Show ART datloff m we women folks who are not able to indulge in extravagances in the mat ter of dress are always interested in the expensive of others and to begin with in our letter this week we are going to tell of a very elegant but withal a practical gown which we saw in one of the fashion able resorts recently it was made of navy faced cloth in the finest quality the skirt richly braided tn black silk and the three quarter coat cut away in front and inset with motifs of persian paw the fur was arranged in medallions on the should erff and fronts and these medallions were sur rounded with fine brai dings to match the skirt the coat was lined with old rose satin and was worn over a louis seize waistcoat of white tat betas tetas the fronts and pockets of the latter being embroidered in black and silver stripes are the latest thing oh you say they are quite passe just now having had a long run but we do not refer to the narrow stripe running straight up and down in skirts and coats those are certainly not new but the newest striped to which we refer are fully three quarters of an inch in width and are confined to the skirts only and while in the material the stripes run straight it Is BO cut that they wind around the figure after the barber pole style one such costume seen the other day on a fashionable young matron showed the skirt swathing the figure about the alpa like a bandage the lower part sweeping the pavement as she stood by her motor and with sut fullness only about the feet to make walking easy the stripes ran up from the right side toward the cen ter front and left and were carried around the figure where in the back were two box plaits laid not stitched in with the stripes running straight up and down of course these must have been cut out of a separate piece of cloth which was black and white but the black stripes evidently had threads of white woven in to give a sort of grayish look the coat was a short one of black velvet rather boxlike and had a small ermine collar she carried an ermine muff and wore a small tri corne or three cornered hat trimmed with pompons the three cornered hat is another of the latest parisian fancies since its introduction some years ago it has been regularly revived from time to time as it has endeared itself to all who can wear it I 1 say to all who can wear it for it Is only the lucky few who look well under it it belongs exclusively to youth and either classical or piquant features with a certain delicacy of modeling and a careful coiffure arrangement an ar ran gement which should be full or with a bit of careless waves or curl ing ends showing the latter it the features are piquant nothing makes the ordinary looking woman more ordinary than the smart little tri corne hat in paris while large hats are worn with dressy toilets so are the very small bats and those of medium size indeed the small hat Is deemed the smarter of the two tor a large hat may conceal a multitude of coiffure deficiencies while the small hat frank ly reveals all of them however it must be remembered that no women are so careful in the arrangement of their coiffure and the preservation ot its perfection as the Pari this has been what Is called an open winter and the outdoor sports of and skating have been cur tailed somewhat but we often get the most of our winter weather after february 1 and the skating costume may yet come decidedly into play true it la that there Is no place where a pretty costume can be seen to such advantage as on the ice it its wearer with grace the one shown in our smaller illustration Is of the cardu roy velvet which Is so popular this winter aad justly BO for it la delight ful both to the eye and touch and of admirable wearing qualities the color chosen Is a deep rich ruby than which no color looks better on the ice amid snowy surroundings the skirt fits closely round the hips but Is very wide at the hem to allow of that swing as the skater turns which has such a fascinating effect especially when it reveals as in this case a foam of bright rose colored silk frills on the petticoat underneath the only trim mang on this short skirt Is the band of plain silk braid the same color as the velvet at the hem above which are a series of diamond shaped motifs and curves in the same braid the chief feature of the dress Is the charm skating frock in corduroy velvet ing little coat which takes the place of a bodice it Is a loose bolero barely reaching to the waist and double breasted with rovers of fur the coat Is edged all round with the silk braid but is cut up at either side in front and held together with small straps and buttons the cape sleeves being treated in the same way the oua cords and cassels tassels which adorn nearly all dresses and coats for the moment find an abiding place here on the double breasted fronts which they adorn effectively the sides and back of the coat are decorated with dla mond motifs in silk braid similar to those on the skirt and the whole cos tume la completed by a charming lit tie toque of fur to match the bevars trimmed with a bow of silver tissue and a large white aigrette but we must not forget to speak a word and that a good one for the costumes displayed in our larger allus these tailor mades while not elaborate in design are elegant in every detail and offer a suggestion as to what good taste would dictate the one on the left Is made up in a dark grey herringbone tweed with two en circling strap pings on the skirt while the smartly fitting three quarter coat silk lined throughout by the way la all bordered with a silken braid and further finished with a black velvet collar and sundry buttons of the tweed centered with velvet As for the other costume it Is of dark blue serge and Is distinguished by a perfectly hanging pleated skirt and a short tight fitting coat while a mutual adornment consists of strap pings buttoned over a band of pinkish mauve velvet this introduce Intro duc alon of contrasting color being very effective and a collar of black velvet and sundry touches of silk braid being other points of attraction in this particular aad perfect costume t 0 u |