The Washington herald., 1913-12-28
Fashions at the Capital
The Well Dressed Woman OF Smart Society," What She Wears
The Time and Place.

Year reception from the White House
program, and the vague but perceptible
suggestion that extravaganza in every
form is to receive the condemnation OF
r new Democratic administration,
shington drawing-rooms show no re-
turn. to simple dressing by the wives aud
daughters OF the national lawmakers or
the new leaders In any of the Capitals
many diversified sets anG cliQues.
There are, to be sure, fewer wealthy
women from all parts OF the country
passing the winter in Washington and
contributing to the prosperity OF the
city, as well as the gayety of the season.
which, officially speaking. opens on jan
uary !.
exclusive regions of Dupont and Sheri-
dan circles show closely boarded front
doors which for the past eight or ten
wears have stood open to all that was
best or most to be desired in the Capitals
vanity fair.
So much a social center has the Ma
tional Capital become that in spite OF the
visible and regrettable check OF the pres
ont powers-that-be there still remains TO
washington a splendid body OF distin-
guished Inen and charming women to
make up what may be properly described,
a national society will. capital N ana
a capital S.
. with fewer hosts and hostesses there
are also sewer distinguished guests TO
be entertained, fewer balls and dinners
to attend, fewer visits to make and re-
turn. Ali OF which means fewer gowns
for the feminine portion of polite society,
either resident or official, but hardly a
saving in milady's bank account
The real arbiters of fashion, the de-
signers and manufacturers, have seen to
that, To save the latter and them
selves from financial loss the former nave
decreed an absolute ism in dress, which
demands a special costume for every hour
of the day, and an entirely new sh-
houette in every kind of costume Con
seuuently all clothes not on the new
lines are old-fashioned, and' In spite oi
the new democracy abroad in the land'
NO really smart woman will wear an
out-of-date gown or hat SO long as she
has the price of new ones, a naturtu
and human desire, in which she nnds
hundreds of imitators, which keeps upl
the price of feminine apparel OF every
grade.
Mrs. Henry F. Dimock, who has taken
possession of a large house on scout
circle with a view to adopting Washlng-
ton as a winter residence, is sponsoring
the trained skirt for all costumes other
than the pronounced trotteur- |
A favorite visiting toilet with Mrs.
Dimock is a black Egyptian crepe maze
with its entire bodice of white net and
Honeton lace. This is a one-piece gown,
despite the contrasting materials, as the
black crepe, which has the high lustre
of crepe de chine. rises in well-denned
points. The bodice shows slight V |
shape at the neck, with high collar at
the back and three-Quarter sleeves, the
latter close fitting as regards their mel
TO -ndation, with the lace attached IN
charming. irregular fashion, known only
to the real French modistes. Just how
Mrs, Dimock gets int this gown no
one but her own maid can tell, for 1t is
so distinctly a one-piece creation.
There is no reason for unbecomingl
clothes in this year of 1S13-1s14, for so
varied are the offerings of all the first
class makers that each woman can
choose the style most suited to her face
and figure, likewise to her purse, and
remain au fait.
Mrs. Thomas F. Walsh, one of the
faithful supporters of the Maison Worth
and the dignified nonsensational modes
that most reliable house exploits, is one
of the Washington matrons who refuses
absolutely the Mineret, the peg-top, or
any other vagaries peculiar to this tango
season.
Mrs. Walsh's handsome dinner gown is
a new shade of ruby velvet on princess
lines. except for the slight fullness ap-
pearing high on the hips to lose itself
in the back in long. tab-like folds which
fail low down on the train. The train,
it may be mentioned. is neither pointed
nor fish-tailed, but a square. dignifed
outline, lying more than eighteen inches
on the ground.
While following the conservative foun
dation line this gown shows the very
latest effect in the way of embellish-
ment in a Bolero of jeweled net, also
in the broad sash end OF jeweled net
that appears between two ends of the
back drapery. This jeweled net is dis
tinctIy a Worth offering, the successor
of the diamond trimming, the pietted
jewel and various other glittering acces-
sories which have their birth in this
particular establishment.
Innumerable crystals taking the color
ing of the ruby velvet varying in size
from a pin point to a small split pea,
silver and gold beads so fine as to defy
all but the finest of needles make up
a geometricaI pattern applied to the
fine metallic net.
The sumptuous wrap covering this
gown in going to the ball or dinner Is OF
sable. lined with white and gold bro
rade: a cloak literally worth its weight
in gold and fashioned on the same close
Htting style that dominates all outer
,nnarel according to the present mode.
Miss Genevieve Clark, debutante daugh-
-er of the Sneaker Of the House Of Rep
in q new duvetyne suit
trimmed with a gray fur is the tailored
,irl par excellence. Miss Clark, quite
mart from her fathers position. is one
If the most attractive girls in Washing
on. with a strong personality OF her own
The blue suit in which she is doing her
Informal visiting is a dull Chinese shade,
-ery becoming to the pale, clear COM
,lexion light brown hair, and dark blue
Eyes of its wearer.
After graduating from school in June
he Speakers daughter passed six
months in Europe, where she supplied
herself with a full set of new ideas OF
iress, even though her patriotism did not
permit of her purchasing her entire de-
outante wardrobe on foreign style.
Miss Clark locks particularly well IN
he present tailor modes, which have all
he feminine touches of broad fur collar.
military decoration of frogs and buttons.
,r the almost invariable sash or PANEL
hat is a feature OF these trotteur gowns.
rhe severe tailored skirt and jacket
which might have been copied from her
younger brother, has entirely passed
lway with the debutante Of this year.
Now that the smartest gowns are in
two, sometimes three, pieces, in spite of
their deceptive appearance, we are again
debating the desirability of the separate