Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-12-08
THE USES OF VELVET.
How Plain Dresses May BE Rendered Elal
crate This Season.

How Plain Dresses May BE Rendered Elabs
orate This Season.
The contrasting of the gown fabric
and color by the sleeve material and
hue is moro marked this autumn than
ever before, though ladies of quiet
tastes fe,t that the fashion had already
gone to some extremes. Velvet, of
course, is the leading sleeve material,
usually of strikingly, though not dis
cordantly, opposed color. Even in those
few instances where the same color is
employed in gown and sleeve the differ
ence in fabric gives enough difference
in tone to make contrast, velvet never
showing precisely the same tone of col
or found in other textures. Wool and
silk may be matched so exactly that the
eye passes unconsciously from one to
the other, but velvet while it is the
most harmonious Of fabrics, yet retains
its individuality under all combinations.
Possibly it is this popularity which
wins for 1t the allegiance of all classes
of women. as, even in It's grave colors,
1t may be used with the certainty of
securing a dressy effect. No fabric re-
turns a greater measure of reward to its
deVotees; very little velvet will go a
very great way.
Naturally, then, a whole sleeve of
velvet makes an otherwise plain gown
quite elaborate looking. Black astral
khan sleeves will be used in the cloth
gowns having astrakhan borders Fur
sleeves also will be seen when the
weather grows cold Passementerie
sleeves over sleeves of the dress goods,
or over contrasting colors and textures,
are introduced. Plaid silk, the vari.
colored plaid velvet and the heavy bro.
cades in bright colors will be favorite
sleeve materials Vests, revers, sleeve
bands (replacing the cuff, bodice, or
full-length plastrons, skirt panels, skirt
borders, high, f1aring collars and capes
will be of the sleeve materials oftenes5
though in some elegant gowns several
materials and colors are used, as in an
exquisite imported gown of Venus pink
brocade and velvet, which was given
sleeves Of seal-brown velvet The brown
velvet, pink velvet, and the one or two
tones Of pink in the silk and brocade of
the body of the gown produced the same
delightful result that the florists offer
in the shaded roses or the wonderfully
tinted orchids.
This use of different velvets on the
same costume does not afford the scope
for economy which is at first sug-
gested, as the combination of colors
requires the utmost nicely of skill, and
such gowns are suitably worn only
for the house or carriage, Fur will be
used upon dresses, not merely for
sleeves, but for vests, COLLAR lininga,
and in bands upon the dress skirt, rum
ming perpendiculsrly or around the bot
tom, or as a flounce heading. Fur belts
will be worn also, and narrow velvet
BELTS crossed in front, with jeweled or
plain ends Wide soft folds Of velvet
or silk will be laid about the waist,
fastened either upon the edge of the
bodice or the skirt as is preferred; the
effect is the same. These folds are
pointed little in 'front.' and often run
into two sash ends at the back, each
graduating in width toward the bottom,
which ia cut slanting The sash. and
sometimes the fold, is lined with silk,
If of velvet; or, if of silk. then with the
dress material. The fold may be closed
at the side without ornament or finished
with rosettes at the back-of which
short-waisted women should beware-ori
the fat bow, or may begin under the
arms and pass across tho front only.
The folds are best when made of even
width all around and worn without
buck es. n half-fnger fold is better
than W der one, and the prettiest sash
ends are net over eight inches at. the !.
bottom, possibly nine or ten, and much
narrower az the ton. --Chicaao Times.