Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-04-08
SPRING COSTUMES.
A Perpetuation of the Styles Preva1en
During the Winter Season.


New costumes for spring and sum-
| mer retain the general effect of those
| now worn, with basque, bouffant skirt
| and combinations of two materials.
The principal changes are in the drap-
cry, and in an attempt to lengthen short
skirts, making those of street dresses
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
few inches below the belt, so that they
may take the place of the warm hair
cushion, though this cushion is still
used by many French modistes.
The foundation skirt remains about
two yards and a 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
ClCu, vi CISC JlstluNo III VIM, ioooC- looh-
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 point toward the right side,
being made very wide and full of plait-
ing into the belt; it 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
1ier, 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
ruffies of silk or of lace, with a band of
velvet ribbon heading each. The back
drapery is confined to 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 Or
embroidery or any one of the bordered
or bayadere striped fabrics, is, in point
of fact, merely one deep flounce, giving
the effect of full round skirt
Basques remain short with hi 9Th darts,
giving the appearance of long slender
l>,,4 kl> e f1l-
fuller trimmings in front that the flat
garnitures of winter dresses. The full
plastron or vest is made of soft silk
gathered or plated, and there are taper
ing velvet revers on each side of this
vest.
The laced front is 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 to
add separate pieces at the top of the first
dart and lace these to the end of the
basque, while above this is the gathered
or plated plastron and the revers. The
seams of basques are not changed, but
the outside fabric is put on in varied
ways, a Partially being shown for v
shaped trimmings in back and front, in
laid between folds of the material set in
two or four inch-wide plaits on the shout
ders in front and behind, and tapered
into very narrow plaits at the waist line.
making the old-time fan waist so becom-
ing to slight figures Very high dog
collars of velvet. cut all IN one piece and
stiffly lined with buckram, are on dresses
of thin fabrics, and may be fastened ON
the left side in a point, or with a bow of
ribbon; if made to meet in front, two or
even three hooks and eyes are required
to fasten them.-Harper's Bazar.