The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-28
FASHIONS AT THE CAPITAL
Wel-dressed Women of Washmgton's Smart Society
Their Gowns Their Hats Their Furs and Their Laces
BY MARGARET WADE.

by MARGARET WADE.
The wife of certain United States
Senator. who spends many an hour in
the gallery. was heard to remark re-
Gently that there ought to be law passed
against changing the fashions more than
| once in two years. Which may or may
not be a point in favor of woman suf-
frage and the Congress women of the
| future. In the meantime another fem
| mime visitor took issue with the Sem
ator's wife and pointed out that fash
| ions did not change suddenly as their
! critics contended. and that when a woman
| or leisure and comfortable dress al
| lowance looked conspicuously old-fash-
| iored IL was the fault of no one but the
| lady herself.
| In support of the contention that Dame
Fashion always gave a fair warning
| when change Was imminent 1t was point
| ed out that the salient points of the
spring fashions such as the return of
the Empire waistline, the irregular hem.
| the long close sleeve and the high col
| lar, while the exception have been with
US all winter. as shown in every smart
company from a Cabinet reception to
| a dinner-dance.
In the trousseau of Miss Hester Chand-
Ter and Miss Margery Cotton. the two
taffeta afternoon gowns with skirts
| measuring five yards in width and their
hens cut in deep scallops like the petals
| OF flower just as dozens Of skirts will
be seen in June. There we're also jackets
with bands of fur marking the new waist
| line which will be repeated indefinitely
in the spring and summer jackets. only
| military braid will take the place of
fur. For. however the war may wage
an bA mil
thereby will remain with US for the
coming summer. As result silk and
linen tailored suits will return to the first
favor.
In the matter of evening gowns
either for the matron at a formal
dinner party, or the maids of the
debutante set. who will continue to
dance all through Lent, there are
also well defined signs in every de-
tail of material. color and line, which
not only mark the most acceptable
models of the present but forecast
the future.
Mrs. Marshall has come to the no.
sleeve fashion as shown in her latest
and some persons think her hand
soonest gown. which she wore recently
at the Spanish Embassy. This Is of
silver lace with. of course, a founda-
ton of satin. The latter is the old
time round skirt and escaping the
ground, another innovation for the
wife of the Vice President. who is
decidedly partial to trains In keeping
with the dignity of her position. The
silver lace is presumably one very
deep flounce. as the scalIoped edge
hangs straight around the bottom
of the skirt, showing an interlining
of pale green tulle. Directly in front
where the lace opens the tulle is
gathered in dainty little frills extend
ing from rather high on the corsage
to the hem. The bodice is all of the
lace which is so closely woven as to
conceal its tuile interlining except
as regards the very effective color
pale green. The decolletage is point
ed both back and front.
A demi-toilette of the Vice Presi-
dents wife that is almost in the
trick" grown class. so cleverly is ii
contrived. is black velvet with the
new undraped open front overskirt
and plain round skirt very little wider
than the skirts of former seasons
and made on the same improved plan
guiltless of hobble. At luncheon re-
Gently Mrs. Marshall wore this with
Il bodice modelled on the zouave jacket,
With sleeves of ecru net. The sleeves
are very long and embroidered from
shoulder to elbow in loose sketchy
lines with black silk. distinctive
feature adding greatly to the ele-
gance of the transparent sleeve from
elbow to wrist. Below the elbow is
no decoration beyond the black vel
vet ribbon which covers the sleeve
into a puff, allowing a slight frill to
fall half way over the hand. sec
ond bodice worn for more formal oc-
casions with the same double skirt ,
of velvet is on closer lines with long
sleeves of black chiffon. There is
also an empiecement of blue satin,
one of the very latest shades of bright
light blue richly embroidered which
gives delightful color tone to an
otherwise all black gown.
This little jacket has its edges finished
in black fur softened still further by
folds of black chiffon which form
fastening With her bodice of the ecru
sleeves. Mrs Marshall wears high boots
of patent leather with ecru suede tops !
With the second bodice low French shoes
of black patent leather and black silk I
hosiery are worn. Shoes and hosiery |
now have their appointed place with /
every smart toilet.
The trained dinner gown is almost uni |
versaI among the smartly dressed women |
of Washington as well as with the |
numerous distinguished visitors whose |
coming and going are of particular in |
terest The Princess Francesca Rospig- |
Iioai. who was formerly Miss Laura
Stallo. of Cincinnati. and a bride of the |
past summer. at a dinner Of sixty COW
ers was one of the best-gowned women
present in geranium-colored velvet
gown without any touch or decoration.
but with the velvet, which was very I
soft and fine. draped to form the new
silhouette which has its greatest
width at the knees. The train
was long and narrow, which. when
caught UP for the dance following the
dinner. formed a slightly bouffont back.
Mrs. Richard Townsend. whose gowns
still come direct from Paris. wore at
this same dinner a blue tulle gown COW
cred in paillettes of the same tone.
dark blue that is not found in any
but the finest materials, be they velvet,
tulle or glass beads. 1t Is very dark.
but still a good. true blue. without any
hint of the practical, IL humble. navy
or army blues. Mrs. Perry Belmont.
another of Washingtons famous dinner
hostesses and dinner guests, Is wearing
a very recent Importation Of pink satin.
showing the same tendency toward pail
Iettes or spangles. The shade Of this
gown is also new. being a deep shade
mellowed to dull rose color. There
is an over dress OF self-colored tulle,
with a petticoat front entirely Of opal
colored crystals. The high girdle which
forna the bodice Ia of innumerable