The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-18
MRS. WILSON NOT
LAV|SHlY G0WNEO
FOR PEACE TRIP

robe which the first lady OF the
! land" Mrs Woodrow Wilson. took
abroad with her was quite simple.
practically no new gowns having
been purchased. Indeed, no dresses
were taken which had not been worn
at least once. This simplicity was
adopted despite public expectation
that her wardrobe would be very
elaborate because she went as the
wife OF the president OF the United
States. whom Pope Benedict recently
described as the 'the greatest man In
| the world today"
| Mrs. Wilson always wears costumes
simple to the point Of severity In
design and finish. but always OF the
richest materials. exquisite in taste
and equal to any social demand that
could be made upon her.
1t has been limited that IL Mrs.
Wilson finds the need for new or
more elaborate costumes, will she not
be in Paris, where she can quickly
purchase the loveliest frocks to be
hand anywhere? AS the presidential
party expects to go to England and
Italy. 1t is taken for granted that
these nations will entertain our chief
executive and the first lady Of the
land, in which, case Mrs. Wilson will
probably have to make few addi-
| tons to her wardrobe suitable for
court functions.
! Mrs. Wilson travelled in a dark
blue suit of heavy soft cloth, made
with a long coat with a fitted back
and loose front and trimmed with
a sealskin collar and cuffs. With 1t
she wore a small and simple black
velvet toque. She has several close
| fitting tailored hats to wear with the
same suit, a particularly fetching one
being trimmed with aeroplane wings
off to the back and one side. She has
another hat. which she calls her con
serTation hat" because 1t can be worn
with so many costumes. 1t is large,
round and rather plain. has a trans
parent hrim and a black velvet crown
encircled by band OF gray chiffon.
closely shirred and caught together
with a small cluster OF gray ostrich
plumes.
In Mrs Wilson's wardrobe there il
also a smart gown Of black satin with
a tunic of black Georgette crepe. heav-
lily beaded and trimmed with bands
of broadtail. The sleeves are flowing
and edged with the broadta!l the
whole thing cut something on the
| lines of a Chinaman's coat. 1t. is
worn with <he Conservation hat and
scarf and nun of chinchilla, Then
there Is always the corsage bouquet
| to give 1t the splash OF color.
Handsome White Furs.
| She has a handsome set of white
fox furs which she wears with many
Of her afternoon frocks and one
equally as good looking. but black
fox, which she wears With tailored
suits. She has. too. for driving and on
especially cold days. long seaiskin
coat, which was remodelled to wear
on shipboard and in the colder cli-
mates OF France and England. 1t is
cut on simple stsaight lines, with
skunk collar and cuffs.
One OF her most becoming gowns
is of black velvet, cut low and square
Doth back and front The skirt is
straight with short pointed train.
The bodice has red tulle draped across
one side and has angel sle<es, very
long and flowing, of the same colored
tulle. She always carries large.
flame-colored ostrich fan with that
gown. She wore black almost en-
I tireiw before her marriage to the
SsYcSsaesa + 'Esae Was married III q
} black gown and affects black most, of
the time now. She has another black
gown of. chiffon velvet, severely SIM
pie. and one OF black net trimmed
with Jet and turquoise ornaments.
|
lare, cut on Il r1-ne general lines.
the skirts ain I alike, straight
!. and with pc. train, and the
bodices square ID around the
neck with tulle sleeves almost
always tulle. and sort OF soft
belt right at the wa ., line. She has
, an evening gown of gray tappeta and
similar white one of satin and tulle
with bands of opalescents here and
, there on the bodice. She varies in the
fans she selects for the gray and
, white gowns. Sometimes she carries
a peacock. blue with the white, or
pink; with the gray sometimes a
, gray fan and again one Of the shade
of the orchids.
Generally speaking her evening
frocks are almost always made on a
foundation OF black or white. relieved
with a touch of color. Her slippers
and shoes are carefully chosen in
keeping with her costumes on all
occasions.
Tafcta and Chiffon.
The first lady has, two gray after
noon frocks one OF taffeta and the
other of chiffon. The taffeta one Is
made with skirt slightly draped at
the back and about FIVE inches from
the ground. The waist Is cut sur
plice and has sleeves OF self-colored
chiffon. The chiffon frock has a
tunic edged with moleskin. the bodice
Is cut square and has collar and wide
cuffs OF handsome lace She also
= has a demi-toilet OF black chiffon
over red satin. cut out square in the
neck and almost entirely without
trimming. With 1t she wears a large
round hat OF black velvet with band
OF red satin ribbon simply arranged
around the crown
The presidents wife also took with
her to Europe to wear over her eve
ming dresses several exquisite wraps
OF velvet, both plain and brocaded.
all cut on the same loose lines and