Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-06-29
SPRING COSTUMES.
A Perpetuation Of the Styles Prevalent
During the Winter Season.

A Perpetuation of the Styles Prevalen,
During the Winter Season.
New costumes for spring and sum
mer retain the general effect of thost
now worn, with basque, bouflant skirt
and combinations of two materials.
The principal changes are in the drap.
cry, and in an attempt to lengthcn shor,
skirts, making those of street dresset
barely escape the ground, while those
for the house touch the floor. The
plaits across the back of skirts, instead
Of being abandoned. are increased in
number from three TO six, the added
ones being very short, and set in only a
few inches below the belt, so that they
may take the place of the warm hair
cushion, though this cushion is stu
used by many French modistes.
The foundation skirt remains about
two yards and quarter in width. The
lower skirt of the dress material is very
full and straight, being almost regu-
lar Mother Hubbard skirt, and is WIS.,
ible to greater height below or be-
tween the draperies than in winter
dresses. Sometimes this skirt is gath
cred all around at the top, and sewed
to the foundation skirt, but in most
cases it is partly plain and partly gath
cred, or else plated in wide, loose look
ing plaits in the sides or behind, or
wherever it is not covered by drapery.
The new draperies are arranged very
long in the front and back, leaving both
sides of the lower skirt uncovered from
the belt down. The front drapery
drops in a point toward the right side,
being made very wide and full of plait-
ing into the belt; 1t is then caught up
in plaits on the left hip, and falls in a
curve to the foot on the right, leaving
its right side quite straight This tab
lier, it will be seen, exposes both sides
of the lower skirt, which may be in
lengthwise plaits on both sides, or it
may have stripes of the material or
bands of velvet ribbon or plush woven
in the fabric, or rows of embroidery on
a deep fall of lace, or else for light sum-
mer fabrics there may be many narrow
rufIles of silk or of lace, with band of
velvet ribbon heading each. The back
drapery is confined to a very narrow
space when plated or gathered to the
belt, but it is very full, and may hang
straight to the foot, or else be opened in
the middle and droop in two long mar
row points that again disclose the full
lower skirt. Flounces all around the
skirt are seldom seen, even as finish
to the foot, but are used in very mar.
row widths to cover the sides or per.
haps the front of skirt, while the full
lower skirt, when made of wide lace OF
embroidery or any one of the bordered
or bayadere striped fabrics, is, in point
of fact, merely one deep flounce, giving
the effect of q full round skirt
Basques remain short with high darts
giving the appearance of q long slender
waist, but those of thin fabrics have
fuller trimmings in front that the fla
garnitures of winter dresses. The full
phAstron or vest is made of soft sill
gathered or plated, and there are taper
ing velvet revers on each side of thi
vest
The laced front is a feature of new
basques, and is becoming to all figures
Some plain wool dresses are laced from
the throat down, but it is more usual Il
add separate pieces at the top of the frs
dart and lace these to the end of thu
basque, while above this is the gathered
or plated plastron and the revers. Tn,
seams of basques are not changed, bu
the outside fabric is put on in variet
ways, partially being shown for v
shaped trimmings in back and front, in
laid between folds of the material set il
two or four inch-wide plaits on the shout
ders in front and behind, and tapere'
into very narrow plaits at the waist line
making the old-time fan waist so becom
ing to slight figures Very high do
collars of velvet, cut all IN one piece an
stifily lined with buckram, are on dresse
of thin fabrics, and may be fastened Of
the left side in point, or with bow O
ribbon; if made to meet in front, two o
even three hooks and eyes are require
to fasten them. - Harper's B6sas.