The Washington herald., 1913-11-30
FADS AND
FANCIES OF
FASHIONS

THE opening Of the autumn and
winter season is always an
interesting period here in New
York but perhaps unusually 50 this
year for the reason that fashions
are exceptionally alluring. On the
one hand, they are wonderfully beau
tiful; on the other. they are often
travestied but. in spite Of all, they
have an inherent fascination. Fab
rics are superb and colors are wonderful
and one never ceases to marvel over
the beautiful combinations and the
really artistic effects and, Withal, there
is just a touch Of Orientalism that
makes its appeal Today is almost
as warm and balmy as spring and tn,
Avenue is a delight. The shop win
dows are making ravishing display,
Of street costumes that are SUMPTION,
and evening wraps and furs that viii be
called into use with the opening Of the
Horse Show, let the thermometef
stand where it may. 1t is time hon
ored custom to wear furs during Horse
Show week and the fashion continues
in spite of the fact that early No
vember is apt to be warm. As has
been stated in previous letters, there
is very general tendency toward the
use of entire skins, not alone for the
making of garments but for the trim
ming of coats and suits made from
material, but there are also to be worn
a great many fancy sets that are made
ofvefvet, silkand duvetynfur-trimmed
and for these either the smaller skins
or bands make the accepted finish.
Natural fitch in its tawny, yellowish
tone streaied with dark hairs Is ex-
tremely handsome in contrast with
black and dark coiors. A smart set
noted this morning Is made of black
velvet of the softest, most pliable
sort. 1t consists Of huge muff made
soft and full, a turban, and a close
choker for the neck-piece. The muff
is trimmed with band near each edge.
The choker consists Of a wide plating
of the velvet with narrow band Of
the fur at the center and the hatis
banded with fur and further trimmed
with an ostrich tip. Almost by its
side was seen a muf and neck-piece Of
lack tafTeta with trimming Of red fox.
one entire skin being curled about the
muf while another was spread over
the silk foundation to form a scarf.
Chokers are especially designed for
and especially adapted to young
girls with slender threats They are
hooked closely about the throat and
make a piquant, girlish finish to a
pretty toilette. With the wonderful
adaptabiIity that belongs to the
feminine world. We can wear our
blouses and coats open at the neck
in the morning with the assurance
that only such finish means comfort
and we can put the closest fitting
chokers Of fur around our throats
in the afternoon with equalequanimity.
Fur seems almost to have reached the
limit Of its possibilities. 1t is used as
trimming for negligees and for blouses
as well as for suits and for wraps and
bits are to be found in the newest col
lars and blouse garnitures- How long
the supply will last under such drain.
it is not the part of fashion to deter
mine but it is certain that a large
demand is being made and that even
the simplest, one-time plebeian, skins
are held at high price. Almost as
matter Of course, there are excen-
tricities in such conditions and, now
and then, one sees a treatment rather
abhorrent than attractive. The whole
skins have almost a disagreeable sug-
gestion- Not few of the large scarfs
with limp heads and paws give one the
suggestion of the animal after the
chase, and even our leading dealers
will do questionable things for the
sake Of novelty. A seal coat, for ex-
ample, is trimmed with red fox skin
hanging from the collar by its teeth
and covering almost the entire front
of the garment. 1t gives quite the
impression of the live creatures having
jumped at the wearer's throat, but
that condition seems no deterrent.
1t is new and it Is fanciful and twill
be worn to some extent.
There are wonderful fur cloths, such
fur cloths as never were known in
previous seasons, and very beautiful
costumes are made thereof. Broadtail
plush is extremely handsome and many
of the mole plushes are a real delight.
They are utilized for entire suits and
for coats to be worn over cloth, bur
they are not meant to deceive. They
are simply wonderfully beautiful fab
rics with much the effect Of fur but
they are not to be looked upon as
limitations only for they richly deserve
a place Of their own. The short-haired.
light weight plush is much liked for
costumes also and a very great deal