown Of girlish
simplicity. which might well teach tell
snE lesson 90 less prominent mothers Il
was OF white embroidered m0usseline over
q plain priuccsse slip Of white SIX. made
with modest round neck. edged about
with narrow point lace. and Tiny bow
knots or pale blue ribbon placed so as %
hold the fuIluess and drapery. and givinS
a touch az c0lCr Her light. soft brown
hair. which frames p face Of more than
girlIsh tnougitfglness. was worn in
graceful loose coil and she mad no jewelry.
Mrs. Sherman. wife Of the Wee Presi-
dent. q woman known more for her mod
estv and womanIIneSs than he- social
SUCCESS. wore a sovp of white satin and
Suve~. made with panels back anJ froHa
o. the satin edged with q wide hand OF
silver embroidery. tae hack panel falling
from tire shoulders. forming sort Of
court train effect Tie long narrow train
was also ruIsseI vitl the silver embroij-
cry. Panels % sllrer tissue were Jet I'm az
tho sides. over which the material WIS
caught VITA silver cords and tsssels.
Tie. bodice vas trimmed with silver en-
broi6cry ana silver fringe, which also
appeared on the tiEuI-ftung sleeves. She
wore some handsome diamonds.
90 Pink satin.
Mrs. Knox. wife Of the future Secre-
tarv O[ state. wore a gown OF pink satin
veilsd with an overdress Of net heavily
fncrUsted with crystal and coral beads.
The net vas sIashed ar the sides and held
IN place over panels of ElIipUre lace with
cords % silver with tassals. The sleeves
Of ret were embeIiislled with the crystal
ana coral beads and had further embel-
lishue-t of silver fringe. She wore a
uerrIace and co-@ge ornaments OF dia-
uord=-
IIrs. George W E5ckerslam- who has
rcst or friends i- Washington. wore
rich gown cC white satin made priHcesse
with a IonS end narrow train, the bodice
heavily studded with rhiEestoues. with
2 softcuinE effect of white tulle about the
shoulders and sleeves A diamond neck
lace and Lair ornaments completed the
costume. Miss Wicke-shan wore white
1uousselfue DE- sole enbroidcrcd in white
and finished with lace.
Mrs. BaIlin-er. wife or the prospective
Secretary of the Interior wore a gown on
modified empire style. of white satin
trimmed win gold L.cs with a 'front.'
panel Of tire lace and a band Of cloth Of
gold about the long and narrow train.
With this she wore a unique antique sold
necklace.
Miss Helen Cannon. daughter Of the
Speaker OF the House Of Representatives.
were black satin with bodice and sleeves
OF cvt jet with a diamond collar
Violet Chiffon Velvet.
Mrs Robert Bacon. wife OF the retiring
Secretary Of State. wore a gown Of rich
violet chiffon velvet. with rhinestone
trimmings on the bodice, and point lace.
with a chain Of diamonds. a diamond
collar and hair ornaments. Mrs. Wright
wife % the Secretary Of Var. AMETHYST
satin, embroidered in gold. with diamond
ornaments sIrs- Charles Day Palmer.
daughter of the Secretary. white satin
embroidered in silver Mrs. Bonaparte.
wife Of the Attorney General. heavy ivory
satin. trimmed with rose point. with
Iall OF the lace down either side Of the
front Of the skirt and about the round
neck and the famous Bonaparte dia-
monds. Mrs George Won l. Never. wife
Of the Postmaster General. who viii he
moved down a space in the Cabinet line
when Mr. Meyer IS transferred from the
PCst-Ofice 10 the Navy portfolio in ire
new Cabinet wore = gown of black vel
vet with white satin stripes. with dia-
mOnds; the Misses Meyer. who are al
WAYS CoWncd alike in street or evening
costume. although they are not twins
were in CeTise Liberty. satin, with white
fluffy boas.
Blue Psnne Velvet.
Miss Flora Wilson. daughter of the
Secretary Of Agriculture. who VIII also
remain ia the Cabinet circle. wore Pa
Tisian gown Of blue panne velvet. with
panel on either side Of the skirt. with en-
broidery OF gold. turquoise. and seed
pearls Mrs. SJraUs. wife of the Secre-
tary Of Commerce and Labor. white satin
pr!ncesse gown. embroidered in white and
gold. with folds Of tulle about the edge
Of the low neck. and some handsome Ve-
nctian lace. with dog collar Of pearls and
diamond ornaments.
Mrs. Hochstadter of New York. daugh-
Ter Of the Secretary af Commerce. and
Labor in ruby chiffon velvet. with pearl