The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-21
SPRING COSTUMES.
A Perpetuation of the Styles Prevalent
During the Winter Season.

Fermentation OF the Styles TEoSaAons
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 bv 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 a 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 drapcry
drops in point toward the right side,
t being made very wide and full of plait-
, ing into the belt; it is then caught up
l in plaits on the left hip, and falls in a
t curve to the foot on the right, leaving
8 its right side quite straight. This tab
r lier, it will be seen, exposes both sides
of the lower skirt, which may be in
!, lengthwise plaits on both sides, or ii
n may have stripes of the material OF
e bands of velvet ribbon or plush wover
q in the fabric, or rows of embroidery OF
is a deep fall of lace, or else for light sum
mer fabrics there may be many marrow
y ruff1es of silk or of lace, with band
/. velvet ribbon heading each. The bac
[e drapery is confined to a very narroN
l. space when plated or gathered to tn
h belt, but it is very full, and may han
ID straight to the foot, or else be opened i
le the middle and droop in two long nal
!" row points that again disclose the flu
er lower skirt Flounces all around til
r. skirt are seldom seen, even as tinls
ne to the foot, but are used in very nal
W row widths to cover the sides or pc
haps the front of skirt while the fll
n, lower skirt, when made of wide lace {
embroidery or any one OF the bordere
)" or bayadere striped fabrics, is, IN polr
1g of fact, merely one deep fiounce. givin
he the effect of full round skirt.
"a Basques remain short with high dart
giving the appearance of a long slend
N. waist, but those of thin fabrics ha
ii, fuller trimmings in front that the fl
lip garnitures of winter dresses. The fl
ne plastron or vest is made of soft 81
gathered or plated, and there are tape
ite ing velvet revers on each side OF tt
vest.
The laced front is feature of ne
basques, and is becoming to all figure
;hs Some plain wool dresses are laced fro
the throat down, but it is more usual
list add separate pieces at the top of the fl
err dart and lace these to the end OF
basque, while above this is the gather
the or plated plastron and the revers. I
DIS seams of basques are not changed,
l. the outside fabric is put on in VAR
yer ways, Partially being shown for
-, shaped trimmings in back and front,
n laid between folds of the material set
till two or four incl--wide plaits on the sho
ders in front and behind, and tape
re- into very narrow plaits at the waist Ii
'm- making the old-time fan waistso becc
,uls ing to Slight figures. Very high {
her collars of velvet. cut all IN one piece
the stiffly lined with buckram, are on dreS
1lm of thin fabrics, and may be fastened
lse- the left side in a point, OF with bow
she ribbon; if made to meet in front, two
even three hooks and eyes are requi
to fasten them. -Harper's BazGr.