in any becoming color from white to black, and in any rich material from lace to velvet. A young girl’s evening frocks should be light and simple, in dancing length, with elbow sleeves, and round or square necks cut out very little, if at all. Older ladies have their evening gowns trained and cut decollette and practically sleeveless, if they wish. But many follow the example of Mrs. Cleveland when she was a bride in the White House, and veil the bust and arms in lace, net and chiffon. jewels should be used with discretion. If a lady has a large collection of diamonds and pearls, she does not wear them all at once except at the charity ball, or an opening night at the opera. Then she is not so much an individual as a part of a brilliant picture.
PROPER DRESS FOR GENTLEMEN.
Correct dress is a simpler matter for a man than for a woman. It is impossible for him to overdress and he has a smaller chance to display bad taste. Men's fashions change less, and a really good tailor is a reliable authority that a man can consult as confidently as a woman can consult a good stationer in ordering her engraved cards and invitations. Up to six o’clock a man wears a business suit, ordinarily. For church, a day wedding, reception, luncheon, funeral or other ceremonious occasion, he wears a black frock coat, grey trousers and silk hat. For dinner and all evening entertainments, he wears a ful1—dress suit of black broadcloth. There are men who do not look well in the dress coat, and compromise by wearing the dinner or Tuxedo coat. With it should be worn the usual dress shirt and vest, pearl studs and white tie. The dinner coat is admissible at all but very formal affairs, such as the charity ball, and one’s own "smart" church wedding.
Both men and women should observe unity in their clothing. It is very bad form for a gentleman to wear high shoes, a derby hat and a colored four-in-hand tie with evening dress. A lady does not wear her diamond necklace when she goes shopping, nor heavy walking shoes with a delicate trained gown to an evening party. It is in better taste to spend less on the gown, and have slippers, hose, gloves and hats that properly go with it. And it is better to have three dresses in the best materials, style and workmanship, than a dozen cheap and flimsy ones. Fashions change so often and so radically,
