The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-12-31
ELEGANT. STREET COSTUMES.
Fabrics BcinS Used In Outdoor Gowns-
symmetrical Dress,naking.

Fabrics Beins Used In Outdoor Gowns-
symmetrical Dressmaiting.
Simple walking costumes are mado
entirely of one plain fabric or of wooden
alone, but most daylight gowns, even
those OF the richest description, fre-
quently have the woolens intermixed
with silk or striped or plaided material.
Save in black. which for many reasons
is not submitted to the same rule as
color, gown made entirely of plain
silk is the exception. The softer, rich.
er brands of Lyons gros-grain or faille,
1T is true, look best alone when trimmed
with the new, elegant passementeres,
which have but ono observation-disclosures
price. Combinations Of two shades Of
brown, heliotrope, blue, gray, mignon-
cite OF tan coler are preferred, and the
passementerie may match one or the
other, or, better, be of the two, with an
intermixture of bronze or gold thread,
for all, except the gray, cut steel or
black suiting, this is best. Black cos.
tunes arc in high favor, black silk is
little worn just now, out of "half'-
morning. for the daytime, tn ough for
emi-toilet it maintains its supremacy,
on account of its convenience, and also
for the reason that it is o fabric that
never yet has been vulgarized by repe til
ton.
One OF the accepted authorities in
fashion says that to all women interest.
ed in dress'-and what woman is not so
interested?-the all-important maxim,
the guiding principle, ever to he re-
ceived and admitted. is: know thy-
self" Of all the aims with which an
intelligent woman may undertake the
art OF dressing we'll, the most obiec-
tionable is that of dressing fashionably.
Specialties Of dress, and even novelties,
sometimes fail in being successful, and
there is always moro or less danger Of
losing sight OF what is refined and ele-
CANT In the pursuit of what is simply
striking. On the other hand, much imi-
tation is not desirable, for the choice of
shapes, as well as that of material, re-
quires individual taste and Judgment.
and to that end every woman should
understand better than any one else
what is best suited to her style and
bearing. Hence, not to know ones
self results in inevitable disaster, as re
CARDS perfection in dress.
II your shoulders are narrow, do net
wear sleeves which are f1atand UPRIGHT.
but rather balloon-like at the top, and.
above all, avoid puffs at the elbows
nor must you have wide trimming
around the armholes of your bodice; yet,
at the same time, be careful not to make
your shoulders too broad for your hips,
Study the proportions of your figure II
your body is too short for your height,
lengthen your waist and wear long.
skirted bodices. IL the reverse, ac-
centuate the perpendicular lines of your
skirt, and do not take from the length
by having wide bands of trimming
around the foot. If you are short in
stature, be chary of the long-hipped
coraline jacket, which is fast gaining
ground, because it is the novelty of the
moment. Happily, we have stepped
out, and beyond the limits of old opin.
ions, which were so arbitrary as to
seem like inevitable laws. Less than q
century ago there was but one shape OF
bonnet and gown for each season, and
every woman dressed her hair exactly
as her neighbor did.
While straight skirts prevail in gen.
eral, the majority of dinner and even
ing dresses have some slight drapery
addedson the hips or in the side and
back breadths. The hip drapery is fire..
auently emphasized by being of differ
ent fabric from the skirt, and in some
cases, like that of the bodice, virtually
it into paniers, which NAV
either terminate in floating ends at tho
back, or merge into the back bread tbs
Of the skirt. Reception toilettes for at
homes arc OF extrerue originality snd
Of equally extreme sumptuousness.
Cloths of very light colors are used,
richly embroidered in silks, metal
threads ami spangles, and trimmed with
,ostly light furs, such as chinchilla and
blue fox, or with feather bands Tho
bodice is most often in the form of
'ounded jacket, more or less shorr,
mounted over an under bodice or vest
%