The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-04
FASHIONS AND FANCIES.

''confection," as applied by milliners to head
gear, should remember that bonnet is sweet
thing
| High collars on dresses may be relieved by
fall of lace, above which the linen collar ap-
pears.
| Plaid and plain fabrics of the same texture
and figured and plain mohairs, are among the
| leading com binations for girls costumes.
| Tam O'Shanter hats are in style again this
season. They are properly worn only by chill
| dren and misses. but have singular attraction
for elderly and plain women who do not know
what is becoming to them.
'Mikado" writing paper is the latest novelty
IN stationery. Sensible people do not follow
every feeting fancy of this sort, for the same
reason that they avoid extremes of fashion in
wearing apparel. In spite however, of the
sertion of a very positive writer in a recent mag
azine that a certain specified size and style of
white paper and envelopes should alone be used
| by persons of refinement in conducting their cor
respondence. there seems to be good reason
why considerable liberty of choice should not be
used in the matter. There are great number
of tints and variety of shapes and sizes from
which, 1t would seem, one might choose without
violating any canon of good taste.
The same domestic law -giver who pronounces,
in Good Housekeeping, against the use of any
but that which happens to be her own favorite
style of stationery grows quite heated in her
declarations as to the improperly of using per-
! fumed paper wax. And yet refined people
will continue to perfume their writing desks
with a delicate essence of their favorte flower,
and TO take pleasure in the faint fragrance in
| letters from friends which seems, from long
usuage. to be Il part of the writer's personality.
1t may be superhuous information, but the
| new "plomb" color, of which the fashion writer's
have so much to say, is lead color. and nothing
more. 1t may also be remarked that it
| Is not becoming to the average woman.
| Hats are high, even higher than those of last
season, and bonnets are small There is
no law, however, compelling tall women to don
the highest of the hats obliging stout. moon
| faced ladies to wear the tinest of the bonnets,
| but they will do it. See if they don't.
The fronts of black silk dresses, as we'll as tho
| plastrons are covered with pendant buttons of
| jet silk. That is to say. the fronts of silk
dresses are so adorned when the owner happens
to like that style of trimming and can afford it.
| All authorities as well as cursory inspection
| of various stocks of cloaks and mantles, author
| ize the statement that there is very little
change from last year in the prevailing style of
| fall and winter wraps. All of which is matter
for selfcongratulaton to the woman-there are
great many of her-who will wear her last
| winters cloak.
| Just as the best American dress-makers have
attained moderate degree Of proficiency in the
art of fitting the tight sleeve, which has so long
| been in fashion. word comes from Paris that the
coat sleeve is about to give way to the slashed,
or flowing, or otherwise vouminous style of arm
covering. Owners of shapely need not,
however, feel agitated over the report. Ameri-
cans not now wholly dependent Paris for
their fashions, and, if they were, at least two
| years are necessary for the firm establishment
of French modes in this Western region.
So-called ''homespuns," the like of which our
grandmothers would have scorned for their
| coarseness, cover the dress-goods counters
Made up by skillful modistes they are stylish
bat not handsome; botched by a poor dress
maker they have poverty stricken air. and sug-
gest an economical resort to horse blankets on
the part of the wearers.
| Boston woman has had happy thought.
| She suggests the establishment by some enter
prising bootblack of place at once retired from
the public gaze and convenient of access, where
ladies may have their shoes brushed and
BACKED. AS it is, women when the streets
| frequently suffer from the consciousness that
| their otherwise irreproachable costumes are
marred by muddy or dusty shoes which must
remain until they reach home. The bootback
| in any city who first carries out this suggestion
will deserve Immortality as we'll as sheckels.
| White wooden gowns which have not been
soiled and switched out" by being worn on the
street as walking dresses will be utilized as
afternoon and evening house dresses with the
addition of a bit of bright color in the way of
velvet collar, vest and cuffs.
| With all the resources in the way of styles and
trimmings at every milliner's command the lack
of originality shown by many of them in the
ornamentation of hats and bonnets is hardly
excusable At least one indianapolis miner
has so persistenty adhered to peculiar arrange.
ment of bonnet trimming-and not pretty one
at that-during the entire season. that the ex-
perienced eye detects her work far as it is VS.
ible with much accuracy as if her business
card were attached. 1t may be a convenient way
of advertising, but is hardly satisfactory to
patrons.
| Many of the new felt bonnets are trimmed
with ribbon, to the exclusion of every other gar
niture, satin and Ottoman ribbons often being
mixed and generally in two shades of color,
and not in striking contrast These make pretty,
inexpensive. and usually becoming bonnets for
| general wear for all winter if necessary.
| Some of the embossed and brocaded velvets
used for dress-fronts. wraps and other garments
bear too striking resemblance to furniture COW
ings to be altogether agreeable to the fastidous
| taste.
Notes and Notions.
| New York Mail and Express.