Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-06-17

For the SPECTATOR.
A modest commencement dress, selected
with due apprehension of the Professors
eye, may serve as pretty change during
summer, from too perpetual coquetry or
more expensive fabric. Thus we find null
or nainsook tucked or sprigged muslin with
out superhuity of punching, agreeable be-
cause of contrast and bringing into relief
more ornate goods warn on other occasions.
A run upon white is locked for and it is
said there are thirty varieties of sheer white
woods in market. Among them, the Grape,
which, similar in texture to that used in
mourning, is brought out in white or colors
and regarded as very stylish. In wash
goods, the changes are rung on French
mulls, nainsooks, mulls embroidered in
white or colors or colored mulls showing
embroidery to match, in pale pink, ecrue,
blue or cream shades. Embroidered tulles
have been too pretty to disappear with win
ter SHOWS; they live again and will aid in
many Newport or Saratoga Irritation. Be-
strewn with hanging fuchsias, gilded oats,
silvered grasses chenille drops or dozen
other pretty fancies, they loop beautifully
over summer silks and will rival in genuine
prettiness the Grape costumes which really
are revelation of good taste and cause US
to wonder why we have not sooner had
them. Dowagers appropriate black grapes
trimmed with black or Persian tinted lace,
and from thence, the transition is easy to
beaded grenadines and beaded laees. Fancy
too, the good effect of light-wools trimmed
with silken cords and laces, but indeed in
costumes of every kind one cannot this sea-
son say too much regarding lace. Laces
of every style and texture, of every shade
and trimming, everything in every way. AL
most as much might be remarked of gold.
Its yellow threads glisten in dress goods;
in traceries it lightens up brocades whether
thick or thin; laces are illumined by it or
gilded altogether; hats grow richer till the
climax is reached by those entirely of gilt;
with barbaric glow, it radiates from rib
bons, nor is there any sort of trimming from
which it is absent or any goods to which it
may not appropriately be added, if not
componentpart. Yellow shades of all kinds,
in truth, are in the ascendancy; almost a
parterre of yellow, looked the coaching club
toilettes the other day, while to the surprise
of not few, came blossoming once more,
the forgotten heliotrope that patronized
then and there, will need no other patron
age this season. As sign of the times, too,
different numbers and provided with clasp
unfastened from the dress. More than one
of last seasons costume may thus
by bows, renew it's youth, especially as the
etamine and moyen age ribbons have mark
ed characters of their own, to say nothing of
equal novelties in the way of plush or velvet
dotted grenadine or canvas ribbons. On
dressing toilettes, flowers are very freely
used-in clusters, vines, sprays or punches
and generally small OR of medium size.-
Embroidery comes up effectively lik ewise
and nothing is more charming than en-
broidered Grape dresses with hat to match.
WEDDING DRESSES.
June is month of weddings A grand
drawing of matrimonial lottery tickets takes
place; far more uncertain than the Louisi-
ana State, since Generals Beaursgard and
Early do not supervise the drawings in the
lottery of love. But the bride expectant
ventures smilingly and thinks only of her
costume. The youthful mind runs to silk
Grape, silk null, tissue, surah or India silk
A few more years bring dignity sufficient
for Ottoman silk or brocade while satin
seems sort of thing that anybody can wear
and anybody wears it. All run to lace and
upon the bridal dress therefore, it is run
in fiounces, in fallings, in twistings perpe-
tual, in whole breadths, in puffings, in ruch-
ings; climax being reached sometimes
when ornamentation' exceeds what is orna-
mented and the fleecy yelling becomes lace
over satin in place of lace on satin. A
mighty difference in the two little words
and bringing about in technical parlance,
an entire change of costume. Case 1, lace
dress; case 2, a satin dress trimmed with
lace. Flowers are the traditional orange
flower or newer rivals such as white lilac,
pond lilies, snow drops, azaleas, spirea or
lilies Of the valley, while prestige attaches
to pale pink roses or Marechal Mel buds.
Gloves long and almost always white,
though occasionally pearl tint is chosen;
veil usually tulle but sometimes of rich lace.
Boots or slippers of white kid or satin. A
piece de resistance generally, is the train
The longer the better and upon its expanse
is lavished a mighty expenditure of thought.
A worthy task, for great is the expressive
ness of a train; great its power for good or
ill, since its grace may easily be turned
into caricaturism. All by a few inches more
or less; a punching where lines should be
severe or trimming where simplicity should
reign. A small person can be so easily over
weighted by one too long; tall person rob-
bed Of dignity by one too short, ETC., ETC..
Il is taken for granted that the train sets
well, because the. horrors of an ill-setting
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