Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-13
LADIES' COLUMN.
Fashion Precedes the Homeward
Flight of the Swallows and a Wise
Woman Shops Accordingly.
Faster and More Furious the Dance
Goes on, as the Lenten Season
Draws Nigh-Dresses.
Luncheons an Easy Form of Hospitality,
and Some Hints for their Preparation.
Notes of Personal Adjoining, Etc

After the Christmas festivities, while
the memory Of gay music Of the New Year
oall, and the flashing brightness of holt
day toilets still ravish eye and ear, the
gay tnrong begins to think and talk OF
spring fabrics and spring styles. The
sober matron, however, revels in
thoughts Of purchases at reduced prices,
and during this month haunts the bargain
counters, and if s provident husband hiss
supplied the purse she does not shop in
vain, but finds many standard goods at
such figures as warrant large purchases.
These dsvs sre also favorable for work,
and the making Of undergarments, chill
dren's school suits and such other cloth
ing as is always sessonable gives plenty
of occupation until the spring fashions
become pronounced.
Already the merchants in trade centers
are bringing out new cotton fabrics, satin-
cites and braidettes, In great variety Of
colors and in odd and pleasing combine
tons Of novel hues; checks, plaids and
stripes are ali exhibited, and ardennes
suitings, pretty for misses and children,
are shown in new colors and lace effects.
Gay society is making the most OF the
short time that intervenes until Lent
comes and puts a period to ali gayety,
giving the butterflies Of the social world
sort OF chrysalis existence until Easter
Sunday wakens them 20 life.
For evening dress tulle is still favor
lite. There Is new black tulle, embroid-
cred with jet representing sheaves of
wheat, hay, grass and straw worked on
in raised stitch; costume Of this made
over black watered silk IS extremely rich
aud elegant. 4 kind of tulle known as
Pompadour is novel; this is white tulle
covered with pale colored roses and bows
OF pale blue ribbon thrown here and the re
amidst the flowers. a dress Of this has
an underskirt OF white MORE, q corssge
of the same material with full over
bodice Of tulle.
Some pretty evening dresses hsve pan-
els of gauze or lace and are ornsmented
with loops OF ribbon, sprays OF flowers Or
plumes of marabout.
For dinner and reception dresses moth
ing is quite SO popular IS elk combined
with plush. A skirt OF silk is finely plat
ed, not to the edge, this being cut In very
deep sharp scallops and flowing freely
like 8 full flounce. The habit bodice is
of plush, buttoned at the waist by two
ORNAMENTAL buttons and disclosing
plated vest OF the silk this dress is very
pretty in gray and pink. Sharp contrasts
in color no longer prevail; materials now
manufactured show shot effects, Gnd so
closely and cleverlV are the colors com
bined that it is difficult to say where one
begins and the other ends.
The Russian craze has given work for
idle fingers by making fashionable the
sampler stitch of our grandmothers; the
ss-stfch so much affected at the pres
ent day is only this and is quite as pretty
an orDamentation for the linen morning
robe as it is for towels and for aprons.
Much Of this work is now being done
preparatory to the summer campaign.
In wrappers proper there seems to be but
little change; some have tight fitting
backs with vatican plat from the neck,
and loose fronts. while others are made
with tucked yokes and moderately full
skirts. Cords and tassels are more
fashionable now than ribbon TO
confine the waist. A very charm
ing neglige costume for breakfast
is OF figured China silk with cclored silk
lace as garniture down the fronts; bows
of velvet Of divers shades to match the
colors in the silk are put in the lace st
intervals.
Redingotes are still popular, and are
made so long as to almost hide the dress.
Another Russian garment ls the muscO-
vte; the waist of this Is very long in the
hips and plated skirt is attached.
This dress admits of an unlimited am cunt
of galleon trimming to relieve its ex-
treme plainness. It forms an appropriate
street dress, especially If quiet in tone
and Of proper material to meet the mud
covered streets that abound in the winter
season.
A pretty house gown for ordinary &C.
casions is Of cashmere with full drapery
in front turning back on one side OF the
skirt in i,bot lined with some pretty
silk. The underskirt is kilt
ed, and there is girdle of silk cord
knotted at one side. The bodice has
jabots on either side, lined with the silk
and meeting in point to simulate vest,
the silk also appears IN sleeve ornaments.
A travelling dress recently made for
the skirts was made in welts,
tdllOr's welts, short apron
drapery crosses the front, and the
right side. The left eide is plain to let
the Welts show to the waist line, and the
back drspery is in large plsits on one
side caught up on the other. The bodice
Is short tailor made affair, satin lined.
The practiced eye of fashionable
woman is already able to discern some
little change in millinery. Although by
no means radical they mark the approach
of another season.
Coronet fronts appear on many of the
new bonrets; so do small, square crowns.
Most Of the bonnets present q snug, COM
pact appearance, though the trim
ming inclines to be high in front
yet. but not as high as it was
last season. Feathers are, generally