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THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR - JANUARY 1 1919
COLUMBIA SOCIETY DANCES AT PIEDMONT HOTEL FOR WAR WOUNDED
The New Year’s Ball, given last night at the Piedmont Hotel by the Lady’s Columbia Society, was largely attended with guests numbering more than 500. The affair began at 8 o’clock with a reception, followed by dancing, two orchestras playing continuously. Beef wellington, asparagus hollandaise, and strawberry ice were among the refreshments.
Proceeds from the affair will be used for the Columbia Society’s war fund, of which Mrs. Steven Harrington is chairwoman, to promote the comfort of the wounded boys from overseas. Mr. Steven Harrington was head of the Refreshments and Entertainment committee.
[...] Chief among the evening’s luminaries were Mr. Jason Carver, SCPO, himself recently returned to Indianapolis following the successful command of a small naval freighter in the Atlantic theater. He was awarded the Silver Eagle for his service. His wife, Mrs. Jason Carver, was the admiration of all upon the arm of her decorated husband and in her new gown which received much attention. The gown, blue in the shade known as lapis, exhibited new Continental fashions with its dropped waist and broad silver sash draped low across the hips. Panels of silver net across the bodice and sleeves completed the ensemble, with beads of minute crystal embroidered along the hem as adornment. Mrs. Carver credited the creation to her new dressmaker, Edward Munson, recently of London. Mr. Munson’s new shop may be found on the second floor of Bond’s Dry Goods on Miles Square.
THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR - FEBRUARY 20 1919
CLOSE OF WINTER SEASON BRINGS LUNCHEONS, DANCES, COSTUME GALAS, AND MORE
The final weeks of the winter season were marked by several large and interesting assemblies, with the hi-jinks of Grandfather North Wind unable to chill the spirits of debutante and dowager alike! [...]
Regarded as especially successful was the St. Valentine’s Day Fancy Dress Gala, given by the Oratorio Society with collections gathered for the war wounded. The affair was held at the private residence of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Harrington, with Mrs. Harrington acting as Chief Attending Officer for the Oratorio Society’s calendar year. The Harringtons set the jovial tone for other couples with their imaginative and gay costume, a matched set of stallion and jockey. To the great amusement of those in attendance, it was Mrs. Harrington who took up the jockey’s whip. Hup Ho!
[...]
Also in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. Jason Carver. Mr. Carver, SPCO, declined to wear fancy dress, citing the solemnity of the fundraising cause. Once again, Mrs. Carver was the object of much sartorial regard as she continued to establish herself as one of Indianapolis society’s most radiant gems. Mrs. Carver was costumed as Selene, the pagan personification of the Moon, and wore a cunning tunic of crushed white velvet which appeared to shimmer and glow in the shifting shades of the gaslight. Delicate panels of diamanté gossamer draped from arms to wrist gave the impression of mist, while a small headpiece of crescent-wire stretched with the same framed Mrs. Carver’s face from behind. The gown won First Prize in the evening’s Costume Contest, the award for which was a small loving cup filled with champagne. Mrs. Carver credited the gown to her dressmaker, Edward Munson, whose shop on Miles Square has a three-week waiting list for new clientele.
THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR - MARCH 29 1919
GARDEN PARTY GIVEN IN HONOR OF HERMAN BEIDEMEYER
[...] dined upon deviled eggs, ham & cress sandwiches, and “pink” lemonade. Mrs. Jason Carver was the subject of much conversation in her eye-catching column dress featuring a cross-over bodice in the pink known as hunter layering a lace camisole in the green known as apple. The vivid tones–so rarely seen outside Parisian salons–indeed seemed to cause the hyacinths and jonquils themselves to fade before the lady’s splendor.
THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR - APRIL 5 1919
MUNICIPAL CELEBRATION BANQUET AT HOWARD HOUSE
[...] Mrs. Jason Carver, featuring a scalloped hem in the color known as peacock with an embellished bodice of hand-fixed bugle beads some 600 in number [...]
THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR - APRIL 12 1919
CHARITY BALL FOR INFLUENZA RELIEF A GREAT SUCCESS
[...] fourteen layers of tulle–often regarded as out of fashion, but used here to astonishing effect–with artfully-placed tourmaline drops between the layers creating the impression of starlight [...]
THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR - APRIL 22 1919
LUNCHEON HOSTED BY MRS. STEVEN HARRINGTON FOR OPERA HOUSE COMMITTEE
[...] a sailor-front neckline with a Continental dropped waist in the yellow known as imperial, set off by a straw hat decorated on the brim by satin rosettes of white so ingeniously crafted that to the casual observer they appeared genuine hothouse flowers [...]
THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR - APRIL 30 1919
BRIDGE PARTY HOSTED BY MRS. RICHARD HOLBOURNE
[...] in the purple known as lilac [...]
THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR - MAY 3 1919
ICE CREAM SOCIAL IN SUPPORT OF THE GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA
[...] in the green known as grasshopper [...]
THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR - MAY 7 1919
COLD SUPPER TO WELCOME DELEGATION OF ITALIAN DIPLOMATS ON GRAND TOUR
[...] in the red known as carmine [...]
THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR - MAY 24 1919
FASHIONABLE TAILOR TO OPEN PERMANENT SHOP ON MERIDIAN STREET
Mr. Edward Munson, lately of Miles Square, seeks to open a permanent street-front store on Meridian Street with fittings available by written engagement. Although a recent arrival to Indianapolis, Mr. Munson has quickly established himself as the tailor du-jour amidst the jewels of city society, having produced some of the most envied and remarked-upon garments of the spring season. Mr. Munson, of Italian and Swedish extraction, began his trade while convalescing in a Parisian VA hospital after the loss of his left foot during artillery bombardment in the trenches of Dixmude. Mr. Munson recounts that the manual work of sewing provided sufficient “occupation of the mind and senses” during his two-month recovery. Unable to resume employment with his uncle’s horse farm in Hawkins, IN; Mr. Munson elected to apprentice for twenty-four weeks at a Parisian atelier of high renown. He has now achieved considerable success amidst the society doyennes of Indianapolis, but credits his newfound success to the early and continued patronage of one Mrs. Jason Carver. “It is rare,” Mr. Munson said, “To find such a person of common understanding, with exquisite taste besides. I am honored to have her favor.”
THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR - JUNE 1 1919
JAPANESE LANTERN SUPPER HELD AT THE HOME OF MRS. STEVEN HARRINGTON
With such warm temperatures driving all but the dreariest sort out-of-doors for automobile rides and boating excursions, society’s latest spate of gatherings has been “let out to air” as they say! Most indoor suppers and bridge evenings have been refitted, with a gay and carefree spirit, for gardens and lawns whenever possible. Leading the charge for such plein-air amusements is Mrs. Steven Harrington, who re-conceived her planned supper in benefit of the University Fund for the war wounded as an outdoor fête on the rose terrace of her estate. The linden trees–themselves in fragrant flowers–were hung with enchanting paper lanterns recently imported from the island nation of Japan. A small orchestra provided continuous music throughout the meal and dancing which followed. The effect was overall charming, that of “fairyland at dusk”, as designed and described by Mr. Harrington, who then repeated the comment several times for this reporter’s benefit. Refreshments included oysters, chicken in the French Style, green beans with mustard sauce, and a variety of aspics and ices.
[...] Mrs. Jason Carver reached new heights in her latest gown, a diaphanous concoction of layered silk in variegated shades of pinks and purples. In motion, the gown seemed to echo the movements of undersea creatures as the layers floated and sank in the light summer breeze. Mrs. Carver offset the garment with simple diamond drops and sweet peas in her hair. It must be noted that the gown’s daring asymmetrical hem at first raised several eyebrows. But Mr. Munson (who designed the garment and escorted Mrs. Carver that evening; her husband gone to Washington to receive further commendations for his naval service) told all naysayers that it was simply the latest style from Paris. Upon this assurance, several ladies could be seen asking Mr. Munson for his shop’s card which he gave freely. Despite his physical impairment Mr. Munson danced four dances with Mrs. Carver, including the final waltz, as is customary for ladies’ escorts.
THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR - AUGUST 1 1919
DIVORCE GRANTED TO MRS. JASON CARVER
Judge James Hopper signed yesterday an interlocutory decree of divorce yesterday in favor of Mrs. Jason Carver from her husband, Jason Carver, SPCO, noted naval hero and heir to an oil fortune of some size. Mrs. Carver cited neglect in her filings, grounds upon which Judge Hopper found sufficient evidence to grant the decree. Mrs. Carver’s divorce proceedings will be completed in the state of Nevada. The couple has no children.
THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE - FEBRUARY 16 1920
SALON HELD BY MRS. KITTY TSAO-CARTIER IN HONOR OF OFFENBACH
Mrs. Kitty Tsao-Cartier (recently Tsao-Bruenig, previously Tsao-Lockwood) opened the gracious sitting room of her home on Rue de la Pompe in the XVIe arrondissement for a literary salon to honor the return to Paris of the noted socialist author Jean-Georges Offenbach. Coffee, sandwiches, and a variety of mixed drinks were served. Among those in attendance were the author Lewis Sinclair, the painter Amandine De Laurier, musicians Stackhouse Porter and “Clips” Washington, and philanthropist Christine Cunningham accompanied by couturier Edward Munson. Miss Cunningham, recently of Indianapolis, left attendees thunderstruck by sporting a sleeveless shift dress cut above the knee decorated with beaded grass-green fringe. The dress made such an impression on Mssrs. Porter and Washington that they performed a spontaneous composition, later titled “Little Green Apple,” on the piano. Mr. Munson accompanied on guitar in the Jean ‘Django’ Reinhardt style which allowed for much lively amusement and dancing amongst the guests.
Mr. Munson fielded many subsequent requests for duplicate garments, including one from Mrs. Tsao-Cartier herself, but demurred on the basis that the dress was one-of-a-kind. His atelier may be found on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, with appointments available by referral only.