Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 283, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1913 — Embodies Several Style Features [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Embodies Several Style Features

THE theater or dinner gown which can be adapted to almost any function,- is a possession to be treasured by women who wish to be well dressed without putting too much time and money into a wardrobe. With separate bodices which are put on over the skirt with little coats and a variety of girdles and corsage flowers, many changes may *be effected in a single gown. This is especially true with a skirt of black satin, rich broadcloth or velvet, with bodice of black and white lace and chiffon, like that shown in the picture. The hip flounce of lace, with heading of fur, may even be taken off; the high,waisted skirt provided with girdle or sash in any color wanted or the corsage flower dispensed with. Just as it stands, the costume is a worthy effort of a French designer, and shows a clever grasp of the leading style features of the season, and a splendid management of them. The skirt, like those in many of the newest creations, does not hang in milch about the feet, and has no train or split. But it clings as it should, to the figure. Small silk covered weights (which come in bands ready for adjustment) with the shaping seams, must be depended upon to compel the graceful hanging of the garment. The hip drapery is natural, and might sag a bit more at the back to express the extreme of the mode. It is of fine white Chantilly, showing a segnty and dainty covering of the surface of net with an outlined pattern. A band of fitch fur—or martin if preferred—outlines it at the top. This decoration is sewed to the skirt in such a way that it may be detach-

ed. This fur border is an eminently successful touch in. the costume and out of the best features of this season’s styles. Very narrow braid used on the flimsiest of materials make a striking finish. The bodice employs chiffon and lac*> with the long sleeve shown at its best. There is a formation of fine net with the vogue shaping £nd absence of shoulder line characteristic of the present styles. The- lower sleeve is of chiffon gathered in to two rows of fur. The upper part of the bodice is of white lace like that on the skirt, draped fichu fashion over the shoulders, with a very small fichu of chiffon bordered with fur, which finishes the ”V” shaped opening at the neck. The immense velvet poppy which -is posed at the front is in one of the orange yellows which have been developed in new shades so fascinating that everyone is captivated by themT A gold gauze fan and a long black velvet turban trimmed with ribbon and fancy feather finish the toilet. New weaves in fabrics accomplish ever changing hues. Color is restless in them, tints shifting and surfaces show a sort of subdued glitter. With such materials it is possible to use a skirt like that shown here in the picture with a great variety in bodices. /It is as nearly a typical gown as a season of so great variety could offer. It shows the clinging but not scanty skirt, the hip drapery, the employment of lace and chiffon, the fur banding, the long sleeve and undefined shoulder, the broad girdle and tbe big, single corsage flower—all items in the composition of this season’s gowns.

JULIA BOTTOMLEY.