The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-16

pnyCnOlOSlCal SeCTCJ IS kE behind the impulse that moves women to lay out
 '" their party clothes on the bed before dressing for an evening enter tainment? We all do it-or have done it in years gone by, when go- ing to parties was more of an event, perhaps, than it is now; or before a well trained maid was at our call to produce every belonging as needed during the process of being coiffured, manicured, corrected and dressed. :.
 If there is any prettier sight than milady, all logged out ready for the dance, or the opera; it is milady's bed before the party, all heaped with laces and silks; gloves, fan, delicate kerchief, gauzy scarf, flmy petticoat, silken underwear, slippers and silk stocllings-even the silk wrap folded and drawn to one side. What, one repeats, moves woman to lay out her party clothes and their accessories in such manner, when she never dreams of making such initial display of her street garb and its accessories in en- tirety, before donning the separate garments? No, the business of dress ing for party is always an event. even to the favored one who has party on for every night in the sea- son. It is a delightful-and a serious business, from the moment the hot water faucet is turned on for the bath to that final. contemplating moment before the mirror just before one picks up one's train and trips down to the waiting equipage.
 Party belongings begin with the or nament that gives individuality to the coiffure, and end with the point of the little satin slipper. It takes a host of things to make a modern belle ready for a dance; for instance, from within out glove silk lingerie, thread silk stockings. special evening corsets of brocaded silk-corsets that are so cut that if the decolletage touches the waistline in back they will not reveal themselves--a luxurious petticoat and tiny, exquisite brassiere; shoulder scarf of tulle or spangled gauge of tinted chiffon to slip over the bare neck in a draught; slippers of satin or silver tissue or gold brocade; i; warm, fur-lined carriage boots to wear over the slippers in the carriage; a party bag filed with vanity trifes, fan, a smart hair ornament, and wisp of kerchief. All these in addi- ton to the party frock and wrap. One does not include jewels, for these are not the actual necessities though the average woman has cer- tain favorite belongings in the jew elry line that are added last of all to her toilette.
 And as the evening star is to the sun; so is the evening gown to its accessories-as far as splendor and solid worth are concerned. It is in the realm of evening accessories that the giver of costly gifts searches and gleams. One may pay more for a pearl-handled fan than for whole frock; a spangled Assyrian shoulder scarf may easily cost the half of q frock. When it comes to jewels, of course there is no comparison of value. for the expenditure may soar anywhere.
 | It is not considered at all out of the way. these days, however, to wear quite Inexpensive jewelry with really costly gowns. A string of imitation pearls worth five dollars may look very charming indeed with white evening frock that totalled up two hundred dollars after its ordeal at the customs. On the other hand, q not expensive gown fashioned by a home dressmaker may appear in com- | lpany with diamond earrings that