National Republican., 1874-07-03
COLORS FOR JULY.


Colors are most indiscriminately worn.
know not why this Is, unless 1t is owing to the
revival of positive colors and the abandonment
OF fade mongrel tints. It may be that blondes
having been so long in fashion stylish hues are
selected with reference to them alone, and bru-
nettes are compelled to adopt blonde shades or
else dress sioff color" II this be true, the fair
sisters are beaten at their own game, for It is
certain that the dark French blues, violet, the
natural and mastic grays, now in vogue, and
the perfect black dresses, glittering and glis-
tening In their jetty brightness, yet always
black, are Of all others the deep tones that re-
lieve dark flesh tints and show bTURsS at their
best. Indeed, nothing sooner offendS the An
dalusian beauty than the suggestion that pink
and red are her colors, for pink makes her as
yellow as saffron, and simple dark damask
rose in her breast gives her flushed and mot
tied complexion. The full rich Madonna blue
is really her complimentary color, and she de-
lights in cool, clear gray costumes, to which
character" is given by borders of violet or
deepest maroon. Her black dresses have for
stylish relief creamy lsces, q set of new Japan
gold, or perhaps q cluster of lemon-eolored
roses, and her morning dresses fwhite or dull
ecru are worn with sashes-stockings and lin
gerie Of plum color or sailor blue. As for
blondes, have not said that eolors are made
for themi Can they not wear everything from
the skyest blue down to the deepest crimson
roses that bring out their pale clearness and
form g background for their delicate huesl
HINTS.
In large city there are fashions In every
thing, even in the smallest details of dress, and
it is an acquaintance with such details that
makes up what is considered "good STYLE"
For instance, there is always some prevailing
way of lifting up half long dress skirts that are
worn in the street. A while ago, when step
ping over gutter, the skirt was elevated in a
very ugly way. Now that the skirt Is narrow
and all the fullness massed benin l, there Is an
easy and not ungraceful mode of catching 1t
far back on the right-hand side and folding the
back over to the front, making the figure al
most as straight up and down as a sheath.
Far better than this, however, is the Partisan
fashion, which will some day reign here, of
having all skirts worn in the streets short
enough to escape the ground. Speed the day
The prettiest scarf worn with black summer
suits and lace sacques is made of Valenciennes
lace. 1t is over yard long, and has a bow of
wide Valenciennes insertion in the middle, with
wide lace on each side of it. This is worn tied
closely around the throat, with hanging loops
and ends, and is intended for street use. The
black guipure and Spanish scarfs are still worn.
They are very long, and are fastened around
the neck by dagger or arrow of jet or shell,
or else by a flower cluster.
Silk aprons are offered in the furnishing
houses, but the query is, when shall they be
worn' as they are too fanciful for morning
wear with wrappers, and all other dresses are
trimmed 10 apron fashion. However, they are
made of pale blue or pink, or black twilled
silk, a single breadth, short, with square
corners, trimmed across the bottom with
pleated hounce of white muslin, edged with
Valenciennes. There are large pockets and
belt and string Of ribbon.
Very dressy sashes to wear with summer
dresses are of pale gros grain ribbon, two
inches wide, in stripes alternating with YaleD-
ciennes insertion. Black sasEes have black
guipure insertion between.
Large fans of silk, painted by hand, are
priced above those with lace transparencies
over silk. Something unique in design is
sought after in these paintings, such as groups
of tall storlis beside water, aquatic grasses,
serpents hanging from limbs of trees, and any
subject, no matter though it is disagreeable, is
preferred to the Vatican landscapes and
bouquets, with which fans were lately orna-
mented. Ebony, shell and ivory sticks are the
first choice. Plain fans for general use have
quaint japanese figures on gilt, black or brown
or scarlet paper, with sticks of lacquered
wood. The fan is attached to the side by
chatelaine, which may be a chain, ribbon or
cord. MISS KNICKERBoCkER.