The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-08-04
Fashions for the Surf.

In no department Of dress has fash
ion come forth with such assurances as
in the makeup of costumes for summer
pastimes, and particularly in this
'lOudnesS" of dress observable i'm
fancy bathing suits. There is really a
saucy look about this sort of toilet. and
there are sober thinking people who
think that the wearers of fancy bathing
suits trangress the bounds of proprety.
| But who can have the heart to frown
upon all this artistic taste 50 bewitch-
| ingly expressed? Not the lovers of
true art. No doubt the wearers of
these artistic suits take refuge behind
the French proverb, chacun a son gout,
and boldly declare that Miss Flora
McFlimsey, and Powers's "Grcek
| Slave" resemble each other in having
nothing to wear. What can be more
appropriate than scant apparel and ease
of limbs when people are playing the
parts of mermaids and mermon? How
ever, in spite Of all disparaging re-
marks, fancy bathing suits will GER
tainly be the rule rather than the
exception this summer.
Among the leading styles in this
| new direction may be mentioned Il
French bathing dress recently imported
for a wealthy Washington lady who
! will rusticate at Newport during July.
The jacket is made Of Jersey webbing.
1T is pale pink, with an embroidered
| edge of myrtle leaves. This garment
extends well over the hips, and al
though having the appearance of fitting
closely, it is really SO elastic that ample
freedom is permitted the body. The
trousers arc made of the same material.
but are CT a pale blue hue. These are
very short, coming to the top of the
knees, whence falls laco rnllle, pro-
ducing a pretty effect. Long silk hose
OF creamy white hue are worn over
fine cotton ones and fastened very
firmly to the lining Of the trousers.
The shoes are white canvas CATERS.
laced with pale blue silk cord; the head
IS adorned with silk turban, lightly
put together and lined with oiled silk.
This costume is very SNOWY and vet il
is not atall bold. The battling blanket
accompanying the suit is made of Turk.
lsh toweling of a pale tan hue richly
embroidered. This is thrown over the
shoulders of the bather, while she runs
the gauntlet Of curious eyes between
the beach and the bathing house.
Alas! for the beauties with defects of
figure. Such are obliged to abandon
the idea OF wearing Jersey bathing
basque, but they do not have to con-
tent themselves with the roomy house.
Fashion comes forward and conceaIs
physical imperfectionS in the most an
proved manner. Thanks is due to the
French for the cleverly contrived mode.
called 'the padded bathing suit.n OF
course there is not Il lady in the world
who could pnssihly haNa the cnuroga to
| say that she bathed III 4 padded suit
At all events there is good sale for
the stuffed bathing costumes, and the
lookcrS on are no wiser for this little
deception. Fashion Is as artistic here
;s though there was no padding. The
trousers are OF serge, some bright hue,
usually scarlet, meeting at the knees,
| fleSh colored fine WorStcd hose or heavy
SILK ones, with embroidered clocks.
Everything is charmingly propOrtioncd
and so securely held in place that the
suit may well be called "Perfection, -
The basque padding is equally well
done. The material is fine nuns veil
ing OF any mode and hue. This style
OF bathing outfit is necessarily made to
order, and is therefore, somewhat ex-
pensive-a mere tritlc to the moncyed
beauties who desire to look their best
while enjoying frOlic in the whirl
and tumble Of the dashing breakers,
y remarkably pretty bathing suit
Introduced by the English has tho
jacket close fitting, with pointed front
and postillion back; the fabric Is fine
ladies' cloth Of some dark color and en-
broidcred i'll light shades; the sleeves
come to the elbows, where falls a ruflle
of lace; long cotton gloves Protect the
arms and Il portion of the hands; the
drawers are cut wide and are gathered
III band where they are buttoned lust
below the knee; the hose arc of fine
scarlet yarn, and the white canvas
slippers are strapped over the instep
The most striking feature in this de.
sign is the low-cut neck, which is pret.
tlly filled in with oil silk, finely pleated
INTO Il double tucker, the edge bound
with narrow blue or scarlet braid.
Freedom OF arms and legs are abso.
lutely necessary to make graceful strokes
III the water, and hence it is impossible
for good swimmers to wear corscts OF
any very tight-ftting garment while
enjoying Il frolic with old Neptune; and
yet a handsome dress for an expert
swimmer has a very snug appearance
and this is effected by the use of ex.
ceedingly elastic materials, the best OF
which is silk webbing or knitted cloth,
which gives case to the motion Of the
limbs.
Fancy bathing costumes often pro
duce a charmingly picturesque array
of colors. Satin, silk, and wool. ant
all silk materials are manufactured
now so as to withstand to great ex
tent dampness and even the "yringinp
wet" AS fashion favow artistic
touches Of 1inery in the makeup OF
suits for wear among the breakers
bathing will be fashionable this sum.
| mer.