The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-22
Fashion Chat.


from the various summer resorts there
will be very few changes in the modes
By that time we have reason to antici-
| pate some important innovations in the
style of women's dress; for there are al
ready premonitory indications from the
: centers of European fashion that they
are TO be relieved from bustles, heavily
lined skirts, and the mountainous loads
, of trimmings that have so long encum-
bered their movements and dragged Out
their very lives to carry. In their place,
we are told, are to be instituted single,
undecOrated skirts, gored almost TO de-
fine the figure, at the top. These are ia
be attached to a short, round waist, with
which will be worn a sash.
This is a change that women OF robust
figures ought to welcome on the score oi
looks, if nothing else, for il will greatly
enhance the attractiveness of their per-
sonal appearance, while slender ones
ought to lind their compensation for
any dimunition in this direction, in the
benefit which will accrue to them in in
creased bodily vigor, on being relieved
rom such weight Of superfiuous cloth
ing.
Already coming events cast their
shadows before, for here and there /
tourist, or one of our own leaders OF
fashion, who has narrowed the circum-
ference Of her crinOline all that the still
prevailing double skirts and elaborate
garnlture will permit. II / owned a
hat, / should feel like indulging in the
masculine freak of tossing il uD i'm the
air, and shouting ''gloryw in order to
testify my delight at woman's being
some day delivered from the bondage
that has so long prohibited any sort OF
comfort either in sitting or walking.
country correspondents inquire if
long dresses are still fashionably worn
on the street. In reply, can say they
are, and are not; for it is a matter on
which ladies are at liberty to exercise
individual taste. The majority permit
them TO train an inch or so. Long
trains on the pavement are not likely
to meet with favor among the mass of
women, if for no other reason than the
one that it affords women Of the debai-
monde an opportunity to make a con-
spicuous display of themselves.
Redingotes, made of all sorts of fab
rics, are exceedingly popular. They are
generally worn with a black silk, al
paca, or some dark-cOlored skirt. In
thick stuffs, dust-gray camePs hair and
de 6ege and leaden-gray pongees are
pre-eminent. These have lapel and
collar, pockets, belt, oftentimes
reUers on the front of the skirt, of black
tatfeta, or else watered silk. There NAV
almost be said TO be a future for dresses
OF this sort, and for mixture of black
and the various grays of all sorts.
Black greDadine trimmed with black
satin still holds its former prestige as
the dress of cool summer days.
White will still be much worn,
though not, / think, unless the heat
should prove excessive, quite as much
as Tor two seasons past. The preference
VIII be given to the softer materials,
ana Then only the upper garments will
be white.
About the coolest and most suitable
summer dress for picnics and the sea-
bea6h, is an Overskirt and walking
jacket of white linen. The edge of the
skirt is bOrdered with a seant side
pleating, and the jacket is merely faced,
with buttons covered with the material.
Battiste is made up in the redingote
form and without skirt to match. A
bun one was shown me, trimmed with
Drown chlntZ collar and pockets, and
plped on the edge with round cord of the
same, and large button moulds covered
with similar material.
Light gray striped summer silks are
fashionably mingled with black silk,
and the dark gray and black stripes with
leaden-gray silk.
Black lace scarfs crossed on the bosom
ana looped or fastened with a velvet
bow, will be worn over summer dresses.
The most noticeable feature of summer
toilet are the Normandy caps" Lit
tie girls-those that are mere babes
wear light-colored silk ones, covered
with white muslin. Misses and young
ladies vary from simple white muslin
ones, decorated with bows and streamers
OF black velvet ribbon, to those of pink
and blue silk, garnished with the lowell
est trailing sprays of roses, buds and
leaves. Older ladies initiate them i'm
black lace.
The low Oxford tie will be very pop
ular for indoor wear with both sexes and
all ages.-BdIdnce.