Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-10

With lace or bordered with lace jabot Of lace
finishing the neck and extending down the
front.
There is a straw lace or netted scarf of straw
with fringe, which are placed over satin and
are very effective. They are very finely made
and are not cheaD, consequently only used Tor
rich bonnets of Tuscan or Leghorn, but upon
these--the wide scarf which they cover being
rich in color and gathered with the straw net
ting where it is fastened with very hand
some and finely wrought gold clasp the only
additional ornament-the erect IS very good
A fashionable costume for the Spas is Of
shepherds check, trimmed with black velvet
and worn with coarse straw bonnet, faced
with black velvet and trimmed with a SOFT
twisted silk scarf in larger cheek. The dress
usually has a straight cape to match. A quaint
idea is the pilgrim hood and cape, with mood
made of fine WOOL lined with satin and usually
in dark colors though the lining may be red or
wine color, or old blue or gold as preferred,
II not of the same color as the outside. The
OUTFITS very convenient to slip on In the morn
ing, and may be carried in strap with shawls
and other things without injury.
There is no attempt in Germany to follow
fashion in the way it Is done in America. A
dress may be made as fashionably as is con-
sistent with the ideas of its owner, but when
it is made it Is worn without alteration ana
without shame until replaced by another.
There Is something. hewever. that is very
charming about high class German women:
and it is the repose, the absence OF shams ana
nervous excitement and worry, Which are, ~
must be confessed, somewhat CHARACTERISTIC or
American women Their hair, smoothly
braided, shines like satin. a frieze is only con-
sidered excusable on the very young and pow
der is unknown 1t is worse than vulgar, It Is
disreputable Their dress has the air OF per-
manency which distinguishes all their belong
ings; but while on the common people this
leads to dinginess and dowdyism, among the
refined it is good true and harmonious simply
leading them to avoid fiimsy gewgawS which
only cheaper, never enhance, the effect OF
dress.
SOME CHARACTERISTIC COSTUMES.
An afternoon dress worn by German lady
at home recently was of dove colored wool,
very fine and soft. trimmed with soft silk bro
cade a mixture of wine color and olive, old
blue and gold. There was nothing novel about
the materials which would be considered heavy
with us for summer wear; but the costume it
self was very good, and the effects OF the
drapery was enhanced by not being too much
cut up. 1t formed a broad scarf draped semi
diagonally across the front and reappeared
only on broad knot, and as cuffs and vest.
The dress worn by sister of the lady was
peculiar shade of puee colored satin, trimmed
entirely with beaded lace and real lace es
jabot for the neck and ruffies at the wrist. 1t
was very handsome and very effective. but the
skirt had no trimmings save two narrow thick
" laid pleatings, and an interior ruffie OF lace.
There is a total absence In the streets or the
German towns of the white and thin dresses
which are common in London, and, so far as
the latter are concerned. in New YORK. But
then ladies are much less frequently seen
observing their home life are not many dur
ing a hurried trip. The difference is very
marked. however, in this respect between New
York, London and the continental cities
Woman are in the shops very quietly and neat
ly dressed; peasant women and servants are
seen walking in the streets, also the wives of
poor artisans; but the rich women certainly do
not make habit OF walking, and, therefore,
there are fewer opportunities OF observing
their dress, their modes or their manners. At
a wedding which we had the good fortune to
see by pure accident, as we passed the church
where the religious ceremony was performed,
the civil ceremony having already taken place,
the bride wore a plain dress of thick white
silk, finished round the bottom with triple
ruche, but having neither drapery nor over
skirt. The wreath of orange blossoms was
carried completely around the head unmixed
with any other flower. but there was no veil
small woman in black accompanied the
bride in the carriage got out with her, and
arranged her dress. 1t might have been her
maid. Following in another carriage came
two young ladies, possibly sisters, who were
dressed in prettily draped regular Partisan
costumes of pink and blue silk trimmed with
white lace, and white lace bonnets trimmed
with flowers. They looked much brighter and
happier than the bride. There were several
other toilets OF great beauty, one OF which was
OF black Spanish lace, hounced over black
satin, and another of dark olive green satin
with an open work of gold embroidery over
poppy red satin
The most characteristic dresses are those
which never change the dresses Of the peas
ant women seen in the market places and
sometimes in groups, as they come in from the
country to make purchases. Short, straight,
full skirts, of dark linsey-woolsey straight
sleeves and bodies thick low shoes; and
handkerchief, usually white, doubled and
worn as a cap, the corner extending down
upon the back and making a covering for the
shoulders. This is the dress that lacks the pic
turesque French element, the winged cap. but
is eminently practical and it must be said for
the peasant women that they look strong
hardy, healthful and bonny. usually, though l
saw one yesterday, walking beside a donkey
loaded with vegetables, whose face haunted
me for hours, it was so sad. so like one of Mil
let's. who has revealed the peasant woman In
her isolation and hopelessness.