The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-04-06
THE FASHIONS.
Materials and Hints for Moderate Purses.

culine refrain to the masculine song of
the grumblers, who, when other topics
fail, fall back with unerring persistenoy
TO the subject of woman and her extrav-
agances. And yet there turks in the
heart of every woman an innate propen-
sity for economy. Yet the past few
years have sadly tried women's souls,
when prices were 80 exorbitant that the
usual allowance was scarcely sufficient
to keep one in gloves. Husbands and
fathers, therefore, rebelled without in
quiring into the cause. But with long
cloth at 90 and 70 cents per yard silks,
IS or So and $S, gloves and boots in pro-
portion, what were women to do? To
be dowdy and wear shabby and faded
dnery! Hence, common sense came to
the rescue, and, with the aid of sewing
machine and good patterns, wives and
daughters, instead of insisting upon
their rights, getting up a "strike," or
going into the sulks, as the average al
lowance of 5000 year could not be
made available, made up their minds, by
industry and economy, to make $500 do.
Now that prices have again fallen,
good goods are within the reach even of
the poor, and real bargains may be had.
The windows and doorways TEEN with
the bright plaids, and dainty chintz pat
terms, and cool lawns, and pretty silks
and gorgeous ribbons, all ticketed 80
cheap that the very tickets catch the
general air of hilarity, and look quite
knowing as they very nearly ask one to
please come and buy me, I'm so cheap !"
1t is, therefore, quite possible for women
n t-1o nj - IL
upon from 5000 to 5000 year. A shop
ping expedition upon limited means is,
OF course, an excessively trying ordeal
but each fair shopper can, if she so wills
it, make herself mistress of the situation.
Prepare list of absolute wants first,
and afterward with the residue purchase
whatever luxuries are needed. Howev-
er dazzled and tempted, never buy
snowy poor article, if cheap. If but one
silk and one woolen dress can be afford
ed, let them be of the best material, solid
colors, black or mode and it is always
good plan to purchase extra yards for
alterations. As good gloves now range
from 81 to $3.50 pair, for those limited
in means high colors should be avoided.
Black, stitched with white, and any of
the family of browns and grays, are safe
to invest in, because solid colors CORES
pond with every style of street dress,
whereas nothing detracts from quiet ell
egance of style SO much as a shabby
glove or tawdriness arising from gay
glove and a totally dissimilar costume.
The great fault of American women is a
want of tact in dress. How much more
appropriate than the dainty silks, the
velvet cloaks and fingers blazing with
diamonds, would be in the early part of
the day one of the inexpensive costumes
called business SUITS" so much in vogue
this winter among really sensible peo-
PIE, made of handsome serge, or English
dark green or blue waterproof the
hands incased in corresponding dark
gloves, the silks and velvets being re-
served for the promenade or visiting.
This is the great secret of economy in
dress. An appropriateness of certain ar
ticles for certain occasions. One is al
ways sure then to appear fresh, dainty
and lady-like.
Among the low-priced goods now ex-
hibited are good silks. Black silk, al
ways the most useful as we'll as appro-
pirate of dresses, is marked as low as
$l.50 q yard, all silk and quite glossy,
22 inches wide, and makes excellent
home dresses, or for quiet social visiting.
much better silk is 50 yard, fine,
close, and really excellent. The best
silks are not at all lustrous. Good
American black silks are warranted to
wear we'll, turn, wash, and look finally
as good as new, at 81 yard. What bet
ter recommendation? The very finest
Lyons silks for handsome trained dresses
or street costumes are $3.50 and S3
yard. The low price of these silks arises
from the fact that they were purchased
before the commencement of the Euro
pean war.
Among the colored silks, the most
popular and also inexpensive are in
small checks and tiny stripes, to be made
up into spring and summer costumes.
These can be had for 10 cents, 81, and
$l.25 yard. They are pure silk, and
possess the good quality of being alike
on both sides. 1t may be remarked, in
passing, that if one has little money
laid by for luxury, it is well to invest
it in thread lace for trimming. Chantilly
and Guipure lace are always elegant
accessories to the toilette, will last for
years, and can be changed from dress to
summer cosaque or winter polonaise at
pleasure. Imitation laces are an abomi-
nation. A striped silk at 10 cents OF 81
y yard makes an extremely pretty and
inexpensive dress for social visiting and
evening wear at home. From l6 to IS
yards will make a plain skirt, slightly
trained, and basque-as plain round
waists are entirely obsolete-and can be
made doubly serviceable by being
draped for the street over black silk
skirt. If trimming is desired, velvet or
ruffles of the same will answer; fringe
and lace also, but these are more expen-
sive.
Cool lawns and linens and calicoes
suggestive of June roses, show their
pretty faces here and there, at marvel
ously low prices. Excellent English
prints, fast colors in delicate narrow
stripes, or tiny figures in lavender, buff
or pale green, are offered at 27 cents a
yard. Others again, thought finer, for
80 cents; the grounds of these new goods
are colored olive green, cool neutral tints,
lavender and rich purple, with a grace
full vine wandering through the surface,
or watered figures. There are also white
ground calicoes ranging from s to l2
cents yard, with cambria figures, fast
colors. Excellent lawns are offered for
20 cents and 80 cents. Gray and buff
linen will be equally popular as last
year, and are much lower priced. 1t is
that ruffies will take the place