Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-21
Smart Evening Frocks Have Been Made Alluring and
BY MARY MARSHALL.

suggestions? am more than
pleased to give them to you be-
cause I've spent the last few days
thinking and dreaming of nothing but
the new frccks and accessories planned
to be worn after shutdown. III try not
TO rush on the subject-but ! can't
nromise. because never have. seen
things that so cleverly combined SMART
ness and becomingness, good taste and
allure.
And as we draw our chairs close to
talk over the important question OF this
new evening frock of yours let me ask
vou first whether you are planning
Shutdown" evening dress or one OF the
Astand-up" sort? 1t is most important,
because there is a world of difference
between the frock that is TO be worn
chiefly for dining and card playing.
concerts and the theater, where most OF
fhe time you are sitting down, and the
ftrck that Is to be worn primarily for
dancing and receptions.
Certainly it would be hiding your light
wider a bushel to get one OF the new
trocks with the drapery and other trim
ming arranged at the back. and then
spend most of the evening sitting at
dinner or bridge table where the poufs
and frills and drapery would not only
be hidden. but would quite likely be
pathetically flattened. Yet II you are
10 wear the new frock for dances and
receptions and other occasions where
the silhouette of the entire figure is I'M
portant. then you should consider the
Importance of back drapery.
So perhaps instead OF planning one
new evening frock we had better talk
about two-one for receptions and more
important dances and the other for card
parties and dinner parties. My own
opinion is that it would be better to get
two less expensive but effective frocks
of these two sorts than one more ex-
pensive frock that would do for only
one sort Of occasion. OF course. you can
wear the bridge and dinner frock for
dances and receptions, but back drapery
and poufs are decidedly smart and fat
tering to the feminine form even If 1t
Is far from divine. and you may as well
wear them when you can.
For the dinner bridge frock why not
choose an ensemble consisting OF one Of
the new short jackets or boleros made
of net covered with spangles. chiffon or
tulle? These little jackets either with
long, slightly flaring sleeves or with no
sleeves at all may be bought separately
In black, gold. bronze or colors Of a me-
tallic tinge A little cap shaped like
Dutch bonnet and covered with the
spangles gives a decidedly smart touch
70 the evening bridge or dinner en-
semhle.
The slip and skirt to 60. with the
little jacket should be chosen in some
soft light fabric to match the jacket
golden yellow with gold, brown with
bronze.
If YOU are going to get this ensemble
together yourself you may be able 10
use the foundation of last years eve
ming frock. Pleated chiffon skirts go
well with these little jackets. but they
do get out of pleat when much sat upon,
so I would suggest cascade OF gath
cred or shirred draperies at the sides
o. pleating massed at the sides.
Then there are charming little dinner
frocks made with slip and skirt founda-
ton of chiffon or tulle and short jackets
of lace. An evening frock of that sort
would be appropriate In almost any
woman's wardrobe.
These new evening frocks must he
fitted quite precisely. and even II you
can wear a ready-made frock without
alteration an6 have been able to DO this
heretofore, don't begrudge the time or
money spent in adjusting the new trocK
very precisely to your own figure. The
very fact that bodices are still not ton
closely nodded. that hip swathing usual
II dips somewhat to the back and that
recklines rest easily across back and
shoulders means that frocks should De
adjusted with the utmost precision.
Every woman. 1 suppose, thinks flrst
of velvet in considering new evening
frock and with many the first choice
would be transparent or chiffon velvet.
Unless YOU can afford. the very best
would choose something else. Tnere
are stiff velvets that naturally wear
much better and these are decideoly
new. Taffeta Is very good choice Ior
the somewhat bouffant type OF frock
and there are figured tafietas that are
we'll worth considering. Crepe satin !.
an excellent medium for the frock Of
fine workmanship. Chiffon Is always
good. either alone or combined VITO
lace or velvet. Lace, either black,
colored or In natural cream color, Is
extensively used, though lace is really
not so fiattering to older women as
many seem to think.
There should be even about your
most important evening ensemble an
air of casualness. And this is some
times dificult for the girl. or woman
who does not don evening dress every
night of the week and has got into the
wav of regarding evening frocks as
necessary also as party frocks. Many
women who can wear their smartest
mtreet ensembles and most appropriate
sports clothes with an enviable air OF
insouciance do look like amateur actors
ready for a dress rehearsal for MS
torical pageant when they appear IN
much thought-about new evening
costume.
One reason why black and beige are
such good colors for evening is because
being always in good taste and rather
unobtrusive they do not give one tfe
feeling of self-consciousness that some
times comes from wearing more extraor-
binary colors.