The Washington herald., 1914-01-18
~
NJ
FADS AND
FANCIES OF
FASHION

Just as many trips planned to the
sunny cline as il we were ice and
show-bound here at the North: con-
sequently. while we wear our furs.
even If more from courtesy than from
need, we are seeing wonderful creations
that are actually summer gowns, and
such fabrics made of cotton as once
would have seemed part of a fairy
dream. There are nets that are as
dainty and lovely as can be imagined.
there are crepes that are
wonderfully embroidered and that
are exquisite in their soft beauty, and
there arc voilcs and marquisettes that
could not be more beautiful were
they woven of the costliest silk. while
among heavier fabrics are to be found
terials of the winter that are as won-
derful in their depth of color and as
beautiful in surface as were those
that greeted our eyes with the opening
ofthe autumn season. Cotton duvetyn
and cotton brocadcd velours are to be
found in all the prevailing colors and.
in spite of the fact that We have grown
accustomed to such conditions, there
still remains some sense Of the mar
velous that cotton can be dyed to
such depth and quality.
We expect a season of sports coats
and for them will be used these
materials in bright oolors, orange
hunters green, tango red and the
like, and these fabrics show them in
fascinating variety. There is cotton
duvetyn in ribbed or corduroy effect.
too, that makes extremely beautiful
coats and our old friend, eponge, is
by no means forgotten. 1t is offered
this season in stripes, in plain colors
and in the brocaded effects that are
SO extremely handsome, while there
are some novelties showing embroid-
cred flowers on white stripes with plain
black between. Apparently there is
no very special effort being made ia
the direction of bordered materials
but there are certain Of these to be
found that are too beautiful to escape
mention The Oriental influence in
color is still at work and some of the
cotton oepes show borders ma
chine embroidered in Oriental effects
that are really superb and there
are dainty bordered nets and voiles
that afford an interesting and striking
contrast. Stripes are important this
season. The new goods show them
in varying styles and widths but what
is known as awning stripes, rather
wide stripes of color and white in
equal widths, are conspicuous. 1t is
predicted that they will be used for
entire gowns to be worn with sport.
coats OF the most brilliant hues
but Just what women will and will
not wear when it comes to the actual
selection of colors and designs, it is
always difficult to forecast. Paris
showed great many of these wide
stripes at the autumn races and
usually the conditions found there
forecast our own of the coming
spring but the combination is a
somewhat aggressive one and, while
It may suit a few women who can
afford to order gowns for one of two
occasions, it is not likely to be gen.
orally used. Prettier by far are the
narrower stripes of dark colors against
white backgrounds and of these there
are a great many shown. Plaids and
checks appear also but perhaps more
often in eponge than in other materials
and the new colorings are soft and
springlike, by no means aggressive
We are promised suits of two materials
IN generous numbers and it is likely
that these plaid fabrics will be used
for coats, jackets and trimming on
r,la notxr -
effects.
White serge continues to be a
favorite for the alLround useful tail
ored suit but there will be a good deal
OF white gabardine and Of white
fponge worn and undoubtedly white
cotton duvctyn will be used both for
entire costumes and for coats to be
worn over linen and other fabrics
Coats are extremely short, jaunty
little affairs, suggesting the bolero or
Eton but with elongated backs and
Japanese sleeves are almost universal.
Such models suit the duvetyn adj
mirably well and the material is likely
TO be used for dressy little coats as well
as for those in sports style. For after
noon gowns, nothing takes precedence
Of white and white this season means
cerpe, voile and net elaborately en-
broidered with shadow laces and plain
materials used in combination. How
such wonderful embroideries are
worked upon such filmy foundations
remains something Of a mystery but
the results appear and, while in style
and cut, the gowns are comparatively
simple, they are really ornate with
needle work.
Tunics are almost universal. It
would seem as though the single skirt
would be seen only with the tailored
suit and by no means generally there.
Draperies are conspicuous, too, orna-
mented with rich embroideries and
the beautiful folds formed by draperies
Of the soft materials are wonderfully
lovely in the daintiest, most aristo-
cratic way. Lace is used moderately
il at all and, when seen, of the heavy
Irish sort but there is novelty shown
in the way of flet founcing, or bor-
dered filet net, which is exceedingly
handsome and which combined with
filet lace makes most attractive and
most unusual gowns. As a matter OF
course, all these materials are made
over silk slips and very frequently
there is a girdle of vivid color in
Difference TO the Eastern influence
that is so evidently at work. Brilliant
orange. tango red and deep rich greens
are favorites and the effect often is
superb. The little wraps that are so
necessary with summer gowns are
made, in bright oolors, too, and the
most fascinating little loose coats are
shown made Of the duvetyn in the
brilliant hues with frequently finish
of embroidery in matching colors that