Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-24
SILK AND SATIN.
Some OF the Antiques and Some Of the
Novelties.

From the Denver Metropolitan
ayes" said the old Denver merchant whom q
reporter talked to yesterday, 81 silk dress was
q great thing for q woman when was q boy
1t was what you fellows would call an event
in life' nowadays. When girl got a silk dress
we knew she was either going to get married
or else had come suddenly into a fortune, one
of the two. The first was more likely to be the
case, because you see even in those days girls
got husbands oftener than they got fortunes.
I've been in the dry goods business ever since
was boy, and We always knew something
was up when woman asked 10 see a piece of
SILK OF course the wives of the leading citi-
Gems in the place always had silk dresses-that
is, one piece, generally made of black silk,
and religfously hung away in dark closets, TO
be taken down not more than twice or three
times year, and then only on state occasions
ut is q peculiar fact, but nevertheless a true
one, that women In the remote villages, in the
early days, seldom wore their silk dresses ex-
cept to church on those Sundays when the sac
rament was administered. This sounds queer
but It is fact. Why they wore silk ON that
day is mystery; but presume IL was because
their churches were SO much more largely at
tended on such occasions, and village people
ligious services. 1t used to seem a gala day
with me when my mother put on her silk dress
and combed her soft, brown hair down over her
ears; thought she was the Prettiest woman
In the world then, and am halt inclined To
mink now that was right. have seen many
Ask SIX dress wrapped In linen, scented with
intervals without ever being exposed TO the
light OF day. II is very amusing to think how
compared with the fashions of to-day, when
every servant giri In the city has one, and per-
'What were the varieties of silk used at that
timer"
They were mostly taffetas, very smoothly
finished and very fine and soft in appearance.
III cOlOrs we had the glace silks, many OF which
are still used. They came largely in illumin-
ated coors. and were much affected by brides,
and gloves. Irish poplins were also very
fashionable, as were Japanese silks in silver
grays: After these the satin de Lyons came in,
and then the ottomans, which, although they
are considered something new, have been used
for q number of years."
"What are some of the novelties in silkse"
swell, there is the chene variety, used now
in combination toilets, the designs being in in
distinct patterns of leaves in broad rows, alter
much worn as it was, but it is always pretty
for fancy Dress
What is the favorite black silk nowadays"
The faille Francois brand. 1t is similar to
ottoman, but has finer cord, is differently
woven, and is much more serviceable than the
gros-gra1n Jersey and tricotirin silks are also
very popular. Jersey silk is made to represent
Jersey cloth, and was in great demand during
the Jersey craze. Surah silk, which has been
something like twilled serge, except that ii is
finer and has dressy surface. The kind of silk
known as Merviileux has almost q smooth sur
face and an invisible twill similar to satin duch-
ess, which is an all-silk satin and entirely
smooth. Satin de flor, which is now much
worn, has an INVISIBLE twill running across the
SILK Moire silks which, you know, look
as II they had great, sparkling drops OF water
thrown all over them, are still very popular,
particularly for evening toilets, i'm coIabina-
lions. Brocades are almost entirely out-in
fact, are quith so in black silks, although the
fancy brands are sometimes used in combina-
| ton ball costumes"
The rage for satin is past, is 1t not?'
Eyes; but there was great rage for them for
several seasons. They are really more service
n eli LG hrIf 10 -
| tired OF them and went back to the other STYLES
again. Yes, silks are much cheaper than they
used to be comparatively speaking. 1t is not
such an undertaking for man to buy his wife a
| silk dress as it was once. The manufacturers
are constantly improving them, too,so that silk
goods are better to-day than they have ever
| been before