Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-15
Fashion Letter from New York.

NEW York, Sept. Sd, 1880.
To the Editor of the Kennebec Journal;
OF all articles of apparel that in which la
dies usually manifest the liveliest interest is
the bonnet. Owing to a desire to combine
the fantastic with the pleasing, they are this
season imported in great variety, and one is
quite bewildered by what the French would
call an embarrassment of riches However,
our milliners have prophetic eye, and will
soon resolve this diversity into a compare
lively few leading and acceptable styles.
The principal new material in millinery
goods is plush of different kinds and all COL
ors, plain and mixed. This is used both for
making and trimming, together with satin.
velvet and a fine twilled silk with high
lustre, called "satin merveilleux." Untrim-
med bonnets and hats come mostly in felts.
both smooth and furry, and in beaver with
long woolly nap, which is very appropriate
for winter wear. In fact, the endeavor seems
to be. to produce soft, warm, bright effect ::
the cause of this Is supposed to be the unus-
ual severity of cold last winter in Paris which
suggested the manufacture of goods paricu-
larry suited to the season. Feathers are
heavier than usual, and more often shaded or
mixed than plain. Feather trimmings and
fancy feathers will be in great demand. The
| shapes are various. from the close-fitting
and cottage styles, to large bonnets with
brims more or less inclining to a poke, and
| either standing or indented, a la Marie Stuart.
The larger ones have the preference, and it
is to be hoped the fashion will obtain here,
especially with ladies who are no longer
young.
| For Fall wear. we see wide bright ribbons
plain. plaided. or striped across: also more
quiet ones in Persian designs, and in new
shades of all colors, noticeably in the purple
called ''heliotrope." which deserves to be
popular Flowers come in velvet and satin,
with plush and chenille intermixed. Pom
| pons of silk on feathers are desirable Gilt
ornaments and trimmings are still used. and
| bugs of different species are plentiful if not
lively. Many embroidered and beaded
crown pieces, sometimes with cord or gimp
to match for the edge of the bonnet, are
shown. Goods in jet are very fine, and
graceful in design. and will be much worn
as change from the reds and yellows
which predominant. Hardly any face trim
ming is seen. but all bonnets have broad
strings. either of ribbon, or the material of
which the bonnet is made or trimmed. De-
scriptions in detail will be more serviceable
| in the season when changes in costume be-
come necessary.
Embroidered pieces of cashmere, five
yards in length, and about ive-eighths wide,
come for the drapery and trimming of plain
silk dresses. The embroidery is either the
same shade rs the cashmere, or in different
shades of the same color; sometimes the de-
sign is wrought in contrasting colors. This
can be arranged as one pleases, enough of
the narrow pattern at the top being taken off
for corsage and sleeves. The prices of these
pieces is from fifteen to twenty-five dollars,
according to quality of material, width of
embroidery. and whether the lower edge is
finished with fringe. Sleeves loose from the
elbow. and short from the upper part of the
arm, with facing or trimming turned back,
will be made for handsome house dresses.
Flannel suits have double OF triple collars.
cuffs and pockets. each piped with red or
yellow, and finished with rows of stitching
the color of the flannel or piping. A basque
front is made to correspond.
Small figured and bright colored novelties
are combined with plain goods, in pretty
suits for little girls. These are arranged in
somewhat the same way as for older people,
or blouse-waisted dress has a collar, cuffs.
and pocket for the right side, of plain mate
rial falling over the larger one of novelty.
A sash of the fancy goods finished with tas-