Page:Fancy dresses described, or, What to wear at fancy balls (1887).djvu/163

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WHAT TO WEAR AT FANCY BALLS.
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The Peers in the first part wear flowing satin or velvet cloaks, and a rich under-dress, such as is worn at a coronation, silk stockings, and coronet caps; afterwards Earls Mountararat and Toller wear velvet court suits. Private Willis is in the uniform of the Grenadier Guards. Strephon is a charmingly-pretty dress of an Arcadian shepherd; pointed shoes with bows, silk stockings; striped breeches with bunches of ribbon at the knees; flowered coat and waistcoat; powdered hair; three-cornered hat; playing-pipe in hand, with ribbon streamers. The Queen of the Fairies has the cap of Mercury, with wings on either side; a long cashmere skirt bordered with gold embroidery, a gold scaled cuirass bodice, wings at back, golden hair, a trident in her hand. Iolanthe first appears in a dress all seaweed and grasses, and then in a soft classic white dress, with sandals, long sleeves, wings at the back; the bodice low and clasped on the shoulder, just bound with girdle at the waist, a diamond band crossing the bust from shoulder to shoulder; a wand in the hand. The character is sometimes dressed at Fancy Balls in white crepe over silver petticoat; with silver fringe and stars. She has six attendant fairies in antique Greek dresses made in mauve, laburnum, coral, pink, creme, and green, soft Liberty silk with silver wings and stars. Phillis, the Arcadian shepherdess and ward in Chancery, is a most harmonious combination of blue, pink, and white; powdered hair, blue satin hat with roses and ribbons; long bodice with paniers; stomacher, and bows of ribbon in front; short striped skirt with lace and ribbons round the edge.

IPHIGENIA. Loose classic dress; the diploidon pure white, bordered with Greek honeysuckle; embroidered veil; wreath; cloak from shoulders; sandals.

IRELAND. (See Erin.)

IRENE (Rienzi). Square-bodied close-fitting white and blue dress, under portion blue; over it a juive robe in white, embroidered in gold; diamond crown; regal mantle of blue satin embroidered in gold. In last act wears a similar dress of black velvet and jet.

IRIS. White silk dress with ruches of tulle in rainbow colours; grey tulle tunic spangled with rain drops; head-dress, coronet with grey tulle veil. (See Rainbow, Arc-en-Ciel.)