Page:Fancy dresses described, or, What to wear at fancy balls (1887).djvu/151

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WHAT TO WEAR AT FANCY BALLS.
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the period: Under-skirt and sleeves of a light yellow-green satin, with an arabesque design in gold thread; over-skirt, or kirtle, and bodice of violet velvet, embroidered with gold; the kirtle lined with green, like the under-skirt, showing where the dress is looped up; ruff of pleated cambric; head-dress of violet velvet, encircled with pearls, and ornamented with a long white plume at the back; worn over a chaperon of violet velvet, also edged with pearls.

HERALD OF SPRING. Short full skirt of pale grey tulle, the lower part scattered with silk appliques of swallows holding in beak violets or primroses; round the skirt, scarf of silver gauze tied behind and fastened on one side with apple-blossoms; pointed laced bodice; pink satin, or pink and silver brocade, cut low and draped round the neck with silver gauze, trimmed with cordons of violet, primroses, leaves; short sleeves of silver gauze, across which are festoons of violets; powdered hair, wreath of apple blossoms on one side; on the other a stuffed swallow, in its beak a diamond heart; wand in hand, with spring flowers tied with pink ribbon; chain of shaded violets round neck; pale pink shoes and hose; fan of pink marabout, swallow in centre.

HERMIONE. White cashmere or long loose red silk robe, made low and sleeveless, with belt. Over it a cloak of the same, all trimmed with gold fringes, crossed in front and draped; diadem on head, flowing veil; the whole as statuesque as possible.

HERANI Cream-coloured low square dress with train, trimmed with gold braid and Spanish lace, the sleeves slashed with crimson velvet; hat of crimson velvet, and feather. Madame Sarah Bernhardt thus dressed the character.

HERO. (Much Ado About Nothing). Dress of white satin, the skirt touching the ground, wrought in pearls, with gold and white; over-dress of the same, forming a high square to low bodice; the stomacher worked in pearls; there is a wired ruff starting from the front of bodice widening at the back tight sleeves, lace rufiies at wrist, and epaulettes puffed and entwined with pearls on shoulder; coronet, or band, or coif of pearls on the head; the hair hanging in long ends, interplaited with pearls; pearled shoes. (See Coloured Illustration, No. VI.)

HESTER GRAZEBROOK (She Stoops to Conquer). Grey cashmere dress with ruffles, fichu, and cap of soft muslin and fine lace.