The gowns being worn here this season are extremely simple- even those one sees at the most important affairs. Of course, the trotteur frocks are most in evidence, for everyone walk more or less-particularly among the younger set, where one naturally looks for the latest novelties in dress. I noticed a very good looking suit of white French serge-A popular material this summer-and had a narrow three pieces skirt, that flat, smooth fitting back section having, at the lower edge, band extensions piped with black satin and fastened at the ends, with tiny satin covered buttons. The body-and-sleeve-in-one idea was effectively presented in the extremely short coat, the back of which was cut the extensions corresponding with those on the skirt and similarly decorated. Satin pipings and buttons were also used for trimming the revers of the notched collar and the band cuffs on the kimono sleeves, the collar itself having a satin facing. The turban worn with this suit was of white Milan, the wide flange faced with black satin, while white wings and a lace rosette provided the trimming.

Several pretty frocks caught my eye at a smart garden party on the Ledge Road a few days ago; in fact, one group charmed me so completely that, under cover of my parasol, I made a rough sketch of it for the artist to work from. The gown at the left of the group is a very summery affair of silk mull and Mechlin lace, while the next one has a peasant waist of Cluny lace and a high-waisted, double-flounced yoke skirt of batiste, the dress being worn over a slip of pastel rose taffeta. The tucked princess gown in the center was effectively made of India mull, joined in a Vandyked tunic effect to a deep flounce of baby Irish. Sapphire-blue satin, exquisitely supple, was used for the fourth gown, the statuesque wearer of which is a well-known young matron of exclusive Philadelphian society; while the last member of the group wore a charmingly simple but most effective costume of biscuit-colored pongee, trimmed with geranium velvet buttons and having a chemisette of finely tucked chiffon. The picture hat worn with this costume was also of geranium velvet-completing a very striking ensemble.

The bathing dresses one sees at the beach this year are really marvelous creations-but quite too beautiful for contact with sea water; hence it is not difficult to understand why their fair wearers elect, for the most part, to maintain a respectful distance between themselves and this too democratic element. Some of the prettiest dresses are made of black and white striped taffeta-and these are not really so unpractical after all. But among those I have seen was one of cerise satin, another of violet, and a third of tan, the latter being trimmed with pipings and buttons of Irish green. Gorgeous affairs like these are enough to throw the Mermaids into panic-if not to make them die of envy-or are these sea-maidens immortal?