Page:Fancy dresses described, or, What to wear at fancy balls (1887).djvu/301

 WIFE OF BATH (Chaucer). Striped stuff skirt; close fitting blue bodice; beaver hat, with muslin kerchief knotted above the brim, and one tied beneath the chin, the other falling under the hat; distaff carried in the hand.

WILD FLOWERS. (See .)

WILL-O'-THE-WISP. Flowing hair falling over black fashionably-made evening dress; tiny lantern carried in hand; star of electric light in the centre of the forehead.

WINDMILL. (See .)

WINTER, CHRISTMAS, DECEMBER, SNOW, FROST, ICE, ICICLE, HOLLY, &c. These are carried out with a fashionably-made white tulle evening dress and veil, either of crystal-spangled tulle or tulle covered with tufts of swansdown or white wadding. For Winter, December, and Christmas, holly leaves, ivy, and mistletoe and berries; Christmas roses and a robin appear on the head, shoulders, and dress. Sometimes the dress is black, tufted with swansdown. December is also rendered as a pale blue gown fringed with icicles; blue-grey cloak on shoulders; or sometimes with black tulle and tufts of swans-down and holly. Snow and Frost have icicles and glittering crystal drops, with crystal fringe introduced. Satin is more suitable with the tulle than silk, and bands of swansdown make admirable trimmings. Silver is often used, but crystal is more appropriate, though a tunic and bodice of silver cloth veiled in tulle has a good effect for Frost and Snow. The hair should float on the shoulders, and be covered with frosting powder. Satin shoes, and long gloves bordered with swansdown. For a Snow-storm on a Dark Night, black is used instead of white, trimmed with jet and swansdown. Fans painted with snow-scenes and robins are suitable for any of these dresses. Sometimes blue satin is worn with the white, but it does not make the dress so distinctive. The adoption of a blue-grey mantle, covered with tufts of swansdown, is meant to show that winter is not always bright. Crystal or diamond ornaments are the most appropriate. Or, dress of green satin, bordered with twigs and evergreens; marabout feathers scattered over skirt and bodice; a veil treated in the same way enveloping the figure. An Arctic Maiden or Arctic Queen wears the same style of white dress, trimmed with tufts of swansdown, and