Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1920 — Attire for the Party and Ball [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Attire for the Party and Ball

This season the debutante and the rabdebutante are coming into their own. After two years of utter neglect the debt .piled up is to be paid, and paid in full with all past Interest due, observes a leading fashion correspondent. Parties, dinners and dances galore are on the program, one crowding the other so closely that two years’ reserve strength would seem h necessity. It seems, too, as if everything had been designed in frocks with an eye to the requirements of the debutante short skirts, short sleeves, oceans of ruffles and foolish little trimmings—and the "matron will have to find something suitable as best she may. Now, it is a well known fact that seldom does the very young woman favor the type of dress that her elders would choose for her. The adorable youthful models hold no particular charm for the adorable youthful girl, but all this has been cleverly attended to by some one who understands these matters well. The vamp and the baby vamp are out of the running to a great extent, but it is a bit too soon to expect a direct change, so in spite of soft colors and multitudes of ruffles there is frequently a touch of sophistication. * If the very young woman Is a bit determined she will finally win, for back in the corners here and there are some deliciously subtle frocks, even to those of black chantilly lace, which no one could possibly call suitable for the. debutante unless one should see the modifications as shown in the models. Colors Fresher and Clearer. As to colors, the matron agaip Is in for a very hard time if she is to continue in the height of fashion. Be it admitted that the colors are fresher and clearer than ever, they are a trifle difficult for any but the very youthful to wear.

One is struck immediately with the difference in the shades shown for the debutante and those in the regular department. Most of the colors are intensified. and the pastel shades the matron is supposed to wear are slightly more than that when shown for the younger woman. Jade color is one of the season’s most approved shades and orchid, with a splash of mauve, is also liked. Taffeta is quite evidently the material best adapted to the present modes in all the afternoon frocks; whether in light colors or dark blues and browns for the street, it asserts itself in the “bulging skirts. For afternoon one finds further crispness added by combining organdie with the taffeta. Nets of the finest possible mesh are amazingly embroidered In eyelet. The last thing one would expect to see used on net and a thing that would bo impossible if the net were not almost as fine as voile. A combination of three materials proves a success In a linen dress, with

bindings of red and white, checked gingham and finishing touches of organdie. The important thing, however, about these dresses is the manner in which they carry the impression of increased width and not an impression really so much as an actual increase in. the quantity of material used in the skirts. Ilie means whereby the width is attained are many and varied, but like the dresses for southern wear, the apron is the most prominent feature. It may be so diminutive that it is hardly larger than a bib and It may be large enough to form the skirt front or back, but it is sure to be an apron. Pink Taffeta Afternoon Frock. - A rose pink afternoon frock is typicaT of many others and In a very charming way. The silk Is the color of a frosty raspberry ice; with a girdle of ribbon of lavender which tones in

so well that one is hardly aware there is any difference of color except that the effect is delicious. The bouffant skirt stands out at the sides as a result of the wordings set in a deep band about the hips. This in the overskirt, for there is a slightly narrower underskirt beneath. The short sleeves are finished with a bit of the embroidered organdie and

the front of the bodice has a vest of the organdie ending In a round tablike apron below the girdle. Afternoon Gown for Young Girl. An afternoon gown that the very young girl will just dote on is of black chantilly lace, trimmed with soft Frenchblueribbons that should bring It within “mamma’s approval,” tor they give the dress exactly the air of youth in spite of the matron’s black lace of which it is made. At the hips the lace is wired so that it stands out properly, and over this in the front an apron of the lace falls so that It partially obscures the ribbon, which folJows the curved line of the apron with a bow here and there. The sleeves are short, with a deep ruffle of the chantilly, and the bodice is nothing much but a wide ruffle of it about the ueck and down the sides of the front. Ribbon, as every one knows, is a very Important item in the list of trimmings this season, and if not watched carefully will be apt to get a bit tiresome. One very new way to use this form of embellishment is seen on a dress of orange-colored chiffon — rather a pale shade of orange as orange color goes, but by no means faded looking. The ribbon was applied like the crimped edge of an expert caterer’s pie. It was simply crimped or fluted and laid about the neck and sleeves of the gown and also In strips down the sides of tlie skirt. The ribbon is in the same shade as the-chiffon.

The White Crepe Frock. A white crepe silk frock Is trimmed with grosgrain also in white in another and attractive manner. Beginning with the skirt, which is in every model the most important point at the present time, we find Interesting extensions on the skirt at the sides, which are further supported in th« effort to Increase the width by the apron of the material covering the entire front of the frock and furnished with loops of the ribbon extended at the sides. The extensions of the material ait merely strips doubled and inset Into th« sides of, the skirt so that they extend like fins on the sides. The smartest of the frocks have no collars, or, at least, the frocks Intended for smart occasions have no collars, and this d.ess following this lead has only a tiny row of the loops about the neck. Figured materials are among the most difficult to treat, but some particularly smart little frocks, with real dash, are seen in reds and blues in very conventional patterns. That the patterned material is not combined with plain probably adds to the smartness. Even the ruffles about the neck and sleeves, fine plaitings of the material, give the frock distinction. The material of these partlculai frocks is indestructible voile and th* pattern in a white dot, not too large and set so closely on the ground ot red or blue that there is more white than color. The skirt is caught up under, harem fashion, and trimmed with perpendicular ruffles of the same fine plaiting as that used co tbs bodice.

This spring dress is just the thing for girlish and dainty. Frock Is made of ecru organdie, with two wide insertions of same color.

An advance model of exquisite daintiness is this frock for Miss Springtime. It is of net and filet; tucks and dainty embroidery are sure to appeal.