The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-07
BY MARGARET WADE.

With the passing of the SiNty-third
Congress on March and the promise
OF an early spring and a brilliant Easter
season residential Washington is taking
q long breath and thoroughly enjoying a
season that has no official obligations
for anyone This does not mean that
there is no entertaining. or no exchange
of the many and varied forms of hos
ritality for which all seasons in
Washington Ne famous. 1T is rather
a time for the exchange of personal
compliments and attentions from the es-
tahlished hosts of the Capital to the de-
parting congressman and their iamilies.
and 10 tho succession of distinguished
strangers within our gates.
Dinner parties are only little less
numerous than in January. the difference
being chiefly that invitations are sent
out at shorter notice and the companies
selected for purely personal. rather thah
,fficial reasons. 1t is very largely 10
the visiting ladies from New York, from
Boston. Philadelphia. and from London.
that the aN-at-homc NashlnCtonlan Is
receiving first aid IN deciding what IS
What. in the matter Of modes. for left TO
herself the Washington maid or matron.
however well placed in the social world,
is trfe slow in taking up new fashlons.
While the women Of tho Capitals inner
circle may not be So prompt as tnelr
sisters of other cities n changing the
fare Of their skirts or the length OF their
sleeves they are always provided with
gowns. suits and hats suited to the many
occasions OF Washington life, which is
the real reason for their reputation Of
ALWAYS being well dressed A reputation
Endorsed by so great a dignitary as the
Duke IF ConnauSht. WHO remarked That
ne had never seen such well-dressed
people on the streets OF any city as when
driving TO and from the White House
and King Georges Embassy.
The recent visit OF Mr.. and Mrs. Harry
Lehr. OF Newport and New York, which
wa. the occasion OF several smart din
n.r parties also showed just how Mrs
Iehr keeps abreast OF the fashions even
in war time.
Just from Paris ard the latest oner-
ing of Cheruit was dinner gown OF
black satin embroidered III silver. Ihe
embroidery took the form OF lone-stem-
med Easter lilies standing upright from
the hem. The same motif also decorated
the N-Cut sleeveless CorsaGe. This gown
like the dinner gowns of nine out of
every ten Smartly dressed New Workers.
had a train. 1t also had narrow I'M
derskirt of black tulle showing beneath
tn. satin skirt at the front and sides.
This reversal OF material, tulle under
>stin. is also shown in a rlEht-from-
Paris gown worn by Mrs. Perry Bel
mont at a recent Embassy dinner party.
This is q white and silver brocsde over
skirt of orange tulle. The latter is
laid in Meats an inch or SO in width and
SHOWS its greatest depth at each side,
tho hrocade skirt being raised several
inches in the new irregular fashion. The
bodice is of tulle with surplce over
bodice OF the brocade. This gown has
sI"rves of tulle. 4 revival of the angel
sleeve. fastened on the shoulder whence
they fall like wings to the floor.
Another brocade dinner gown Of very
recent importation is a blue and silver
hrcCade worn by Mrs. Robert McCor-
mick. formerly of Chicago but now one
IF WashlnGton's permanent winter col
ony.
Mr.. Marshal! Field, just back from
Florida where she passed most of the
winter. is wearing a black velvet dinner
gown with long train and a modish drap-
-ry OF lace embroidered in rhinestones.
The latter vary in size. the larger stones
being cut like jewels.
Mrs. Junius Parker of New York. a
nuch entertained visitor of the late
season. wore several gowns e Paris crca-
lion. although purchased in New York.
One dancing frock was of white ana
silver brocade, the foundation of the
white. the silver in all over geometrical
ines making this almost silver gown.
The oVcrdress was a tunc of silver
tull" hung from the hips and finished at
rs lower edge by deep frill of silver
lace very fine in texture. This opened
N front leaving a narrow panel of the
DO N lnru cir li,a
holt to hem. The top of the gown was
iulIc held hv a deep Sirdle Of brocade
high as 10 form a bodice in itself
4 dcmi-tOilet Mrs. Parker wore to
large and formal luncheon was Of mid
night blue chiffon and satin. with heavy
white lace introduced AS an ovcrdress
under second uverdrcss Of the chiffon.