Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-14
Masquerade Costumes.
rom Harper's Bazaar,


The Japanese Dress.-The Partisan
fancy that has reached us is for the
Japanese costume, and this is readily
accepted this winter, when there is q
mania for Japanese ornaments, porce-
lain, etc. Fashionable costumers have
already provided themselves with some
of the deliberately embroidered suits
displayed by the Japanese at the Cen
tennial Exhibition, while other cos
tunes noted, though retaining their
characteristic features, have evidently
been manipulated by French modistes
A very handsome japanese dress for
lady has a skirt of pale green China
Grape, embroidered In bright colors to
represent flowers, bees, and birds; this
skirt is very narrow, clings closely to
the figure, reaches to the ankles, and is
draped shortest behind. A chemise
Russo or blouse waist of the same COW
ers the body, Over this is corselet OF
violet velvet, with revers of pink en-
broidered satin on each side of the
open front, which is held together by
violet bands across the bust. The front
has long basques, and the back is quite
short. The sleeves of Grape are very
long, falling almost to the knees, and
after being opened for the arm to pass
brought, are caught together twice to
show wide pink rivers. The belt is of
golden cords. The back hair is ar
ranged in cushions and in high
ndtfs on top of the head, and
seven gold pins with large knobs for
heads are stuck in the puffs. A Japan.
csc fan and a mirror are carried in the
hand. Slippers, pointed at the toes,
bear pink rosettes. As it is difficult
matter to obtain such costumes as
these, ladies consult the colored photo
graphs and prints of Japanese women
that are now to be found in most print
shops, and make their own dresses of
inexpensive materials. Japanese
screens also furnish excellent designs
for costumes, and very good models
are shown on the square bits of creped
stuff that are sold in the native stores
for ten or fifteen cents each. The most
customary dress for Japanese lady
is long robe reaching from throat to
ankle, and with waist and skirt cut In
one. Any bright brocaded stuff, such
as cream-colored wool, will answer for
this: and if the colors are laid on in
bright shades, so much the better.
This is made straight, scarcely wider
than a night-dress, is cut surplice at
the neck, Tapped at the neck, and has
q broad collar that forms also revers
to the waist. The sleeves are the wide,
flowing, Oriental shape, short on top,
pointed long at the back, and showing
an under-sleeve beneath. A sash of
very wide, soft ribbon is tied loosely
around the waist, and the bow and
ends hang on the side. Contrasts of
color are sought in such dress. Thus
with yellow brocade, the broad col
lar is rose. collar is rose color, the under
sleeves dark cardinal, and the sash
bright blue. Another suit has
the dress of dark navy
blue wool, with cream-colos ed
collar and sleeves, while the border and
embroidery are of cardinal color. For
a masquerade this embroidery may be
simulated by cardinal-colored flowers,
or else the Greek squares or key pat
tern-whioh the japanese claim was
theirs before the Greeks used it-cut
out of muslin and applied. The stock
ings are of cream, blue, or scarlet silk,
and the shoes are strapped on thick
wooden soles. The jewels are bright
colored stones or glass strnng as neck
lace, long slender earrings, and the
long gold hair-pins. The fan must not
be forgotten. The principal Japanese
garment for gentlemen is long over
dress with flowing sleeves. Costumers
provide this in dark blue Grape wrought
with gold and bright colors, and charge
$25 All evening for the use of the suit
Hugsenot DR. IS, Ec.-The Huguenot
dress, with clins ing velvet skirt, close
sleeves with slashed puff's at top, ard
high ruff, modelled after that worn by
Christine Nilsson in the opera. is in