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Show IN THE POST-LENTEN POST-LENTEN SEASON Dance Frocks Possessed of the Spirit of I 1850. Petticoats Again Popular "Z3 New York, May 3. Despite rain and blustery weather, Bprlng festivities festivi-ties nro In full swing. Never havo the theaters been moro crowded nor tho gowns moro beautiful, but activities activ-ities center around tho fow chosen icstnurants, where smart Now York ors dlno nnd danco. As if to snatch tho last drop of pleasuro before dashing dash-ing off to country homes and summer hotels, over bcllo and beau of tho metropolis treads tho measuro of tho maxlxo, tho ono stop and fox rot to tho accompanlement of orchestra music mu-sic intermingled with tho clink of diners' glasses, tho quatntness of tho dancers' drosses oddly contrasting with tho modern setting of white ov-cred ov-cred tables and black clad waiters hovering near. Although Dame Fashion, mindful of tho subway, perhaps, hesitates to spring tho hoop skirt In daytime dresses, she spares no fulness In tho danco frock. Skirts, short in length, billow and flare liko sails in tho wind, as tho wearers dip, swing or hesitate in the measures of tho danco; their width is accentuated by tho tightness of tho waist and tho closo-ness closo-ness of tho colffuro, giving a flower-like flower-like formation to tho modern silhouette sil-houette So varied uro tho colors, tho sceno becomes a human kaleidoscope, kaleido-scope, tho shifting figures bringing first pastel and then vivid shades to 9 tho fore. Ono girl in particular, attracted my attention, as I yratcbed tho dancers the other night. But for her au- burn tresses cropped closo in tho "Castlo clip," sho might havo been I an 1SS0 Instead of a 1915 girl, so tight was ber pointed bodlco and so t full her circular skirt. Her throat, whlto as tho taffeta of which tho gown was mode, roso above tho round decol.cttc. This was edged with flno Chantilly Inco and scattered flowers, woven In puro slhcr and blue, seemed seem-ed purposely placed to catch and hold tho color of her eyes, so perfect was tho match. Tho ory Blmpllelty of tho frock made It attractlvo; Its only trimming, besides tho laci was n heavy cord covered with Bilk edg n? the bottom of tho bodlco and looped garland fashion on tho skirt. Not a detail of tho costumo was oxer-looked, oxer-looked, from her whlto stockings and black slippers, laced high with ribbon, rib-bon, to tho Grecian band that held her hair; a telltale Bway of tho billowing bil-lowing skirt told as plain as words, as she glided away, that thcro was a hooped petticoat beneath not tho taped creation our grandmothers know, but an ingenious arrangement lntroduted In the early winter, con sisting of a not petticoat, cut to como Just below tho kneo, medium In width and finished at tho lower edge with a reed. These nro sometimes shown In tho shops festooned with flowers that show through tho sheer net dresses. Though entirely different In cut nnd toxturo, an equally charming dress was worn at a foto In tho midweek, by ono of tho season debutantes noted not-ed for her delicate Dresden liko beauty. beau-ty. With her golden hair wound low In tho neck and a slnglo curl over her shoulder, sho appeared a perfect crln-ollno'belle crln-ollno'belle In her whlto net frock over a slip of whlto charmause covored with whlto chiffon. A bodlco of yellow yel-low faille silk, draped in front and held with roses, gavo a touch of color col-or whlh was carried out, in tiny embroidered em-broidered wreaths on tho gulmps and skirt; below tho wreaths on tho skirt scallops or gathered ribbon mado a trimming In keeping with the V shaped shap-ed neck and full, puffed sleeves Cameo Cam-eo bracelets clasped around her wrists nnd a small fan, carried moro for Its beauty than real utility, mado fitting accessories to tho costumo. The rare beauty of this gown was emphasized by a cheorry red taffeta frock worn by her friend. It seems as it these styles borrowed borrow-ed from tho days when Jenny Llnd and Adellno Pattl won their fanio, give to each girl an individual grace as she sways to the rhythm of the modern music. Thero are Swiss frocks trimmed with brilliant silk, Dolly Varden taffetas, failles, soft charmeuses, chiffons, and lace creations crea-tions worthy of note. A glint now and then of a much borufflcd petticoat petti-coat warns us of the return of the feminine fancy, which wo lost sight of for tho past .season or two. Now tho stores have on display a complete collection of figured and plain taffetas , dainty nainsooks and sheer batistes trimmed with fllot and Valenclennos laco for dance frocks, ,and considerable considera-ble space is v devoted to accessories for tho danco as well. Fans are especially pretty, small models, scarcely five inches tall, with ivory sticks, and paper or silk uppers quaintly printed or painted, being favored fa-vored with tho crinoline frocks; os- trlch fnns glvo way this season to graceful models mado of eaglo quills. Slippers, too, aro featured In satin and kid, whlto, black or In colors to match tho dress with ribbon lacings n Grecian stylo or crossed straps J II Ah J' I ' that firmly hold tho foot. Stockings, not to bo outdone by slippers, havo oxqulslto open work designs, daintily dainti-ly embroidered or aro mado of heavy silk; oftentimes whlto stockings aro worn with black slippers. So far reaching is tho danco fad, it wo may call It fad, having lasted two seasons, It Is difficult to Ioso tho spirit oven in tho daytlmo. Only this week, at n belated opening of a largo department store in which "Paris In Her Day of Trial Sends Forth Her Supremo Fashion Mebsago to the World" in a collection to bo shown at tho Panama Pacific Exposition, such famous couturlcs ns Peer, Doii' cot, Jenny, Premct, Paquln and Worth pny homngo to tho danco. In tho largo auditorium trowdod to Its utmost capacity, It Is interesting to note tho enthusiasm with which tho short, full skirted, tight bodlcod frocks aro received. Hcor offers a youthful dress In black taffeta, shirred and flounced with enchanting puffed sleoves; Its somber Into Is lit direct contrast with tho fairness of tho wear or and the purpose of tho dress. Dou-cet Dou-cet Inttoduccs a long net slcoo In n satin gown for evening wenr whllo Paquln models aro conspicuous for tholr umi!ii outline at tho bottom; tho skirt are cut In four deep points and faced with tontrnstlng color, tho stockliiKH matching tho facing, and tho slippers black. Her toso gown Is unusuulh irett, being fashioned In thrco similes of roso faille, with ruffles ruf-fles at the lower edge of tho skirt suggesting tho petals of tho flower. This rose sliado and yellow domlnnto tho whole exhibition tho roso ap pearing now Mvta as n fresh June blossom and again bo faint that it calls to mind tho nshes of roses wo onco knew so well. As a fitting climax cli-max to so gorgeous an assomblago of spring fashions. Worth b1iows a capo of Oriental tissue In tho hues Of tho peacock's plumago; so Bplondld is its texture that It may fittingly cover cov-er tho most dellcato and beautiful of tho danco frocks. |