The immediate success of the cavalier cape has surprised everyone, and no longer can it be said that it takes two years for a Paris fashion to reach England. The Parisiennes had not approved the mode a week before there were models over here. There are many shapes, but the most popular is circular and reaches to about the knees. It is modelled on the lines of an Italian officer’s cloak and is a picturesque garment. The short jacket-cape is occasionally seen, but is not so useful or so becoming as the three-quarter length, which may account for the scant favour shown it.

One of the best examples of the new cape was seen a few days ago; it was made of black moiré silk lined with white moiré. Of admirable cut, an additional attraction was that the cape was reversible, and so would serve either for day or evening wear, or both. This excellent idea is being generally adopted, and other fashionable colours, besides black and white, are obtainable. Another charming and unusual design was a three-quarter cape of black sunray pleated satin. The collar was two fairly wide frills piped with black velvet, and two wide crossover bands of black velvet held the cape in position and showed in an effective manner in front. The woman who likes something that “fits” would approve a model with a belted waistcoat, which certainly has a trim look. By the way, most women will do well to avoid the “handkerchief” shape with points as this is the cape for the matron.

The New Skirts

Although the cape is popular a good demand exists for the short coat of black taffeta, finished off with a ruche and occasionally with a frill. The short sacque design with rounded fronts is much liked and looks especially well with, a striped skirt of, say, black and gold. Talking of skirts, the very latest mode is the two-tiered model, the upper tier ending just below the knees.

Panier effects are not often seen now; instead draperies are hunched at the back, bustle-wise, or hang in severe folds over a tight-fitting underskirt. An effective model frock of night-blue taffeta had a skirt composed solely of frills, wide at the top and gradually becoming narrower towards the feet. For smart occasions it would look well; for ordinary wear, however, it would be too noticeable.

This season, again, one notices the most expensive gowns are frequently the simplest, and this leads the way to the reflection that the woman who has good, well-made simple clothes always looks well-dressed whatever the reigning fashion may be. Another point is that the best effects are obtained by using not more than two colours in a toilette: for example, blue and white and black and white. The best dressmakers realise this fact, and at almost every important social function these two-colour toilettes are seen and frequently are acclaimed as the smartest gowns. The all-white toilette is also effective, and a young society beauty is wearing nothing but white gowns this season.

A pretty and becoming fashion which has but lately come to town is the waistcoat of silk or ninon. Silks that would “stand by themselves” in gorgeous colours, often gaily flowered, are used. A waistcoat of maize corded silk was embroidered on the revers and down the front, and the buttons and buttonholes, with Chinese blue silk and gold thread. Another of black corded silk was similarly treated. White ninon waistcoats with a Medici collar are dainty And would be pleasing on a hot day. If a dark and somewhat severe-looking coat and skirt has to do duty as a calling costume, don a waistcoat of fine flowered silk with it and the everyday air will go, driven away by the flowered vest.Read more at:prom dress shops | formal dresses