The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-15
The Worr1an's Page of The Tinmes-Dispatch
Inspired by the East

! Tho sun rises from the East each
day. and 1t is In the East that ell ar.
tistic revolutions are BORN" thus Paul
Potret explains tho vogue for all things
Oriental This prediction for the
Ideas CLEANED from the Orient was not
first made manifest this season. for
| the prevailing modes for the last two
or three seasons--in fact, since tho
Russia Ja panesc War---have been sug-
gestive of tbs Eaat. In the past, how
ever. the predominant influence has
come from China and Japan, the coun-
tries best known to the Western poo
pies; this year the dominant influence
/ is that OF Persia, with just Il smatter-
ing OF the Arab. The designers have
FASTENED to museums and have studied
diligently all the rare old Persian col
ors and costumes, and have even Dor
rowod from the architecture ideas for
gowns distinctive.
| And the result? ono glance at the
majority of the models displayed dur
! ing tho last month ut the openings OF
| the various importers and large shops
in this couRtry viii tell the story
| Eyerywhere one sees evidences of this
close study of the East. Its mysteries
and its secrets. The past has been
compelled to give up It's treasures that
the woman of to-day may profit.
J The more enthusiastic of tho de-
sgners, who have sought their inspi-
ration from the documents Of tho East.
have not hesitated to spend large sums
OF money in procuring the exact re-
productions of famous old materials.
Since 1t is possible thus to clothe ones
self in stuRs similar in design. color
and texture to those worn many years
before the Christian era. il is not sur
prising that tho privilege must be
dearly paid for
Even 70 tho smallest detail caro- has
been taken 10 have these reproductions
exact. On simple little gown Of
blue serge, intended for morning wear
the design Is taken from an old Per-
sian one. and shows tho roses for
which Persia was famous A toquo OF
truly Oriental character may be worn
with this gown. II is developed In
white crepe, with n band OF skunk fur
framing the face. An applique OF
orange and black satin roses forms
the crown.
On gown OF flame red velvet fash
toned with n Russian blouse. tho neck
and armholes are embroidered with
motifs copied from the ancient
"toloupe" of Oriental Siberia. A tail
ored suit inspired by the costume OF
the Tunisian warrior. has straight
narrow skirt, slashod on either side,
and the seam finished with braid an
inch and one-half wide. Tho medium
short coat Is decorated in the same
way, and is held In by a curious belt
OF green leather embroidered like tho
The beauty of the East Is shown to
excellent advantage q gown OF
white satin and lace. The design OF
the lace Is embroidered In Jet, and
represents the figures shown on the
| Byzantine frcZe OF the Church Of st.
Sophia. in Constantinople. 4 drapery
of yellow velvet winds around the hips.
and is allowed to fall in long, loose
ends in the back to continue the ORR
entail appearance of the gown Equal
OF pottery red and peacock blue bro
cade The material itself is charac-
REALISTICALLY Eastern In color and de-
sign, and the Oriental idea is further.
developed by n peacock blue satin
sash brought from the hips over the
left shoulder. Another striking East
ern design is shown in an Egyptian
bTocade, in which the pottery colors
Ise interm,xed with gold. This fabric
ia draped around tho figure with tho
abandon which Is characteristic of tho
East, and Is allowed to train on the
floor In luxurious folds.
1t is from the East that the sashes or
the present first came Some were sug-
sested by the Acknowledged Japanese
maiden, who wears her sash broadly
bound around the waist and tied In a
large bow between the shoulders, others
by the Arabian fashion of swathing
the hips and knitting the sash at the
side or In the front The fiat, shapeless
hunchy collars OF many OF the new
kimono blouses and coats can be traced
directly to tho Japanese, whilo the
mandarin sleeve has been worn for
thousands of years by the Chinese. It
Is from the East. and particularly from
Persia. that Paul Pairet CLEANED his
ideas for the "M!naret" costumes which
have caused 1t sensation on three con-
tinents. The black and white evening
gown was inspired by a Persian minia-
ture representing n young princess of
Bagdad The light crinoline tunic
spreading I'm graceful undulating waves
around the waist represents the corolia
OF flower or the wings OF IL butter
NY as In the Persian prints.
And it Is according to Eastern ideas
that he expects to develop the new
trouser skirt. Certainly it does not
require more than 4 cursory glance to
recognize In the drapings OF many OF
the new skirts the baggy trousers of
tho Turkish woman.
Something TO Know.
There are said to be 100000 self
supporting women in America" says
writer. Ono woman out OF four Is
a wage-carncr In this country, and
even greater proportion in England
Their numbers ana their success have
turned the eyes OF the world upon them.
They are inspected. exhorted, reDroved,
ssnapshotted. lecturod about, exploited
made tho subject OF stories--in fact,
looked upon ~ an allen race. Why
shouldn't the homo women and the
wage-earning women get together for
their mutual advantage?
There are some things the business
= women can teach the home women. The
virtues learned in an Office can often
he applied to the household. system.
fx.-