Show k ri 1 k VISITING GOWN i i I YY YY ALFRED MANNING IS THE AUTHOR OF THIS WEEKS ARTICLE OP THE SERIES OF THE HERALDS HER-ALDS NEW FASHION DEPARTMENTIT IS ANOTHER CHARACTERISTICALLY IRISH LETTER FROM THE GREAT DUBLIN COSTUMIER I 4M1 < To H M The Queen of England ih H R H The Princess of Wales 1 H R H The Duchess of York H R H The Princess Louise Ey special appointment to Her Majesty The Queen of Ronmania and the Irish Court I r 7 d 1 1 iwlqL k r 1 r1 I i t l r 1 J I j 4 i I I i k Y II i I j I 4 A VISITING GOWN J l < l Ls L Coryrlcht U97by Wra Dn Eola 4 A ALFRED MANNING Dublin 7 I l As to colors red in arious shades will be much worn Soft grays will also be very fashionable the outcome of the high favor in which chinchilla stood during the winter People particularly par-ticularly blondes found the color so i becoming that they desire it in spring 4 costumes as well It is an extravagant extrava-gant taste however as it is easily faded by the sun and spotted by water wa-ter Black is always pretty it makes so desirable a foundation for the rich embroideries and multicolored ornaments orna-ments and trimmings now so much in vogue Purple has survived the winter win-ter One visiting gown is of violetfaced cloth The skirt is very full with small bands of the same cloth edged with back velvet at the hem Folded belt of cream colored satin with very large steel buckle at back Sleeves 41 have puffs at shoulders and tight puckered arms Bodice elaborately em brdered in steel jet and chinchilla Epaulettes yoke and jacket of ecru embroidery Double ruff of white and purple chiffon edged with narrow black velvet ribbon Woollen materials for spring costumes cos-tumes are pretty and serviceable Small stripes and checks in tweeds also light Harris tweeds very good imitation for cycling and hard country coun-try wear Also smartfaced cloths in new shades and as last year some very elaborate expensive fancy materials very handsome but exorbitant in price Pellissier a great manufacturer of expensive fabrics makes say 60 novelties of which 40 or 50 will be failures as to selling so he charges the successes to clear the failures The rage for cycling gowns apace A suitable costume is the want of the day The difficulty is the same as with the men Ladies want a costume they can ride 20 miles in with ease and comfort come to town shop visit and walk in and of course look well all combined This is an impossibility Men cant do it Why should women expect it For touring country riding I or any severe exertion a skirt is an absurdity ab-surdity quite exhausting What man would ride 20 miles if he had to hamper ham-per his action with a skirt and stockIngs stock-ings gartered at the knees On a ma ohine bloomers with wellfitting gaiters gait-ers or better fitting boots is the dress I for comfort ease elegance and modesty mod-esty Still few of our patrons will disregard dis-regard prevailing public opinion and we make most of our cycling suits with short skirts over knickerbockers A pretty blonde who will expose her fair skin to old Sols rays in coming dog days has ordered a cycling suit from us which will be both novel and striking It will be of white canvas with short skirt dividing only at the back and looking like an ordinary round short skirt when off the machine ma-chine The short jacket fits closely at the back and opens in front with reveres re-veres over a tightfitting double breasted vest of scarlet moire and closing with six gold buttons A mannish man-nish linen collar with dickey and white moire fourinhand tie will be worn On the curly golden hair there will be a white canvas cycling cap The hands will be protected by white chamois gloves and heavy black silk stockings and patent leather low shoes will complete this unique costume Our mothers hunted in long trailing habits the present hunting lady wears riding breeches long boots and a very short shaped habit fitted to the saddle Why should a lady expect a walking skirt to look well on a machine On horseback you merely see foot of boot in any position in cycling you have I front and back view equally ungraceful ungrace-ful and often worse Our charming I prudish hypocritical country women English especially turn up their eyes I and say How vulgar Shocking No lady etc etc These ladies told I me two years since that no lady would ride a bike or wear bloomers and I would never let their daughters do either They are doing both now grandmothers mothers and daughters So much for the stability of our English I Eng-lish ladies An English lady of rank coming from Dublin Castle missed her friends carriage and had to take a cab She was so amused with the cabmans conversation con-versation and brogue that on her arrival ar-rival at her friends house she asked for some whisky for him and throwing throw-ing off her cloak she was stout and very decollete poured out a quantity of the whisky in a glass and asked if he would like some water The man replied glancing down at the ample nature unadorned Ah no me lady Ill take it plain and naked like yourself your-self This lady told me the story herself her-self but would not allow her little daughter to ride a bicycle or wear bloomersit was immodest unlady I like etc I fear this letter is straggling inco herent I am a bad writer even if I had time Make what you please out of it but with all respect to the American Amer-ican public particularly the feminine part I cannot spare the time to write Very truly yours 4c1d ALFRED MANNING Dublin I 1 |