The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-05-24
New York Fashion Letter.

Far the CsTIzEN
Fashion-platcs have become almost
as important as weekly price lists of
market quotations, and women are as
eager to learn about the new shades
and texture of dress fabrics as they are
of their cost. Fashion plays a more inn
portant part in the distribution of dress
goods than formerly, because of the in
creased wealth of consumers enabling
them to purchase costlier fabrics ard of
the improved taste and tendency of the
masses for tiEer ia brics, growing out OF
the more rapid communication between
large cities and rural communities. The
mysterious origin and quick diffusion of
the DEGREES of fashion are past finding
out; but when fashion does decree a
thing, the result is unalterable. Hence
this disquisitiOn on styles.
The Jersey" silk gloves are pre-
ferred to lace mitts they come well up
que:aires in the race for the shoulder"
Pretty Isle thread Jersey gloves range
in price from 60 cents to 81 per pair
While gloves are very long, sleeves for
full dress are exceedingly short.
High sleeves and high collars, the
long poiated basque and the robe cut
away from the hips remain the feature
in summer styles. Laces upon day
dresses is very popular. Striped
checked, shot and repped silks are much
worn so is velyeteen and velvet broca-
ded grenadine. The Jersey cloth cos
tunes are very stylish. a tan-coIored
stockinet dress has pointed skirt with
satin killing eight inches wide around
the bottom, The overdress is tunic
shaped, with a tab bow of satin at the
back.
Linen band collars have two button
holes near the upper edge, through
which narrow ribbon is run and tied in
long Topped bow
This is ribbon season, flats, bows
and rosettes being worn on all parts of
the dress, the bonnet, and the wrap or
mantle.
Little capes and small mantles are the
rage. There is tendency to wear col
ored mantles in pre- erence to black this
season, or black velvet gauze nantes,
lined with color, but all black mantles
are by no means discarded. Mantillas
will be worn this summer, but they diff
fer in shape from the old mantiIla
which was high on the arms; these are
really only large points and can very
we'll be utilized Tor overskirts The
prevailing characteristic of one of the
newest models of mantels, known as
the "Contessa," is being much shorter
at the back than in front. The ma
terials for one of these mantles may be
of brOnche, silicienne, g.enadine broche
or velvet gauZe; either OF the latter
would be lined with silk or satin The
fronts are manteleT shape, long, and
forming Il point when joined in the
centre. the sleeves form a poplum
point at the sides, and are fitted 20 the
shoulder by seam shaped to the up
per part OF the arm-hole. The back
seam is shorter, end has a centre-seam
Carrying it to the waist. The wrap is
trimmed with very elegant passenterie
pendants and hanging cords. and bor-
derGd with silk ruching heading a
fall of real black lace.
ColOred lace is much used for trim
mings of garden-party toilets. 1t is
made in gray, olive, terracotta, copper,
strawberry, dark green, and, in fact,
nearly every shade. This trimming
looks best when put on rather full, and
at its poorest advantage when turned
up from beneath an edge and laid fiat,
as occasionally is seen on the basque of
bodice. Basques more popular for
these dresses are pointed in front, cut
away on the hips and made square at
the back, where they are heavily
trimmed with ribbon and lace in order
to give the bunched-Out effect, now so
indispensable, just below the waist.
To ladies residing out of this city,
hints concerning colors and com ina-
tiOns are oftentimes as important as in
formation concerning fabrics, trim
mings and other accessories of the tot
let. Most leading houses take the ut
most pains to give gratuitous informa-
ton by mail upon complicated poin is
which perpleX a purchaser to whom the
goods and the ground is unfamiliar
Recently friend in passing through
the city, desired to visit the great dry
goods baZaars for Il days shopping. 1t
was stormy, snowy, disagreeable day,
and, her time being limited, not much
was accomplished. Since then she
writes from her home in Ohio, as fol-
lows: "On my return home [ sent to
Lord & raylOr'S, and the other stores in
New York for samples, aud from them
we really have a better chance to make
good selections than in the store" The
advantage claimed in shopping without
the expense and worry OF a shopping
tour surprised me; but Lord & Taylor,
corner OF 20th Street and Broadway, in
form me that prominent ladies all over
the land do their shopping with them
in this manner, and they send samples
OF any kind OF goods requested and fur
nish estimates. This famous house has
brought the science OF dress making to
fine art, and many OF the costumes
worn by noted ladies, who grace the
feteS of the creme de la creme OF New
York, Washington and other promi
nent cities, are designed and executed
by them, their mOdistes only req airing
an accurate measure in fitting out pur-
chasers at a distance. More anon.
CLARA.