The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-14
THE FREAKS OF FASHION,
CH4HGE OF STYLES.
Girl of the Period Fashions Fading
Away-Cheap Silks-Afternoon DRESSES
Varieties.

refined dressing, suitable for dignihed women
vet not too demure for the most youthful In
lien of costumes made up of colors in violent
contrast. we now have shades of one color
peryading the suit. The Grecian bend
.nsnnier. with its unsightly puff, has
given place to modest tournure and
graceful drapery; towering chignons Of
false hair are supplanted by natural oraids
that disclose the contour Of the head; plump,
healthy looking waists are preferred to wasp
ish ones; instead Of skirts ankle short for
promenading, we have more graceful ones just
clearing the ground, while voluminous trains
are discarded for the more sensible half-train
high, curved French heels are positively oatre,
and the jaunty jockey hat, with its defiant
aigrette, is gradually receding before the de.
mure-looking gypsy bonnet. The last men
toned change we regret somewhat; but we
congratulate our readers on the tasteful, SEN
sible and lao y-like ensemble that fashionably-
dressed woman now presents. There is scarce
" q target left at which critics can aim their
arrows Of malice.
CHEAP SILKS.
Stnce the beginning of the European war
prices of silk have been huctuating. At the
present moment many low.priced SILKS are IN
market, which were purchased in Europe just
at the breaking out OF the war. The most
Z, popular cheap silks are black, with hair-line
strfpes of single color. Blue. gold. green,
red. purple, brown and white stripes are
shown. These Silks especially those striped
with white, will make stylish and inexpensive
dresses. The fabric Is thin but not fiimsy: is
sides. measures half yard In width, and
costs from Is cents to 81 yard. Grisaille
silks-the black and white combination form
ing gray-are sold in small checks and in 'n1lte
rdieS for ST. A better black silk, with wider
colored stripe OF satin, Is 81 70 yard;
but satin stripes are Objectionable, as they are
not reversible Among the fancy silks are very
pretty pale tints of solid color for evening
dresses, sold for 81 IS or 50 o yard. These are
quite good enough Tor the foundations Of the
dresses which young ladies now wear, almost
covered with f1ounces and overdress OF some
white transparent goods. Some very stylish
dresses are made OF pale pink, blue or green
silk, founced up the front width and around
the train with white muslin or grenadine, q
white over.skirt nearly covering the train and
the corsage half concealed with Grecian folds
Most useIul of all, however, are the plain black
silks; for, above all other dresses, those OF
black silk are most appropriate for all times
and occasions. Black silks marked 81 80
q yard are shown. They are evidently oil
silk; the color Is good olue-olack WIN
some gloss, and the threads are even and
well defined. They measure twenty two
inches in width. These are Imported SILKS,
said to be from France, but are probaoly OF
Swiss origin; and only ft for house dresses, as
they have not body enough TO endure OUTDOOR o.
gloss is 50 yard. When selecting black silk,
Il should be remembered that denli, lustrous
silks are the choice at present. American
black silk. heavy enough to be called gros
grain, looks very much like poplin, though
rot so glossy. 1t Is said 10 wear well aud
wash. The price Is 81 yard heavier
grade of American silk, with better lnstre, ls
IS a yard are of beautiful quality. and good
enough to make elaborate suits, with velvet
and lace for trimming.
AFTERNOON DRESSES.
The striped silks just noted are being made
np into house dresses for afternoon wear.
From sixteen 10 twenty yards are required
for a plain demitran and postillion
basque; from twenty-five to thirty-hve yards
for short skirt, trained overskirt and postil-
lion. A single skirts all that Is necessary Tor
the house. For lady OF medium heignt The
train should be about fifty FIVE inches long,
rored in front and sides, full behind, about
four and half yards wide, and lined through
ont with cambria 1t Is good plan 10 dis
pense with stiff facing, in order that the dress
NAV be made suitable for the street BY draplng
over an under.skirt Of black SILK, or Oh SIN
the color Of the stripe. The edge OF the sklrt
NAV be scalloped and bound with black silk,
but II is not necessary 10 trim it, as many
oyerskirts are simply hemmed. 1t IS not
stylish to trim these dresses with colors; black
only is used on black. Ruffles OF the material,
frinped on The edges or hemmed. black fringe,
guipure lace, or velvet, are The prettlest Trim
mings. A succession of narrow gathered bias
founces, overlapping each other; Is used II IL
is desired to make the dress elaborate. The
nilsson bow worn liighin the chale ,aine, and
a necktle OF some bright color 10 match The
bow. with Roman gold jeweiry. light up the
dress sufficiently. The gay Mrphis,opheles
scarlet ties and bows are worn with dresses OF
almost every color and 6y all compleXlons
For those who prefer woollen dresses, empress
cloths of the dark fashionable shades are sold
for 80 cents yard, and even less. Twelve or
fourteen yards OF this goods makes pretty
dress, trimmed with bias velveteen bands OF
the same shade.
VARIETIES.
With nipsy bonnels and the Pompadour hats
that are turned down over the face and up IN
the back, the veil fashionably worn Is yard
of black dotted net, or OF plain larSe-meShed
Brusse.s hemmed all around, with string IN
one end, or else one ot the new steel springs, to
fasten il around the front of the hat. The
veil should not be very wide. as 1t must pass
smoothly over the face and hang without gath
ers. A yard OF real net costs 50. A thread
lace veil with narrow wrought border costs
from S. upwards. A thread edge an inch wide
surrounds many wells. A novelty, imported
from London. is an expensive waterproof
cloak. 1t is made oil thin ine rubber, very
light and of glussy blackness. covered
ali over with black ta1etas silk. The shape
Is q long, loose suck, with sleeves and hood,
and is large enough to enrelop the entire
figure like domino. Price $50. Lille girls
from three To seven years old wear warm,
close.eared bOnnetS Of velvet or Of quilted silk,
trimmed with quilted ribbon. and ostrich tips.
A face trimming oi white tue ruches or lace,
little curtain behind and strings 10 tie under
the chin. complete u head covering that is far
more comfortable than a hat for winter. We
hear double tunes, giving the effect Of three
skirts, predicted Tor W liking dresses. Two or
three such suits have been worn during the
winter. uuL have mol proved popular, as con-
trasling coiurS are not in favor, and the CO.'S
tune suggests the iliea OF Two suits combined
to form one -Harper'S BazGr.
Austria has agreed to IN England in recon-.