The Washington herald., 1913-10-12
FASHIONS INSPIRED
BY THE ORIENT
Exact Reproductions of Famous Old
Materials Have Been Secured
at Great Expense.

THE sun rises from the East each
day, and it is in the East that all ar
tistic revolutions are born thus Pau
Poiret explains the vogue for all things
Oriental. This predilectiOn for the ideas
CLEANED from the Orient was not first
made manifest this season, for the pre-
vailing modes for the last two or three
seasons-in fact. since the Russian
japanese war-have been suggestive OF
the East. In the past. hbUever, the pre-
dominant influence has come from China
and Japan, the countries best known to
the Western peoples: this year the domi-
| nant influence is that of Persia, with just
| a smattering of the Arab. The designers
have hastened to museums and have
| studied diligently all the rare old Per-
sian coiOrs and costumes, and have even
borrowed from the architecture ideas for
gowns distinctive.
And the result? One glance at the ma
jority Of the models displayed during
the last month at the openings of the
various importers and large shops in
this country will tell the story Every
where one sees evidences of this close
study of the East. its mysteries and its
secrets. The past has been compelled
to give up its treasures that the woman
OF today may profit.
Exact ReproductIons.
Inc more enthusiastic OF In6 designers,
who have sought their inspiration from
the documents OF the East. have not
hesitated to spend large sums OF money
in procuring the exact reproductions OF
famous old materials. Since IL is possible
thus to clothe ones self in stuffs similar
in design, color, and texture to those
worn many years before the Christian
era it Is not surprising that the privilege
must be dearly paid for.
Even to the smallest detail care has
been taken to have these reproductions
exact. On a simple little gown of blue
serge. intended for morning wear, the
design is taken from an old Persian one.
and shows the roses for which Persia
was famous. A toque of truly Oriental
character may be worn with this gown.
II is developed in white crepe, with
band of skunk fur framing the face. An
applique of orange and black satin roses
forms the crown.
Gowns Inspired by Fast.
On a gown of flame red velvet fashioned
with a Russian blouse the neck and
armhoIes are embroidered with motifs
copied from the ancient ''tOloupe" of
Oriental Siberia. A tailored suit inspired
by the costume of the Tunisian warrior
has a straight, narrow skirt, slashed on
either side and the seam finished with
braid an inch and half wide. The
medium short coat is decorated in the
same way, and is held in by a curious
belt of green leather. embroidered like
the harness used on the horses in the
East.
The beauty of the East is shown to ex
cellent advantage on gown of white
satin and Nee The design Of the lace
is embroidered in jet and represents the
figures shown on the Byzantine frieze of
the Church of st. Sophia, in CONSTANT
nople. 4 drapeTy Of yellow velvet winds
around the hips and is allowed to fall in
long, loose ends in the back to continue
the Oriental appearance of the gown.
Equally Eastern in design is another
gown Of pottery red and peacock blue
brocade. The material itself is charac-
teristically Eastern in color and design.
and the Oriental idea is further developed
by a peacock blue satin sash brought
from the hips over the left shoulder.
Another striking Eastern design is shown
in an Egyptian brocade in which the
pottery Colors are intermixed with gold.