Ever since John Singer Sargent painted his elegant portraits, a bare-shouldered white gown has traditionally been considered the most flattering of all evening fashions. Last year (1949 - my annotation), as designers pushed the short, skin-tight sheath into the ballroom, the style was of limited interest. This fall (1950 - my annotation), however, the portrait gown is back. It is again fashionable to look like the heroine of a romantic victorian novel, in bouffant gowns like the tartan-sashed dress shown above (Ceil Chapman, $125), which sets off the wearer's shoulders and swings 10 yards of taffeta around her feet.
Edwardian ball gown from Bergdorf Goodman custom collection is bare shouldered satin. Adding to regal air are tiara and pompadour hairdo.
Court gloves in pearl-buttoned cotton instead of kid (Kayser, $9) and white fan (Bernard Lang, $20) are new accessories for the current formal style.
Regal crown and chignon enhance courtly air of new gowns. Jeweled crown (Ben Hur) is $20.
Romantic revival is the full-length, full-dress evening mantle (Hattie Carnegie), an elegantly impractical style using 15 yard of aquamarine satin.
Classic for girls under 20 is an inexpensive white gown like the dress with a satin bodice and net skirt at the right (Fred Perlberg, $35), worn with a net stole.
Novelty this year (1950 - my annotation) is a short, full formal coat to wear with short gown as ensemble. The white wrap (left) is $45; chiffon dress is $50; both Anne Fogarty.
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