Evening star., 1914-12-14
Latest Fur Coats With
Contrasting PeIt Trimming

This is going to be practical Christ
mas, even with wok who can afford to
spend generously at the gift season;
and when the husband or father whose
Christmas git will represent several
hundred dollars makes practical Sc
lection, the gift is very likely to be
something whose intrinsic value never
changes.
Fur fashions change SO rapidly. also.
that the coat bought one season is
likely to be out of style another sea-
son, and in two years must be entirely
made over or renewed. Usually it is
renewed. in the case of a woman who
may indulge her fancies, for one tires
even of expensive seal and ermine and
the new fur coat is apt to be of quite
different pe1t from the one selected a
few seasons before.
Hudson seal. as everybody knows, is
really sheared muskrat dyed to a rich
seal brown, or black. for the darker
a seal is, the handsomer it is
Genuine sealskin is extremely rare
because of the ban on seal-kiIling two
years ago. Some day genuine seaisk.n
coats may again be obtainable, but
meanwhile woman is very well con-
tent with the beautiful French dyed
muskrat, which meets every require
ment of fashion.
Breichweitx, or .broadtail, is another
aristrocratic pelt which only a favored
few can afford to wear. This lustrous
W
that long wrap of 1t is not at all
burdensome and broadtail is so sup
pie that it is made into entire cos
tunes, combining coat and skirt. AS
a rule, the cheaper fur is the heavier
it is, and the broadtail or Hudson seal
coat will be much more comfortable
to carry about than similarly made
model of caracul or nearseal.
Caracu1 coats come in various grades.
The cheap grades are made of tiny
scraps of skin sewed together, and
these scraps are apt to rip apart and
cause unsightly rents in the coat,
woman who paid S35 last winter for
caracul wrap and thought she was
getting a tremendous bargain is sad
der and wiser now, for she has doled
out many dollars to have that coat
mended
1t literally fell to pieces after three
months wear. and she never wore it
out without hearing the friendly ad-
monition: ''Oh, my dear, did you know
your coat is ripped, what a pity.
You'll have to take a stitch when you
get home"
Cheap caracul is also unbecoming to
the average woman, for the heavy curl
makes the figure look stocky and
beautiful fur and should give excellent
wear. Moire pony is a high grade fur
for coats and wraps, but cheap, shiny
ponyskin of coarse texture is abom-
tent herself with a winter coat of
cloth with fur collar and muff than
to wear one of the glossy ponyskin
coats.
The fur coat of this year is decidedly
different from anything that has ever
been turned out in fur heretofore. 1t
is rather gay and coquettish affair
withal, making the upper part of the
figure slim and girliSh, but faring or
rippling out at the knee. Sometimes
a ha1 trn1 hn rIr ut fta
or ripping out at the knee. Often
belt runs all the way round. giving the
Russian line. so much in favor now.
The smartest fur coats have collars
and one may choose any pelt one
peases for the trimming. Blue fox is
ideal with broadtail and moire pony
coats; skunk is distinctive on seal
kolinsky, fitch, blended sable. lynx and
other furs are used as trimming, but
very little. ermine should be added to
the fur coat; at most a tiny cravat at
the throat.
Evening wraps of fur differ from
street coats in their softly draped lines
Seldom is the severely tailored effect
seen in a fur evening wrap. which may
have toga like folds caught up at one
shoulder, a deep cape OF hood at the
back, or be in the form of a coquettish
little mantle or long scarf to wind
about the shoulders. These fur scarfs
are much fancied for theater and res
taurant wear. and some Of them are
three yards long, so that they may be
wound round and round the figure in
various eccentric, graceful ways.
A huge muff to match the scarf ls
part of the theater and restaurant set.
F.rmine is the most popular pelt for
these sets, but less costly sets are made
of white coney, which initiates ermine
very closely. Matinee sets of beaver
are much in favor, for this soft, dainty
fur is very fashionable now. Blue fox
is another modish pelt. and a great
deal of this fur is seen on the well
dressed matinee girls who throng out
of the theater entrances afternoons.
Blue fox is more fashionable than fitch
this winter, though fitch is still much
worn because of its quality and its
harmonious distinction with velvet
tailleurs.
The modern fur wearable. be it wrap,
coat, muff or scarf, is exquisitely fin
ished. The softest silks and gay pussy
willow taffetas are used as Innings.
Big fur buttons give q knowing touch.
Shirrings and cordings and pockets
tucked away in convenient places add
to the attractiveness of the new furs in
womans opinion, also.