The Iola register., 1885-01-16
FASHIONS IN FUR.


sealskln still I'm Fashion-fhs Costly Sable
and the inexpensive Fox-Russ and
Robes.
In no branch of her domain is Queen
Fashion more exacting in her require
ments of her devotees than in the mat
ter of outdoor wraps and winter gar
ments, and those of the fair sex whose
liege lords, fathers, and loving indulg-
ent mamnAs have purses sufficiently
long and plethoric in contents to crafty
their tastes in this direction may in
dulge their fancy free and deck them
selves in elegant and costly robes, know
ing fullwell that they are doing homage
to their queen, and are '.just right. :"
1t is scarcely necessary to state that
furs grow in favor year after year and
number of stylish garments form the
matter for an article on fashionable
fnra First, then, sealskin still holds
the position of prominence as the
''leader" and the most fashionable for
the manufacture of dolmans, Newman
kets, sacks, cloaks. French wraps, peler-
ines. muffs, bonnets, and toques. The
most valuable and finest seals are the
Alaska, Siberian coast. and Shetland.
The pelts of fur seals are brought to
the marketunprepared in casks of brine,
and after remaining in pickle suffi-
cient length OF time to render it soft and
pliable the pelt is cleared of the long,
dark gray hairs by a tedious process,
and only the fine, close fur underneath
remains untouched. On the fineness
and closeness of this second layer de-
pends the value of the skin. There is
very little differencein the natural color
of the skins, the rich, dark glossy, and
the red-brown colors being the work of
the dyer. 1t requires several skins to
make garment, therefore the neces-
sity of using great care in order to
have skins of the same color, as any in
congruity would spoil the effect, and
naturally retard the sale. None but
the best skins will take the rich, dark
color so much admired and so popular.
Quite number of Pacific Coast, Cop
per Island and Cape Horn sealskins
have been made up and offered for sale,
but while they possess all the elegance,
the best quality, they are delusion
and snare, and little wear is dam
aging to their beauty and to the feel
ings of the unfortunate possessors.
Sacks, cloaks, ulsters and walking
jackets are familiar to all, but the
French wrap, although quite unpopular
in France, is new candidate for favor
in America and gives promise of be-
coming very fashionable. 1t is short
in the back, flowing sleeves, and long
tabs in front, the trimming being in
French black lynx. For trimmings
golden beaver, sable, white fox, lynx,
and all fine natural furs are fashionable.
Golden beaver is novelty and will
surely be the rage. As the name in
dicates, it is of the color of gold, sub
dued and very rich, adding greatly to
the elegant appearance of the garment.
Sealskin is the most popular fur for
winter pelerines. and the graceful con-
tour is well suited for slim youthful
figures. The pelerine has a long point
at the back. is round in front. and
generally edged with beaver. Toques
of sealskin, Ornamented with the claw
OF seal, are very pretty and quite
fashionable. while seal muffs are also
quite in vogue. Sealskin bonnets have
become fashionable, taking the place
of sealskin caps and large hats.
They are durable and are not ex-
pensive. In the matter OF prices the
backwardness of the season has natur-
ally been more or less against the trade
and dealers will sell very close. Quo
tatiOns for sealskin sacks range from
$50 to $3.50, ulsters and Newmarkets
$275 to $3.50. walking Jackets Sl0O to
$3.50, French wraps 500 to $3.50, and
bonnets from $40 to S15.
Sables are the most costly of all
furs, and values vary. Common
American skins sell from s. to 500
each, while Russian sables are worth
from S15 to $500. The average length
of the little animal Is twelve inches,
and the tail six inches, so that it
takes an army of skins to make a
garment. The Emperor Nicholas of
Russia owned sable pelisse valued at
$4,000, and a coat or cloak lined with
sable is worth couple of thousand
dollars. The tails of the sables make
DCddtiui loi SCdi vi NCiSct
cloaks, but even they are very expen-
sive. Sable capeS have not been worn
to any great extent of late years, but
are now becoming more in favor
Black fox and silver gray fox are also
valuable furs, and portion of the neck
of the former skin is used by Russian
noblemen to form collars or facings on
coats. Six neckS are required. making
the cost of collar about $500. An
old saying, reading as follows:
Nothing is thought rare
Which Is not new and followed; yet we know
Comes into grace again,
still holds good, and the costly and
elegant mink is now steadily increasing
in popularity.
Parlor rugs are very fashionable. and
the correct thing is Bengal tiger.
grizzly or black bear skin, SO mounted
AS to preserve the head intact. Skins
of all small fur animals may be used in
the same manner. Style in furs is not
all allotted to the gentler sex, but the
lords of creation may indulge in seal
skin caps and gloves. while fur trim
mings on overcoats is growing in pop
ularity in this country.-Chicd9o 1ri6-
u1se.