The Connecticut labor press., 1920-02-21

women are dQOpClng the ndnOSOIne tea gown as a dinner dress for home wear. So very beautiful are these tea gowns that in some cases 1t is diff f1cu1t to distinguish them not only from informal evening dresses but from formal ones as well, writes a fashion correspondent. '''~
 There was a time, not far distant, when we considered a negligee as a delicate affair always in pale color ings, which made it impractical to wear anywhere but in ones own room. Now most of the models, except those for very intimate wear, are in the rich, dark colorings of the Orient, in gay, colorful tones of beautiful bro- cades and velvets such as those that are used in the most dignified gowns and evening wraps.
 Made Into Evening Dresses.
 Many women buy these wonderful tea gowns, and with a few changes here and there convert them into eve ming dresses. They are not quite as expensive as the former and may be little more individual. This type of garment takes its inspiration from
  most of them are from the costumes of Japan or those of Egypt. Our in- formal robes, which make no pretense of being dresses, are plainly of Jap anese origin. They are selected for their usefulness, at the same time endeavoring to get as much of beauty as possible along with utility. The handsome ones, even of these plain robes, are very expensive, and the best thing to do is to make them your- self. Don't be afraid to practice on really beautiful fabric; there is little chance of failing, because they are so very simple.
 A pretty one which I saw was of heavy pink silk. It was lined with thin white wash silk and there was an interlining of lightweight flannel. The garment was perfectly straight and quite ungirdled, the only trim ming being a large rounding collar of fur.
 Preference for Long Draped Lines.
 There appears to be a preference for long draped lines, the garment usually being cut in one piece, with the lower portion of the skirt much narrower than at the hips. In many cases the draping swathes the ankles rather tightly. Even the sleeves, cut in kimono style, are gradually shaped so that they fit the arm snugly below the elbow and are long; some of them coming almost to the tips of the fingers.
 One new model which have just seen has sleeves about four feet long. Such long sleeves seem very remark able for any garment. You will won- der how the wearer got her arms through them. The sleeve was sewed up the full length just like any narrow sleeve, but 1t was slit at the elbow, al- lowing the arm to come through the seam. The rest of this queer long sleeve hung like a streamer. This tea gown was of black chiffon velvet and was quite untrimmed, but the long, straight draping was most eff fective.
 Another model of the long draped type is of crushed velvet, dyed in coral and orange-a remarkably strik- ing combination. The effect is ob- tained in this way: a water dye and an oil dye are put into one vessel. The fabric is then dipped into this, and as the water and oil will not mix, the cloth comes out in two tones. The sleeves, which are long and tight, wrinkling on the arm from the elbow to the wrist, are made in three sec tions connected by cording. which goes in rows about the arm. Weights start
 
 tinue all the way up it and down the side seams of the gown to hold the drapery of the sleeve in place.