The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-02
BY MARGARET WADE.

Ia no way is the fashionable world of
the Capital better showing its claim
TO separate and distinct post-Lenten
season than in the number Of smart
women to be met in new spring attire in
wcll-known drawing rooms. at the fash
iunablc hotels. or Il morning walk
through the shopping districts. Even the
churches of the Capital reflect the taste
ar its feminine population which Is all
NAYS distinctive, vet made up. even at
this time of the wear. largely of visitors
from every part Of tho country and
occasionally from foreign countries as
well.
The dinner gowns of this spring sea-
SON arc not only new in line. hut in ma
toriaI we'll showing that even in war
time Paris Is offering excellent reasons
for changing dollars into francs. while
tn" parisian&. arc told. are appearing
AT the play in tailored gowns. and at
dinner IN afternoon droSS. American
women. VIII" take Paris and Parisians as
their models in most Of tn" social mat
t"rs are wearing as elaborate dinner and
hall GOWNS in mId-wintcr. or at the
height Of tho Newport season.
For the woman who can afford it, tulle
is holding first place. Mrs. William Lit
toaur wore at ono Of the recent Coun-
IVY Club dances a frock in black tulle
with the relieving color about the bodice
supplied b. strands Of small turquoise
and jet. Mrs. Litteaur's skirt just es
capped the ground: there were presumably
several skirts of some transparent mate
rial over the foundation Of black satin.
The finish to the top skirt. which was
a beautiful quality of brilliant black.
was an S-inCh ruche of the material Civ
ing the becoming flare to the hem. The
bodice which was V back and square
front. had ropes Of jet and turquoise
which formed an outline across the
shoulders Especially attractive was the
wonderful yoko-like rirdle made entirely
of jet and turquoise. Mrs. Idttcaur
completed hcr costume with plain black
satin slippers and black hosiery.
Mrs Perry Belmont is wearing tulle
and gold tissue gown that is the latest
oppression from Paris. The gold tissue
forms Il straight skirt with train over
which is draped taupe- Colored tulle show
ing new lin" of drapcrN about the hips,
In" bottom Of the tulle skirt being held
rluSc To the gold about the hem by
border Of rhincstones. Tho bodice. like
most smart dinner gowns. is practically
sleeveless. is covered with rhinestnnes,
showing only the taupc and gold founda-
ton. \ lurg" corSage bouquet of brown
ransi"s with =old-colured centcrs is tn"
further Cmhcllishment Of this unusual
and most attractive gown.
'rh" NiCountcss Chinda, wife of tho
-ImhasSad" from Japan wore at recent
dinner party given in honor of her hus-
band and herself. trained gown Of
white satin with its top draped in fine
old lace. Owing to the official mourning
tor the late DOwagcr Empress tn" Ann
haSSador and NicountesS Chinda attended
no dinners Of the winter. \ popularity
of the Nicountcss Chinda's dress is al
color. with the richest Of material Her
dinner gowns ar" invariably white, or
Very dCliratcly tinted Satins. with OK
GulSit" old lace and a few choice jewels
as establishment.
Nine. fau-e has one of the smartest
"f the new faille gowns in delicate
orchid color. that is showing the highest
form Of French workmanship i'm the en-
Enlistment of its full skirt. This prob
ably measures six or seven yards and
has a plain. deep hem. Its embellsh-
mont is an applique of the same mate
rial. which is often mistaken for taffeta,
but is a much finer and handsomer ma
t"rial, describing long. natural shaped
form branches extending in graceful
fashion about the skirt. TIL, top of the
Gown also has 4 fern-like apDliGue motif,
extending from belt TO shoulder both
front and back. y kcrchief effect in
whit" chiffon carries out this mid-Vic-
tn"lan style.
Tn" startling headlines Of a Western
"NChaaC" announcing that six we'll
known NATIONS at Kansas city appeared
on = recent Sunday in hoop skirts is not
really startling to Washington society.
W3"I" CrIn"lnc. which is the only polite
form Of h"0pSi;irt. has been introd uccd
g. ~" such well dressed women as Mrs.