Morris tribune., 1880-09-09
FOR THE FAIR SEX:
CheNp Dresses.


The problem is not to dress upon moth
ing; but given small allowance, how to
utilize IT to the best advantage. Thus,
that girl has but ten dollars
to spend upon her summer outfit, her
wisest plan would not De to buy five
dresses and hat as she does in one of our
exchanges, but to get smaller number
and have them better. Let US see then
what she may do with her funds in hand,
doing her own dressmaking, as a matter
of course.
There are very few women who are so
improvldent as to have nothing left over
from season to season. A practical econ
omlst buys every dress with view to its
appearance afterwards in new form, and
1t is unwise for any but wealthy woman
to purchase an expensive dress which
cannot be made over. And IN this sense
the word expensive must be taken COM
paratively. For our girl it would mean
summer silk, cashmere or French
bunting. One Of these, then, she has on
hand from last year, and this is to be
made as good as new. The dress must
be ripped and pressed, and If the bunt-
sponged with water to which hartshorn
has been added in the proportion of
a teaspoonful of ammonia to quart of
water. The best of the goods must be
kept for the body and the front of the
skirt unless the old body is not too much
worn TO serve the purpose again, which
will be great point in her favor. Clev-
er contriving will hide spots and thin
places, and put the worst spots where
they will show least. Stirring covers
multitude of faults, and narrow plaitlngs
may be pieced again and again. If the
old skirt lining will do, she should use
it by all means, as every cent counts.
Three yards of satin at eighty cents
yard will trim the dress with pipings,
revers, color and cuffs, put band four
inches wide on one side and make a
wide belt. Three yards of ribbon to
match at twenty cents yard, will furnish
bow for the belt and two for the side
opposite the satin band, Jet buttons at
twenty-five cents dozen will suffice, or
plain chrochet buttons at forty cents may
be beaded at home with five cents worth
of beads. Sewing silk, button hole twist,
skirt braid and yard of wlggin to line
the satin will be needed and will cost
sixty eight cents, viz. two quarter ounce
spools of silk, forty cents; one ounce of
black cotton, five cents making $4.13 as
the cost of our young lady's best dress.
There is Juror this season for ging-
hams, and neat American makes may be
had for twelve and one-half cents q yard.
There are two qualities at this price
one thick and heavy for hard wear; the
other, the zepher bingham, which is of
lighter weight and much more dressy in
appearance-this is what she must buy.
Twelve yards will be 81 so; dozen plain
smoked pearl buttons, ten cents. and If
teen yards of white Hamburg edging, for
trimming, at two cents a yard, brings
the cost to 81 80, and two spools of cot
ton, for sewing, rounds out the Sc. This
may be made with the baby waist. e.,
with yoke and plaits-if the wearer is
slender, or coat basque, if stout, and
the trimmings are to be ruffies edged
with Hamburg, which is very narrow
merely a tiny scallop and eyelet. bat
which looks very well Or, if she prefers
lawn to gingham, that may be had at
the same price, and trimmed with Ital-
ian lace at fifteen cents the price, of two
yards.
Three dollars must buy another dress
and in this she has quite wide choice
Victoria lawn. at twenty cents, trimmed
with tucked ruffles of the same, futed, is
very pretty. Dotted Swiss, made with
ruffles also, is much more dressy and il
costs five cents more yard, but since
white muslin can be worn always in the
evening, this last will be probably hel
wisest choice. Her hat may be Fayal
lined and trimed with white muslin, ano
a twenty five cent boquet, a rough straw
at thlrty-three cents, with band and &
large bow of satin ribbon, OF an embroi
dered reed hat, at twenty-five cents, witt
the brim faced with bright foulard anG
a bright scarf of the same twisted around
the crown, either of which will come
within the compass of the eighty sever
cents left from her dresses.
Very pretty and indeed handsome over
dresses for wear with satin or velvet
| skirts, are made of the cream tinted lin.
en- canvas which comes for curtains. This
is woven in small, square meshes o.
twisted thread, is forty eight inches
wide, and sells for twenty. five cents 8
yard. Five yards are enough for full
Overdress and creamy Languedoc lace al
So for piece of ten yards is the trim
ming. An embroidered vine done ir
crewels or silk adds much to the beauty
of the garment, which, indeed, is hand
some enough for wear In fashionable
ballroom. Cream-tinted buntings anG
bareges are other inexpensive over
dresses for wear with such underskirts
As fashions go this summer SO they will
probably be this winter. A black vel
vet skirt is among the most useful gar
ments which a lady can possess, since i
may be worn the year round, and is styl
ish with almost any overdress. TIL,
velvet used for the handsomest skirts
costs five dollars yard, but very goot
quality may be had for $3.50. Sucl
velvets are all silk. Trimming velvet
siik-faced and cotton backed, is the mex
choice, while ladies who must consult
first cost rather than true economy Blu!
velveteen at $3.50. Walking skirts ar
very narrow, two yards and quarte
being the average width, while ladie
who are below medium height, wea
them even narrower. The quantity o
velvet required depends upon the STYLE
of overdress. A surtout with open
seams calls for an all-vclvet skirt, Will
long, round overskirt, araped by shir
ring, may be worn with skirt merel,
faced to the knee. Such underskirts ar
frequently made plain, but favorit
| trimming for them Is box-plaiting tw,
inches wide, set in, not on the skirt, a
the lower edge. Satin skirts are ais
much worn, and are trimmed in tn,
same manner. Corduroy skirts are fo
wear only in cool weather.
Thin, loosely woven fannels, flannel
, finished beiges, as they are called, max
cheap and useful suits for seaside an
mountain wear. Such one may
, made with q short, round skirt, with
SIX inch box plating at the foot and tw
scantilv box plated rufiies halt as vie
above it on the front baeadths. The bod
dice il q round waist in front, with
; wide belt, and has coat basque at th
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