The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-11
Children's Fancy Dresses
some Timely Points and Suggestions for
the Fancy Dress Party.
BY MRS. sALLrE JOY WHITE
Written for the Press

by MRS. sALLIE JOY WHITE
Written for the Press.l
The annual carnival for children ID New
YORK has proved SO great a success that other
towns and cities are following the lead of the
metropolis, and children's fancy dress parties
are becoming quite social feature. There is
often good deal of perplexity over the vexed
| question OF clothes, but there is SO wide a
choice Of characters for the little ones that the
| question should be easily solved. One thing is
to be said in the ve~y outset, there is no need
OF extravagant outlay; very dainty and pretty
costumes may be inexpensively made. al
though If one wishes to spend money there is
really DO limit 10 the opportunities the fares
dress parties present. A few weeks since there
was given in the columns of the PRESS, some
| descriptions of dresses 10 be worn at calico
carnival, introducing many of the characters
from Mother Goose. These sams characters
may be taken by children, and the little ones
are very creditable usually in their parts, and
the dresses are quantity pretty for them.
Among the characters from Mother Goose not
mentioned is Miss Muffet; she should be
dressed quite in the style of Sir Joshua Rey-
nolds Miss Penelope Boothby." Everybody
remembers that quaint little figure With the
folded handkerchief over the dark stuff dress,
the big crowned cap with the bow in front and
the long mitts on the hands that are folded so
demurely over the lap. Rosebud is a charm
ing little dress for girl. It is of delicate pink
and green tarletan; the lower skirt is of rose
pink, and the edges are slightly scslloped; the
over skirt is of moss green, and the breadths
are SO arranged as to fold over each other,
representing the calyx of the flower; each
breadth is pointed in quite wide points reach
ing to the bottom of the lower skirt the mink
showing only between the points just as the
pink of the bud shows through the opening
calyx; If it is moss rose bud that is to be rep-
resented the edges OF the points should be An
ished with moss, and dots of moss sewed into
| the green over dress; the waist is of green
tarletan reaching to half the height Of the
armsize, and above that is puff of pink; the
short sleeves are of pink, and garland of moss
passes over each shoulder as shoulder strap,
and girdle of moss is about the waist Pink
stockings and black or white slippers with
pink and green rosettes completes the costume
Care should be taken in selecting the colors
that the pink and the green harmonic. "Blue
Bell" wears dress OF blue silk, satin, or ii
one doesn't care to put little one in such ex-
pensive fabrics, cashmere OF even silesia will
do nicely; it is mado with a short double skirt,
very full, the bottom of each skirt is cut in
Vandyck points aud on each point is a tiny
silver bell; the body consists of a white
gimp with q sauare-necked peasant bodice
OF the blue; string of silver bells is hung
across the loft shoulder; on the head is worn a
bell-shapad blue hat, or if QUE does
not care for the hat the hair NAV
bs tied with blue ribbons. Blue
stockings and black slippers complete the cos
tune. "The Princes in the Tower are very
nicely taken BY two boys differing about two
years in age; they SHOULD wear black velvet
suits with deep lace collars and cuffs, black
silk stockings, black slippers with rosettes and
jewelled buckles, and the hair should be
banged in front and fall over tie shoulders in
the back; short black velvet eloaks tied scross
one shoulder with cord and tassel and falling
at the back are great addition TO the dresses.
The dress worn by the patience" in the iu-
veniie opera company was 80 pretty that ven
ture to give it as model for some mother to
use in preparing her little daughter for the fan
cy party Over short full skirt of pale blue
slesia was an over dress of pink and blue sat-
teen in pretty figure; this over dress was
made in the "Bo Peep fashion, that is cut
like close princess polonaise aud punched up;
the draping caught By loops Of pink and blue
ribbon; the neck was cut heart shape; that is.
high in the back and coming less to point in
front; the sleeves are close to the elbow and
are finished with frills of lace; ruchiDg of
lace is in the neck also; small straw hat
trimmed with pink and blue ribbons was worn
launtiy on one side of the head, the stockings
were blue and pink, and the shoes were tied
with pink and blue ribbops the handle of the
wooden milk pail which she carried was also
ornamented with the same colored ribbons.
"Grosvenor" is pretty costume for boy.
and the two go we'll together. Tho "Adnirar,
In Pinafore is jolly character for graceful
boy who has sense of humor, the dress is re-
ally very becoming; lavender or pearl satin
knee breeehes with iewelled buckles, white
silk stockings and shoes WITH buckles; satin
waistcoat like the breeches, trimmed With gold
lace: dark green satin coat with brilliant
buttons, and fine, lace ruff1es at neck and
waist lace scarf. the ends falling over the vest,
and gold laced cooked bat with white wig
make very effective costume There are
always sailors and Highlander's for the bows to
fall back upon when everything else fails, and
there are flower girls and shepherdesses that
absorb good many little girls. The "Butter-
fly" wears full, short skirt, of white tarletan,
sprinkled with diamond powder, short sleeyed
1ory lxad hrI -. a.
each shoulder; nestled in the hair should
be butterfy.of flagree silver or one may
be made at home of silver paper
Fire Fly wears short full skirt
OF alternate scarlet and black; scarlet
waist and sleeves with black bodice faced with
red. Red stockings and black shoes. The
French Peasant" wears short pink skirt
trimmed with rows of moss green velvet ribbon
and an overskirt which is full pulled drapery
of figured stuff; the pointed corsageis the shade
of the trimming on the skirt, and is laced with
gold cord over white null kerchief; the short
pulled sleeves are like the underskirt and hose
a lace rufle falling over them. A muslin
apron edged with lace and pink ribbon bows,
and small round cap of lace and ribbon are
worn with dress which is completed by black |
mitts, PINK SILK stockings, and black kid Slip |
pers with buckles. The Spanish Troubadour
has costume of green velvet trimmed with |
silver lace or braid; the dress is cut in the |
Spanish fashion of short trousers reaching to
the knee, and iclosc jacket open in front |
and short in the back, worn over fine cam
brio skirt waist; g broad and scarlet sash is |
wound about the waist and tied carelessly with |
the ends falling on the left side; the hat is a |
low felt turhan trimmed on the side with scar |
let pompons. A tambourine Is carried in the |
hand. "a Country Laddie" is winsome and |
attractive in breeches of russell cloth, cut short
to show the striped stockings nearly to the |
knee, white linen shirt, braces, a pointed |
collar, with spotted neckerchief and white
Jersey cap. RED Riding Hoods" dress is as
familiar as her name, and SO is "Bo'Peep's."
Kate Greenaway furnishes no end of models,
ana II anything daintlly picturesque is desired