Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-01
FOR rHE LADIES.



Nse&s ~ sessxs sss ssmner
Lent comes early this year, says Hdr-
pers Baser. and merchants are already
displaying the ncw Gotten goods that
sve made up during the quiet Of the
1cnten season into summer dresses.
The novelty among these Is soft
sotton without any dressing, called
China Grape, because Of the crinkled
effect given BY rs peculiar twillcd
surface, with tiny raised figures.
This comes IA all the light and deli
cate colors AZ silk Grape, Gle! blue,
cream. rescda- faded rose, newly
blown rose, China pink, pearl grey, and
brown, and Il may be had in plain
cclors or with the small figures that are
seen on the fashionable Chinese silks ;
clover head and loaf patterns, with
sprays, stem clusters, and branches, are
among the pretty designs. In other
new cotton fabrics it is noticeable that
light cclcrs greatly outnumber the dark
blue, red, and brown. grounds that look
too warm for midsummer dresses, while
the light cclors commend themselves by
their frcsimess and cool appearance.
ExBRoIpExED GINoHAMs.
The popular Scotch ginghams have
their beauty enhanced this year by em-
broidery done all over the fabric in
dots, blocks, or tiny raised spots or
lines. The embroidery is done by ma
chipery, and Is in white on blue. pale
blue on darker blue. red on blue, red
on ecru, or blue on ecru or brown.
Blue Is evidently 10 remain the favorite
color in ginghams, as fifteen different
shades Of blue gingham are shown in
plain colors, and there are many va
ricties Of striped, plaid, and dotted
ginghams made up Of the blue
shades that wash so well. A sec
ond novelty in ginghams is that called
BY the Scotch wesyers the ''cram-
Stripes because the white stripes have
the threads doubled. and are woven as
thick ms coutille or jean. while the blue
or brown stripes alternating with these
are as light as ordinary ginghams. The
Roman stripes are also new in glng-
hams. and show several bright colors
together in one broad stripe on a clear
white ground blue, pink, green, red,
and yellow lines form one wide stripe,
and there are plaids in which the same
colors appear. Small pin-head checks
are shown again in color with white,
or with two shades Of one color, and
the pretty cross-bar patterns reappear
in various colors on white ground.
COTTON, sATTEENs, sICILIENNEs,
ETC.
The satteens for the next season have
less pronounced colors and designs than
those Of past years, and have less OF
that gloss which disappears with the
first washing, depending more for their
beauty on their fine, closely-woven
texture and simple patterns. Those Of
n solid color. with the leaf of daisy
pattern raised in the weaving, closely
copy brocaded silks, while others have
tapestry designs in colors that initiate
the cross-stitches of embroidery. The
repped cottons called Siciliennes
and the thinner batistes are also
brought out in charming tlnts
for summer dresses, and the per-
Gales are in the small blocks, checks,
and tapestry designs that were so popu-
lar last year. The shirtings of French
manufacture have either white or blue
grounds strewn with whips. bits, spurs.
triangles, interlinked rings, and the
dots, checks. and stripes that are always
shown, no matter what newer things
are on hand. The domestic calicoes at
10 cents a yard are found this year in
all the prettiest French patterns on
grey, buff. dull red. or blue grounds,
and at small cost will make as attrac-
tive dresses as will many of the other
cottons that are from 35 to so cents a
yard.
CHINA SILKS.
China silks are offered to take the
place of foulards and the checked silks
so long in favor as summer dresses.
These are softer, finer, and more ser
viceable than the French foulards. They
come in short lengths, Of which two
pieces are required for dress, and each
piece costs from IS to sl4. The light
grounds are also preferred in these, and
the figures are small. Some very East
ern-lookig designs that cover the
creamy-tinted ground are palms or ara
besques Of Turkey red, or of Chinese
blue, while others are conyentionalized
flowers Of natural hues.
SPRING wooLENs.
The newest spring woollens are
rough, soft materials Of English or
Scotch manufacture in preference to the
more dressy and lustrous fabrics made
in France. Among these are English
homespuns for coats, or OF lighter
weight for whole suits. woven in broad
twills of plain colors, or else IN light
grounds with darker bars or stripes
either lengthwise or across from sell
wedge to selvedge. The Isle of vigil
scrges are shown in various twills
some of which are very fine and close
while others are slea1y and have ;
rough effect, but are "a soft to tn
touch as the camel's-hair stufis. Tn
ribbed flannellettes and those with plail
surfaces are woollens of light weigh
and pleasant to the touch. for eitheI
house or street dress, and may be hat
in white, black, or colors.
SPRING TRAVELLING SUITS.
For travelling dresses for spring thu
serges are being made up with new
oyer-dress that opens over waistcoat
and has long straight skirt that nearl,
covers the lower skirs. The waistcoa
Is separate garment. and the waist o
the oyerdrcss has rcyers pointed lIk
bretelles, that are buttoned in front +
show the vest, which is trimmed wit
rows Of braid, OF may be plainly but
toned. The skirt Of the overdress fall
open below the waist, and is perfect
plain On the sides, where it is joined t
the body bya seam across the hips
in which square pocket flaps are set i
fashion in favor three or four year
since. The back is very full, but is no