The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-04-03

spring sewing. LII seems father carry
to commence making dresses for the sea-
son, yet the warm Spring like days make
Winter clothing look heavy and we will
give our lady readers few hints for
Spring suits:
SPRING WALKING SUITS.
Charming street suits are made OF
beautiful shades of silver-gray, blue
gray, as well as fawn, moss, hedge-brown
and black These unobtrusive colors OF
dark shades are selected for the neat
dresses to be worn on the busy streets,
and are relied on to do service in sun
shine and in storm.
The skirts are round and short enough
to escape the pavement, and have one or
two side or box plated 1ounces at the
foot. In regard to the manner of max
ing the basque and over-skirt, there are
several popular patterns from which can
be selected style suitable to the wear
err. A deep basque, real or simulated,
is universal feature, and is an import
ant consideration, as late in the Spring
extra wraps will be cumbersome, and &C.
cordingly suits should be made to look as
jaunty and complete in themselves as
practicable with the materials Double
breasted basques are stylish and desira-
BILE for this purpose, but to ladies with
very full figures they are unbecoming.
Polonaises are not much used; COM
bination, however, OF the princesse dress
produces the same effect. A very pretty
pattern Ct this kind has princesse back,
with centre seam and side bodies the
centre seem is opened at the deep basque
line OF the present fashion, and an extra
breadth is aided, which makes full
skirt for ci,aplne. III front it has q
basque AMI oversight, the latter be-
ing made CT tuo breadth overlapping
each other diagonally from the knees to
the waist, but below are separated and
drawn back in curtain-f fashion, display
ing the deep plating OF the lower skirt
The basque is long, with simulated vest
several inches shorter; the n ,ck is cut
with deep V-shaped point, and is filled
in with wide frill Of lace, which ex-
tends around the throat.
ECONOMY IN MATERIAL.
In making this suit, and, indeed, near
ly all of the present styles, considerable
economy in the dress material is effected
by making the underskirt of silesia or
alpaca, with deep foot trimming of the
dress fabric; and on this foundation the
overskirt is draped and securely sewed.
The trimming on the bottom of the
lower skirt need not be it's full depth
around the entire skirt, as the back and
sides are frequently nearly covered by
the long overskirt. The mode of trim
ming the skirt is also governed to
great extent by the figure of the wcarer;
thus lady of small stature will
appear to better advantage if the
trimmings are perpendicularly arranged,
or equally we'll if striped
goods are used with plain materials and
this combination is very fashionable at
present. The combination of the two
materials will begin on the bottom
flounce, one plat of which will be of
plain goods, the next of striped, or the
entire flounce will be of plain fabric,
with inserted fans of the striped. For
tall ladies, the striped material is cut in
lengthwise STRIPES, and stitched on as
bordering, and vest, collars and cuffs,
are made of plain Or small figured goods
Indications are that the many-seamed
basques will be abandoned, as the latest
fashions represent basques made
with only the two side body
seams in the back; not even
the usual centre seam is used. Dress
makers say this is an improvement, as in
making light woolens and cloth it is
difficult to prevent the seams from fray
ing. 1t looks little strsnge, however,
at first, and has tendency to make the
waist appear large, but that is not con
sidered now as a
SMALL WAIST
Is no longer fashionable. The basque
for ordinary use is very long, and fits
smoothly over the hips, and is plainly
trimmed around the bottom with Dor
dering Or piping. The neck is cut and
trimmed in several charming ways,
which add much to the beauty of the
J.o.c The liam " ,banoA pacL with