Imperial Valley press., 1914-02-17
WOMAN'S COLUMN

Paris, Feb. 16.-A return to the
Empire styles in women's dress is
the key note of the new fashions eX-
hibited today at Auteuil, where the
first race meeting of the year marked
the opening of the season.
The mervilleuzes of last year have
given place to the incroyables OF Ma
poleonic days. Short waists, strong
colors, especially blues, wide stripes
of blue and yellowsa new woolen ma
terial that looks like heavy silk to
the unframed eye, and unusually short
skirts caught up at the back are
marked features which form a pleas
ant change from the styles worn for
several months past.
Plain colors are practically banIshed
with the exception of very violent sui
phur of blue mixed with violet. In
these cases the material is a new
cloth called Scotch flannel, which has
almost the weight of ratine and the
finish of flannel.
New Sulphur Flannel
One of the most admired of gowns
shown TODAY was a sulphur flannel
with a skirt adorned with three floun-
ces. perfectly fiat in front and circu-
ar at the sides and back. The coat
was very short, made of striped cloth
with two pleats at the back, held IN
place by two buttons and showing
white waistcoat fastened by single
pearl.
A Spanish cape of heavy satin, car
ried across the shoulders and secured
bv ribbons under the arms, after the
fashion of the parade cloak of Napol-
cons life guards, is another novelty
that bids fair to meet with eXtraor-
dinary vogue. This garment is called
the Toreador cape. 1t has wide turn
over collar of Romano stripped silk,
and is lined with chiffon of various
pastel hues such as pale mustard,
vieX rose, etc.
Except for these general character
istics, the new fashions appear to
leave much scope for individual tastes,
and freaks promise to be as plentiful
as ever this year.
A revised edition of the harem
skirt was popular among well dressed
women TODAY. 1t has the appearance
Of an ordinary skirt, very tight at
the hem. but when the wearer walks
it becomes apparent that her ankles
are passed through two separate open
ings pinned in soft rolls. This de-
vice gives greater liberty of move
ment.
A iutter Of excitement was caused
by the appearance of a smart look
ing tall girl wearing white velvet
mask of the style worn IN Venice IN
.he palmy days of the Republic. She
stroiled about leisurely, wearing the
most daring directoire gown ever seen
at a Paris race course. In its gen
9ral lines it exemplified the tendency
of tomorrow's fashions inasmuch the
V-shaped opening of the neck, and
he slash of the skirt, revealing chlf-
fon tango garters appeared to be
making frantic efforts to meet at the
high waist of the wearer. An 1880
bonnet of ivory silk, trimmed with
small silk roses and secured by white
ribbons under the chin, and tall cane,
completed the old world picture.
Latest in Jewels.
The greatest novelty in jewels Is
fbe wearing of unmounted stones ac-
tuaIlv sticking to the skin of the
neck bv a special adhesive prepara-
ton. 4 single large diamond or ruby
as the only adornment of a low-cutt
afternoon gown is very effective and
seems to be the acme of elegance
Just now.
Hats are all small, and generally
of plaid silk with a single high orna-
ment in front. Quilts are in favor;
Whole small birds arranged around
the crown form the only trimming OF
straw hats of sober hue. Flowers
made of glass in either white or soft
shades are worn as welcome substl-
tute for wild birds feathers.