Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-08-01
SUMNER FASHIONS ar ROME
AND ABROAD,
a Stride Towards Common Sense an
w eSiding Outfits tu Paris Ac-
cessOries 10 Elegant Totletse~-
Promises OF New aud Benuttrul
Designs I'm Dress Fabrics as the
Paris Summer Busters
Dress Plating. &c. Ae.
From Cur Otcn Correspondent.

stride in more senses than one when they
consented TO hide little feet and big feet in
Discriminatory in big ugly brogans OF boots
and there is no doubt that ii was a larger
step towards real emancipation than wa
obtained by the celebrated declaration OF an
Independence and equality, which are for.
elgh TO the very nature OF things and never
cali exist, though all the paper I'm the world
WAS employed TO assert them, and here f.
more sturdy Independence about a pair o.
great ugly boots than in a cart load of docu
ments. English girls and women are e:er-
nally Tidlculed by American women abroad
for their big feet and ugly shoes. but tnink
II is more question OF size OF shoes than o
feet. Our gitls have small enough feet, but
they choose their shoes, as they do thei
gloves, a size too small, and step, for they
break down Ia walk, as If cramped. An
English gIrl on the contrary is perfectly
oblivIous OF her feet. They do not look 30
dainty II must be confessed on the PRONE
mace as those of all American girls, but then
she evidently does not take them GU, for eN-
LibitiOn on the street she takes them out for
use. And uncovered, / have a suspicion
that they would be whittier, softer and
smoother than those of most American girls,
who are nearly always disfigured by corns'
bunions, or overgrown joints.
Shall we ever dare, wonder, 10 wear USE
iul shoes Ike men, without any reference TO
their looks? ! think / should be better
pleased 10 see them having that, universal
ly, and a. a matter OF course, than polling a
vote. Tor In IL would lie more of future
iltdilus nhIliiits>, anu Delp them. ~ d
mat want women to cease TO be beautiful,
out ones ideas change about beauty. Take
men on The average, aud they are hand
suiner as men Than women are as women.
They nave cost nothing by throwing aside
gew gaws, and light boots. bat they have
gained much. The other day I saw the pic
lures OF a man and woman taken twenty
I'VE years apart, at the time they were mar
rled, and on their silver wedding day In
the first the girl had decidedly The best of H.
Her lace was sweet, Intelligent, and honest;
in twenty-five years. HIS, noble, much
handsomer than when he was young, full of
The evidences OF growth, and opportunity:
hers; weak, faded, wanting outline, color,
vitality, nothing apparently behind IL, evil
IDENTIFY '.card-for" woman, whose life had
spent itself IN little efforts 10 do, and be ex-
actly like her neighbors: Useful boots,
when she was young, would have given her
exercise, strength, freedom, and changed the
Whole character of her physiognomy, be-
sides impsrting better life TO her children.
girls get the nonsense taken out OF them
when they go abroad for purpose, 10 work
and study for example; with only a littIe
money, and great desire TO make the most
of their chances. In the British Museum i'm
London, or Palace OF the Luxembourg In
Paris. they may be seen industriously COPY
ing, IN short dark skirts. blouse belted In
round the waist, dark felt hat, and hair cut
short, no gloves, and shoes of a kind that will
permit them To walk, or stand, on the hard
bare stone floors.
American girls at home are also begin
ming t. learn that there is something in the
world hes ldes dress. One, a school teacher,
wrote a letter recently asking for A design
by which she could make up dresses which
would not look eccentric, but which would
be useful, convenient, and available for two
or three years, or until the clothes were worn
out. She said sne was determined TO dress
here after without reference 10 fashion: make
her garments when IL was couvenient-tbat
is. during The months of vacation-and her
dress es so they would be good for two wears al
4. 81 VI rriv,
but better materials than she had been ac-
customed 10 use, SO that color and texture
would remain firm. She said she was quite
determined to do this, and see If she Could
not rid her mind OF clothes; and a yolng
maj ried friend had, with the consent OF her
nus band, agreed 10 keep her in countenance
bit OF true heroism which o girl is working
out tpi herself, and, as She believes, by her
self, In q western village, where, by
do it Than In a great city where few
know or care for you. She does not
know that not only the more sensible
army OF professional women do the same
thing, but the highest danes OF France
France, that supplies the world with ideas
In fashion. If one will stop TO think for
moment, IL will be seen that the dress of a
grande dame is as restricted in one way as
the dress OF q working girl In another. Toe
skirt must be long, the sleeves and neck
lace and jewels, because these are her per
manent means Of adornment,-they are not
bought every day, or every week, or every
or twice in a lifetime; and her dress must
subordinate itself TO them. People Who only
buy cheap ornaments change them often;
but real lace, and real gold, and real gems
are for generation, and perhaps more than
one. They are evidences of past claims 10
social position.
A FRENCH BRIDE.
AT the railway station of q village few
miles out OF Paris saw, a few weeks ago, q
French bride accompanied by her husband
ard long procession OF friends-they were
evideIt thy well-to do people, belonging TO the
GCTgeoiae class. They had come ont by train
TO celebrate the event by a little excursion
into the country. According to custom, the
bride dressed in white satin shoes. bur no
covering on her head or shoulders. the Other
ladies' OF the parties, Ia grey, black or
lavender silk, made with demi-trains and
bdsques, but PERFECTLY plain skirts, evidently
lar - eat, most OF them, years before, and
kept strictly for occasions of ceremony. One
rememb Der was a lavender MORE antique, OF
da'e, at least fifteen or twenty years ago,
gcha, and all the party wore white kid gloves
al q very handsome hats and bonnets. A
BRIDE OF such rank never buys her welding
dress, (which is always the traditional white
silk or satin and orangc blossoms.) she
res. II for the day, having no use for II
afterwards, aud there is q French super
stition against the bride keeping her we'd
ding dress ard saving IL away; IL is con-
sidered unlucky. Yet II must not be sup
posed that the Sc people are very poor, and
could not afford 10 buy a dress. The bride OF
whom have spoken brought her husband
dot OF ten thousand francs, and was going
straight TO housekeeping I'm q well-furnished
e age, above her husbands shop In fact,
they are often in possession OF five times as
much real wealth as we who get up grand
display weddings, and pay five hundred dol
lars for breakfast or supper from a restdu-
Tdtuer.
SUMNER FASHIONS AT HOME.
But there are fashions, and fashions, fash
ions for those who work, fashions for those
who make work Of play, and tits these latter
that shall now proceed TO describe. And
nrst IL may be remarked that the summer
toilettes prepared for the watering places are
much more varied, and delicate In color than
formerly. Black grenadine and summer silk
are less universal as "Standlys," and light
combinations Of lawn in two colors, thin
batiste with plain fenlard, and cambrics
with embroidery, more common. bunting
is also very much used, with wide white
braid trimming, and for sup country wear
flannel both blue and white, with slight al
mixture OF red in the trimming. There is
nothing SO pretty, however, as the dresses o
me white batiste, made with a long polon
aise, and trimmed with delicate plaitings
and Vallencienres or Belgian lace. the
charm OF them is In their clingi ng grace and
the novelty OF the bows In two colors and