Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-11-30

OVERY woman 81 an especial ador-
r.. alton for velyet. and black velvet
in particular, just as she does for
fine furs She reH els I'm the luxury OF
Them and since it is velvet that Is chosen
for the subject OF the chat this week the
manufacturers and designers OF the
beautiful fabrics seem to have reached
the height of pCssibilitieS-the weaves
arc fascinating and glorious.
But after one has eXpatiated ad libtum
on the character of the velvets themselves
there is much to be said of the aptness
witt which the designers have taken ad
lge of them. This is mentioned be
Sc il does not always happen that We
quick to take the cue, but now
feeeo- there seems to be something
in the very air that imbueS every one
with a spirit OF rivalry, of a mad desire
to make the most of every possibility. and
dress designers have caught the Infection.
The model here shown is developed In
lack silk velvet and shadow lace The
skirt is wrapped around tho figure from
the center back. the back continued into
= long train Willie the Corsage is entirely
Of the shadow lace: sleeves are cut with
the BODY portion and the fronts cross
ing each other over the bust, form n
N-shaped decolletage
The girdle of the same velvet is bib
shaped, and rising above ii and following
its outline is a second bib Of gold en-
hroidery caught in the center with a
large American beauty rose.
The velvets are so pliable and light Of
weight that anything that can be done
with a width of chiffon can be done with
them and so, of course, the temptation
IS to drape them. 1t is difficult to tell
whether the play of light upon their ir-
regular folds or that upon the planned
surface called for by less intricate meth
DDS of fsshioning is the more enhancing.
but 1t is matter of choice \ compro-
mise can be made by combining few
folds of graceful drapery with one
straight side and uninterrupted surface.
and the result has never failed to be en-
trely satisfactory.
AS an example. there is a costume just
completed that is beautiful because there
can be no two WAYS of looking at it 1t
is black again. black velvet brocade, a
truly wonderful pattern that hints of
MORE effect, and the skirt. dragging
about the heels. is hoisted up bit in
front where the two edges overlap each
other. to display a bit of iDstep and
ankle. and is pinned at the top with
massive looking ornament OF finely cut
Jet. The Corsagc comes only to the
belt line in front 1T the center back and
is extended at the sides into pannier
points. These points themselves are not
pOuched at all. but faced hack and
Weighted so that they fall really very
Hat but from underneath peeps out a
double frill OF whit" chiffon whose edges
have not been submitted to the pressing
iron. so that they stand out like "a puff
and complete the illusion OF a pannier.
Then one must mention another evening
gown Of black chiffon velvet, the drapeTy
OF which is accomplished drought the
medium of cascading down the front
between the hips and knee lines. and in
back below the knee line, producing that
peculiar saSgmg appearance that comes
SO near being slouchy. bat stops just in
time to be designated "'chic" instead. The
cascadinS in both places is covered with
series of cut-steel ornaments that finish
with pendants. while. outlining the decol-
letage is narrow banding OF black velvet
embroidered with cut steel. Wisps of
white chiffon draped about the armside
are the only apologies for sleeves
y great many OF the evening dresses |
are shy of sleeves or nearly SO. but that |
Is not to be taken as an Indication that |
sleeves are not many and various, for |
decidedly there seems TO he no limit tn tho