The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1883-04-21
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notwithstanding the faot tina
spring has been here some time &C
cording 10 the calendar, balrny weathe
lags behind, and as yet spring bon
nets have looked more appropriate Of
the maxen figures in the shop win
dows than on the heads of the prone
naders outside. Either the seasons are
less accsntuated now, or else fashion
Is less subseryient than It nsed to b.
10 their incoming or outgoing. For
the obligation TO appear ina new bon
net Easter is entirely soyerlooked now
If the season proves disappointing,
and Is more prolific in east winds than
spring blossoms. Hero there are only
a few primroses and crocuses in shell
tered spots To array against the quaint
ties Of flowers brought up from the
rsouth that fairly mock the northerly
bleakness of this climate with their
brilliant hnes. But, as is usual, the
transition from winter to summer
weather will be sudden here. The
grass in the parks is growing beauti-
fully green, the buds are expanding,
and in two weeks Washington viii
hook paradisiacal The artificial fora
of the millinery windows flourish
brareiy in spite of the tardy season,
and Judging from these displays
the feminine world has decided
TO wear as many flowers as it possibly
can, and prefers the blossoms of the
cottage garden and hedee-row TO
those Of illeparterFe and conservatory.
Yellow is the rage now, and in the
face Of singing sareasms on the tyran-
ny of that impersenal Mrs. Grundy,
every woman will consult, initiate
her, aud wear yellow flowers regard
less of what the color of her eyes,
hair and complexion may be. In the
midst of the superb shows Of material
and brilliant preparations on every
hand which dazzle the eyes, it is
amusing TO be told that tile women
mean 10 60 in for simplicity this sea
son. That the world is little tired
of fieunces, that even killings pail
after prolonged inning, and that
severity of outline is to be adopted.
The fact is sueh an immense store of |
extravaganza and elaboration has
been exhausted in female attire that |
any changes that can possibly present |
themselves must necessarily be In a |
more simple form.
Fashion is always more or less con-
ventional, as the pre-eminent yellow
of To-day furnishes an instance. There
are many flowers to which neither
their natural coloFs nor sizes aze as
signed. GornAowers are made as
large as dahlias, Darigolds and dande-
lions are magnifed in lerdly blossoms
crimson beartsease and scarlet lilac
are mixed anonymously IN spite of
the impOssibility of the reality. And
we even see pinkish mauve geraniHms
that would immediately carry of the
prize at horticultural fair. Brilliant
contrasts meet with ready favor, and
many women subject their few at
fractions to the most trying tests by
adopting these dazzling ineonsisten-
cles. 1t is a conspicuous fact that
the average woman is poorly dressed.
She has spent sufficient money, no
doubt, and has given much thought
to the subject, but the desired effect
is not always reached in that way. 1t
is pleasant TO know that in spite of
fashions despotism there is growing
tendency among women Of thought
10 adopt more individuality m dress.
They nationally study their means and
the necessities Of their toilet. Such
women can, with a little money, com
bined with much taste, ingenuity, and
skillful, energetic fingers transform
themselves into symphonies and poems
That the uninitiated despair of attain
ing or initiating. And why should
not woman Of refinement and eul-
ture. who has bestowed an amount of
intelligent reflection upon the require
nents Of her face and figure, be more
ANONYMOUSLY and exquisitely dressed
han The, one who. has committed the
of her attire to the interested
of a shop girl OF modiste who
5 her inferior morally, mentally, ar
istically. 4 have a lady friend of
United means but who, through the
economy Of making her own dresses
md hennets, possesses all those ex-
lnisite trifies on which women are SO
dependent. Never once departing
rom the prevailing styles, with her
killed fingers she attains effects that
women Of fortune might envy. Her
asst achievement was twenty dollar
'arasol, mssle of ten dollars worth. of
Material She first bought a corn
olored broeaded silk parasol and
oyered i 50 exqnisiteiy with white
panish lace that the most critical eye
'enid not detect its home made char
cter. She bought a fchu Of black
zee, a bHneh of french flowers, lit
e Twenty cent frame, and by the
over Of invention and handieraft
be had a thirty dollar bonnet with
Mt nine dollars outlay.
In the matter Of hats this season
lncy does pretty much as she likes,
lrning the brins up On curling them
own lining them with bright colors
: giving them dark tone; placing
le whole wealth of floral decoration =
J the outside Or q portion beneath /,
the hair Ladies wear what they "a
ease, provided it pieases.
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