The Washington herald., 1913-12-28
FADS AND
FANCIES OF
FASHIONS


afternoon or in the evening, whether it
ostensibly is dance, dinner or a tea.
dancing is almost certain to be enjoyed
before its close. Everyone is dancing.
not the young alone but the mature
also and, if one may dare risk the word,
some Of the old, with the result that
there is a youthful. bouyant atmosphere
about the seasons entertainments that
is altogether alluring and fascinating.
while as a matter of course, the condi-
tons have their effect upon prevailing
styles Since everyone dances, costumes
must be designed to that end and, since
dancing IS likely to be an impromptu affair
We must always be prepared to indulge
therein at any hour after luncheon. Both
in England and in America, music accom-
panies even the simple home tea and
some few couples at least are quite certain
to derive a benefit therfrom while, in
Paris, where the tea hour is apt to be
spent at some fashionable restaurant,
dancing has completely taken the city
by storm Here in old Gotham, We have
the the dansant at hotels as well as
at private houses and everything is
done to encourage the pastime that
contributes to graceful movement and
TO 1.-THE figures
For the invitation dance. the costumes
are apt to be light of color and made of
silks and other light materials but at
the dance at the hotel or restaurant or
the impromptu dance that may follow
the informal tea or reception, the regu-
lation street dress is universal and, since
any Of US may drop into a dance unex-
Pectedly, all the new costumes are made
with reference to that fact. Skirts must
be narrow to be fashionable but they are
made short enough to dance in COM
fortably and, while the slit in its agHres-
sive form is not found in really smart
costumes, there are frequently half con-
Cealed openings that allow freer move
ment than the apparent width of the
skirt would suggest. Even the dinner
gowns are for the most part made in
dancing length, for the dinner is certain
TO mean few turns if no more, and such
costumes as are made with trains are apt
TO be so managed as to allow of lifting
without disarranging the effect. All sorts
of devices are used for hooking and sus-
pending the trains and clever dress
makers so manage that, when Iooped, the
additional length only means additional
drapery. 1t is Terpsichore's hour indeed
and she Is enjoying her hour to the full.
As an inevitable result of all these
conditions, a great deal of attention is
paid to the bodices of street costumes.
We may start to dance at restaurant
tea with the coat on but it is quite certain
TO be removed before many moments and
the dainty bodices Of lace contribute
largely to the picture. 1t has been said
and said again that this is a season of the
three-piece costume and it is true beyond
cavil but, while the bodice is an integral
part Of the suit, it is largely made of
lace, net or other diaphanous material
Frequently only the wide corselet matches
the skirt with the entire bodice above
Of the thinner fabric, and sometimes
there are trimming portions Of the skirt
ing material that extend up to the bust
line, but the shoulders and arms are
covered only with a few layers of gauze
whenever the coat is removed. White
and cream are pronounced favorites for
such use but the gauzes that match the
costumes in color are growing in favor
and the latest Partisan costumes show
them draped with consummate grace and
skill.
The contour of the skirt has not changed
materially but the breadth at the hips is
constantly being emphasized. Many of
the newest and smartest costumes show
moire combined with velvet and with
gabardine and not infrequentIy. moire
makes the tunic and the trimming. A
very new model seen at smart tea of
the week is made with velvet skirt draped
at the front and a tune of noire which
consists of two founces, the upper at
tached at the waist line, and these hounces
are decidedly full, longer on the right side
and shorter on the left. A great many o
the new skirts show tunics that are Iooped
under and caught to the skirt to give a
sort Of cascade effect and, inevitably,
such are made of the softest possible silk.
Again, the three founced model is gaining
in favor and it is predicted that we shall
see a great many with the coming of
spring and already they are to be met
wherever the best dressed women are
found. At an afternoon dance, held at
one Of our fashionable hotels, was seen
a costume consisting Of draped skirt
Of black velvet with tunic and kimono
blouse Of taffeta richly embroidered in
Chinese colors and the tunic was looped
under in this way, forming frill below
and dropping at the back, shorter at the
front, while the bodice was open at the
front almost to the waist line to be filled
with a-chemisette of embroidered white