The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-03-23
.rhe american Costume, ,,

MR. Harriet n. Ap3tln, NJ. D.,. editor OF
the "Ldt0s Of Life" reform journal pub
Iished at DanviIle, n. Y, gives the follow
ing description of the "American costume"
for ladies, which she herself wears, and
which she desires others of her sex to adopt
to keep her company; ~."
The best under garments, for Winter par
licularly, are waist, with long close sleeves,
and drawers buttoning to the waist. These
may be of jean, cotton, flannel, or other
warm material, and if this is not sufficient,
wooden flannel garments, corresponding to
the inner ones, may be worn over them
Ladies of the feebIest vitality can dress
comfortably in this costume. Some wear
over their inner drawers, another pair wad-
ded. The drawers may he bottoped or tied
to the pants at the top, instead of buttoning
TO the waist. OF course, each person will
arrange all such matters according to her
own Judgment.
My pantaloons are all cut, al the bottom,
like geutlemen's. like them better than
straight ones; and tbuse which some ladies'
have worn, full and gathered at the bottom
are unmenlionable.@ My pattern was cut
by tailor, his wife taking the measure.
Where this is not practicable, skilful per-
son may cut a pattern from pair of gentle
mems pants. | always wear elastic suspen-
ders. | found that if suspended my pants
by shoulder straps, or by buttOuing to my
waist, my buttons were apt to give way.
do not find under skirts necessary for
warmth, for the same amount of clothing
which need on the lower part of the limbs,
il sufficient about the hips. Bat do not
like to see the dress hang straight down
from the waist, hence wear under skirts
for " the looks For summer | make them
as light as possible, with one or more small
hoops ia caulbric at the top. and the lower
part moreen. One skirt Of this kind is SUI
6cient, except the dress is very thin, when
1t may be needful to wear light one over
the hoops. In winter | wear very light
quilted skirts outside the hoops. Skirts al
ways buttoned to the waist, / dislike, and
find that others dislike very much, to see
anderskirts OF different color from the
dress; hence have them of various colors
to match different dresses, and never put on
white one except under very light color
ed dress, and never wear them so long that
they can hang below the dress
The dress skirt is quite full perhaps ono
breadth narrow than the long skirt, and
reaches Just about one inch below the point
where the knee bends. IL oftener than
otherwise has an outer skirt, a little more
than half the length Of the first, and usually
both have some sort of trimming about the
lower edge-peFhaps several rows of velvet
ribbon, graduated in width, or galioon, or rio
bon, or anything to correspond TO the general
trimming L is well TO put lining in any
skirt except it be calico or muslin. Tie
waist is also sufficiently loose 10 allow per-
feet respiration, and it and the sleeves adj
nit Of as great variation in style as the
common style of dress. For Emo figure
perhaps nothing is prettier than q simple
pain waist, though velvet basque W TIA a
nice silk skirt is Very handsome. For such
waist, the sleeves 10 my taste. is j,s like
genGeman's coat sleeves, with e close
Gndersleeve- Ny sleeves are of tins style,
or cut full, and made close 1T the rist, or
somsumes, for warm weather, moderately