Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-04-05
SPRING FASHIONS
X X X X X X X " X X X
BY Margaret Mason.

NEW YORK, April 5.-A Chinese in
vasion is upon us. Fifth avenue has al
ready c%apitulated and Dame Fashion
has bowed her head beneath the yoke of
the Orient. It's a lovely yoke, though,
all handembroidered with threads of
gold and gorgeous silks, so you may well
rejoice at this utter surrender to mode
a la Chink.
Possibly there is not a garment for
spring that does not show some Chinese
tendency. Sometimes it is a lavish use
of Chinese embroidery and again it is
merely the cut of a coat a la mandarin
or a Satsuma button or NO.. OF course,
YOU nave been wearing one of these mar
y~elously embroidered mandarin coats as
an evening wrap for some time, but the
new t~hree-quarter coats that the smart
shops are all showing are Chinese in
shape only and in material simply dull
shades of crepe broche, with an edging
Of self-toned ball fringe. In fact, they
are merely an occidental version of an
oriental original.
If your sartorial income is limited, get
one of these coats by all means. They
are good always and all ways. Their
lovely drapery is equally adaptable to
IN afternoon gown, an evening robe or
over the flmy lace Of your warm weather
lingerie frock.
From coat to skirt is but a short step.
And, praise be, We will be through with
short steps altogether if the Chinese
skirt is as great a hit as it promises to
be. 1t is cut exactly on the same grace
full lines as the vivid-embroidered af-
fairs affected by the little yellow ladies
across the China sea. AS worn by Miss
New York or Mile. Paris, however, the
materials are more circumspect serges,
eponges or crepes. With the panels
back and front and the pleated f~ullness
between, YOU can take a good long stride
without a stumble. Puddles can be
crossed with impunity and street cars
IAN be boarded without the combined
hid of the conductor and the traffic
squad.
The exquisite SatSuma, and carved
ivory and jade Chinese buttons are used
with telling effect on the many short
coates and wraps, tOfJ velvets and bro
AIDES. as well as on more severe tailor
ed suits. These latter often show col
lars and vests of vivid Chinese embrOid-
cry and your new spring bonnet could
lot boast a more chic trimming than a
crush of brocade ChinOiS around the
tiny crown.
I Chinese skirts in the original certain
" possess as many varied uses as the
famous pOrker, whose only loss is its
Squeal. The front and back panels. with
their rich embrOdieries in Pekin stitch.
make exquisite long sailor collars which
will miraculOusly turn your most ON
mon place frock into a veritable crea-
ion. The yards on yards of twO-tOned
Chinese blue embroidery landings make
trimming galore, for "a stunning gown
md hat. A striking parasol in these
days Of unique ones. is made from the
skirts pleated and. embroidered sides,
and an equally effective piano lamp
shade can be evolved from the same,
with the addition of the panels.
Au naturelle, the skirt makes an ar
tistic display for your baby grand, the
scraps made quaint mats for the centre
table-and there you are. From the
latter uses, it may plainly be seen that
the craze ChinOis has verify struck
home. Indeed, latest designs in tapestry
for upholstery and even wall papers and
window and door hangings are all in
Chinese motifs Oh back
grounds of black.
Waist lines seem seized with the most
reckless cases of wandcrlust, this sea
You may find them skidding gid
Oily from just below the bust down to
the hip line. with stOpoffs at tn normal
and semi Empire zones. It's a case of
here today and there tomorrow, and it's
to be mighty hard on the 1913
lover too. Before cncircling the
of his fair lady with his strong
right, he will first have to discover
where said waist may be at the time of
to press.
The abnormal long waist as affected
by Nine. NazimOva in Bella Donna
and shown in the new Russian blouse
frocks is so very extreme that it is
bound to become more of a fad than a
fashion. Then, too, as is always the
ease in these freak fashions. it is being
cheapened by too constant repetition.
The very short Empire waist is still
the most artistic for evening gowns, it
seems, according to Paris models, but