The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-04-28
THE FASHIONS.
House Dress.
April, 1880.


There are so many lovely materials nova
days out of which to make house dress
pretty and attractive that women who live
in their own homes and have time to cult
vate the household graces are in fault if they
do not take advantage of them. short.
inconspicuous street and walking dress is a
necessity, as well as convenience, and bust
ness and professional women, of which there
are now great many, are compelled to put
such dress on in the merning and keep it
on all day, because they are compelled to be
out of doors, or in a shop or an office. But
women at home are not bound by this neces-
sity, and will find that it really adds to the
cheerfulness of the family to put lightness
and brightness and color into home dress.
A great deal of red enters into the compost
tion Of the toilets of many ladies at the
present time especially those who have trav-
eled much, and gotten over the monastic idea
of black, and brown, and gray, in which our
American women love to shelter themselves.
A few examples taken at random from
a recent little evening at home will show
what is meant. The quietest of the dresses
in question was Russian gray, or what is
more .ru V called ''steel blue" silk, sof.
and rich, worn by well known literary
lady The train was plain, but full, and
gracefully draped; the front shirred, and
crossed by broad fold of red satin, which
mingled with the drapery. A narrow, roll
ing collar was lined with red satin, and red
satin reappeared upon the cuffs, and in the
heavy cords used as as a girdle for the waist,
and the ends of which assisted to ornament
the right of the skirt. Another toilet con-
sisted of red brocade trimmed with satin and
gold lace, which formed fraise around the
ohox yl-cho a. fho IL
being to the elbow, and striped by gold lace
and red satin, with gold lace ruffles A
third dress was of pure cream white barege
made with masses of fine plaitings, supple
mented by others of Breton lace. An i'm
mense bunch of red Provence roses clustered
in the heart of this pretty toilet. A striking
costume was composed of white silk skirt,
pulled and trimmed with narrow rufies at the
back, and a ruffled tablier, from which long
coat ofcrimson satin was cut away, the Ia
extending down upon the skirt, and showinc
rich buttons of carved pearl. A full jabO,
of white lace was worn at the throat. These
instances might be multiplied ad infnitum,
but it is not necessary. They are only given
to show in what variety of ways high
color is used to brighten and enliven dress.
OF course for summer wear, for house wear,
in small communities, or in the midst of
household responsibilities, costly silks and
satins are not required; would, indeed, be
greatly out of place; but the pretty new cot
tons, the Madras ginghams, the linen lawns,
the lowered satines, the delicate muslins and
barege can be utilized for house wear, very
inexpensively if dressmaking is done at
home, and may be enlivened by cluster of
ribbon loops, or a striking bit of contrast in
the color of the trimming with excel
lent results. To be successful, the treat
ment must be judicious. Soft tints are
best heightened BY dash of vivid color, but
if there is much rosy color in the flower pat
tern it should be toned down with dark
shade, or white Lace or embroidery. Madras
ginghams are made very pretty with mere
edgings of embroidery and knots of ribbon.
The lichen green ginghams, checked with
lines of gold, black and red. are very pretty,
relieved with a cluster of red satin loops 10
one side of the overskirt, which can be re-
moved when the dress is washed.
sJOsEPHINE sHAwLs"
The mantle shawls, made single and with
a border, designed separately from the center
though incorporated with it, and with a
fringe and long cape-like ends at the front,
while the back is rounded, are simply the
small shawl, similar 10 those made by order
of the Empress Josephine, the grand dame
whose shawls were said 70 be numberless.
The ladies' in waiting wore these convenient,
graceful and light msntle-like affairs in the
morning with their simpler toilets, and, as