The Daily Missoulian., 1914-08-30
FEMININE FANCY REWRITING
AWAY FROM NARROW SKIRTS
Trend in Fashions Seems to
Be Toward Wider Skirts
Suggestions as to Latest
Modes as Furnished by
New York Expert New
Lines Suggest Comfort
and Freedom

New York, Aug. 29.-For the benefit
of the vast army of England's blind
a wonderful fancy dress ball was re-
Gently given. "A wealthy man, him.
self blind, suggested the idea, and with
sympathetic interest English society
generously responded. The Savoy
ballroom, a wealthy Scotchman sent
the money for the supper, and others
offered to defray other expenses until
the costs OF the bali were paid for and
the entrance fees clear profit.
Like Solomon in all his glory came
the 'beauN and bellies of London town
arrayeu in. cubist and futurist cos
tunes, in Eli1abethian ruff and Roman
toga but most prominent of ali were
the costumes of the early Victorian
crinolines Many ruffled skirts. over
stiffly swinging hoops. and quaint old
waists, with the then fashionable
dropped shoulder lines. gave the stu
dents Of Dame Fashions Whims and
fancies an inkling of what the feminine
mind is looking for in the near future.
Surely it must mean that the women
are tired of the tight skirts, if, when
allowed the freedom as to choice of
style, not one, nor two, but many turn
toward the period when the greatest
width OF skirt was popular.
In Paris, Too.
Not only in England was there a
great social event which showed this
tendency, but in Paris also wonderful
BAL en- Crinolines" was given by the
Duchesse de Gramont, where all the
costumes were of this period.
This does not mean, however. that
we will necessarily have "a revival of
the early Victorian STYLES in all their
quaint loveliness. for the woman of
today is widely different creature
from the Womanly home maker of
that generation. She is not less Wom-
anly, but she leads Il different life:
therefore. she will demand the style
suggested by that time. bul made to
suit her own life-one belonging to
the period in which she lives. Nor
will the new gowns resemble the old
portraits of this fashion any more
than did last years panniers resemble
which the designs were taken.
However, the greatest thing to be
dreaded in adapting this style is eX-
asgeration, which, alas. is to be dread
ed in all styles. Charming, indeed,
are the ruffled skirts If their width
is kept within bounds; but, if given
the expansion allowed the early part
of the last century, will only again
prove to what lengths women will go
for the sake of dress.
Russian Influence Felt.
Mingling with these Victorian sug-
sestions are the long Russian tunics.
which have held their own because of
their many variations, Apron tunics,
scalloped tunics, tunics gradually mar
rowing in front, double tunics anG
tunics which start at the l1ip-line are
only a few of the many ways in which
tunic effects are applied.
Just as diverse as the tunics are the
combinations of fabrics One model
shows an overWaist in basque effect
made in velvet. worn over ii long
sleeved tullc glimpc and with Il skirt
whose tight fitting foundation shows
through q filnay, shimmering tunic of
tulle
Ghemise dresses inspired by the
moyen age frocks are being Worn in
discriminatory by stout and slim alike
sometimes with dire results. A
frock which hangs like sacque from