The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-06-21
STYLISH COSTUMES.
Prominent Features Of Perfect Dresst
for Midsummer Wear.

Prominent Features OF Perfect Dresses
for Midsummer Wear.
The newest French bodices are no
longer basques, for though made to
spring over the hips slightly and show
the graceful curves below the waist
line, they arc not finished in the back
with tails Or postillion, but are
simply pointed or rounded as best suits
the wcarer's figure, and the fulncss Of
the skirt or its drapery is gathered on
the edges Of the back, following its
outlines closely. Whalebones extend
TO the end Of the point. and make it
slope prettily over the slight tournure;
this effect is best on plainly-coyercd
back forms. but is also given when the
middle forms are plat ed. The fronts
of such bodices are pointed only an
inch or two below the waist line, and
are covered by q girdle. or else by
sash which may be drawn straight
across the front, yet follows the point
in the back and drops down there in
wide loops and ends to form the only
drapery on the box-plaitcd skirt
When such bodices are made of light
materials, such as crepeline, vailing
or India silk. the tops of the
fronts are tucked by hand from
tho shoulders to nearly half
their length in clusters, each Of seven
or eight tucks very near together,
showing their edges rs accordion
plaits do. Two clusters of such tucks
begin on each shoulder. and o'.L each
side of the throat. All the fulncss is
drawn together in the middle at the
waist line under sash. and no darts
are taken in this outside fabric. To
trim this bodice further gros grain
ribbon an inch wide begins on the
shoulders and in front between the
clusters of tucks. and is laid smooth to
the end of the bodice, tapcring of
course toward the waist line; seven
rows of this ribbon descend from tho
shoulders. and one row is added from
under each arm. A gros grain sash
cut from silk threc-eigths of yard
wide edges this bodice in front and de-
sccnds to the TO the point in the back,
with its two long hoops and ends
gathered above the sash and falling
over it to make slight fulness, as the
skirt is box-plaitcd all around without
drapery. The full sleeves are tucked
at the top lcngthwise over a silk lin
| ing. and are gathered to n wide cuff
through which the hand passes. Three
rows of ribbon separated by two clusters
of tucks pass around the arm to form
such cuffs. The skirt of these ribbon
trimmed dresses when made of bor-
dered goods, such as nuns vailing,
has the sewage border at the foot, and
is arranged in fourteen or fifteen
broad box plaits sewed quite fiat from
the belt to the knees, then left to fall
| loose as fiounce to the foot. Three
rows of the inch-widc ribbon are set
down each OF these plaits the entire
length of the skirt. and are cut out in
forks or else turned under in loop
| The reader who is making summer
mourning dresses will find this design
excellent for light woolens, such as
vailing or crepcline. This fashion is
lioo pAelcy Aoh J oohs7 ehio ""to oooA
dresses for commencement day, and
tor the changcable vailings that will
be worn all summer. A pretty model
imported for Newport is of shot red
and black vailng, giving the soft red
hue SO fashionable for seaside
toilcttes; the sclvage border ut the
foot is black, and the ribbons used for
stripping. as we'll rs the wide silk sash
drapery, are of black gros grain. The
neck is draped with black lace barbc.
A feature of new French dresses is
IN attempt to do away with the high
standing collar SO long in favor. leav-
ing the throat bare as low as the COL
lar-bonc, and finishing the neck of the
dress with a turned-over anticipating
Of silk like that of the dress, or else
draping lace barbe along the sides
of the neck, arranging it in a fan-like
plated bow in back and front. This
new departure will only be adopted by
those with short, fair and plump
neck and throat. hence most of the i'm
ported dresses brought over this sea-
SON, when cut in this way. require a
little guimpe of net or embroidery. or
else kerchief-like folds of white India
silk laid close against the otherwise
uncovered neck. -Harpcr' Basar