DeSoto times. (Hernando, Miss.) 1879-1898, 1890-07-31
PRETTY COTTON GOWNS,
e'yies That Seem to Havc Taken the
Country by Storm.

Country by Storm.
Cotton dresses OF percale, with spots
Or stripes of color on white, or chintz
h8nres and stripes on china blue, ecru
or cream grounds, are made up in the
prevailing simple fashions, with belt
ed waist full sleeves and a straight
SKIRT that may have a deep Spanish
ilounce In front and on the sides, or else
Its fulness is gathered on two thick
coros all around, just below the belt.
The belted bodice is the old-fashioned
spenser waist, called also the French
waist, with the only seams those under
the arms and on the shoulders, tho full
ness gathered at the waist line in front
ana back, and plain at tho top though
the present fancy is for adding fulness
at the neck in front and back alike.
Ihese waists are without lining, but
should be strengthened under the arms
by being faced with strong white muslin
from the tips of the shoulders down to
the waist line. The fronts are hemmed
and fastened by small white pearl but
tons set very near together. turned
over collar and cuffs of open embroidery
are sufficient trimming. Formerly such
waists were permanently gathered to a
belt, but for fear of shrnkage in these
days of very long waists they are now
cut to extend four Or five inches below
the belt or waist line, and are very
slightly gathered on belt facing of
strong muslin, which can be removed
and set on lower down if the bodice
Shrlnks when laundried. For very
slight figures these waists can be gath.
cred full in the neck and on the should
ers, then drawn into yoke shape by
three or four cords in front and back; or
else the back can be made plain, and the
fronts drawn by ribbons passed through
two or three tucks extending from tho
armholes to the middle of the front, and
tied there in small bows.
Skirts of cotton dresses need not have
foundation skirts though those import
ed usually have them. They should be
always finished with belt of the ma
torial and the back breadth should lap
to fasten on the left side, instead of
having placket opening in the middle
of the back. If a belt of ribbon is used,
it should be tackled on tho skirt belt in
the middle of the back, and brought to
the front or the left side, and tied by
the wearer Skirts with "a Spanish
founce have two breadths of percale tho
- l
founce only on the sides and front,
formed of three breadths extending up
halfway between the knees and waist,
then joined to II top piece only half as
full, which is scantily gathered to the
belt The top of the flounce may have
one Or two standing ruffies, Or else be
headed by puff four inches wide, with
rutfle at each edge an inch wide when
finished, either with hem or else Of
the percale doubled. Lawns are very
pretty when made in this way, also
dotted or sprigged white muslins, with
colored ribbons drawn through doubled
ruff1es as heading for the deep 1ounce.
An odd fancy, quite the opposite of
the gowns just noted, is that of making
gingham dresses in tailor fashion, with
the double breasted habit bodice and
the plain habit skirt This style is
liked especially for plaid ginghams,
notably those Of the tartan coloring, and
these are made up with lining of the
same throughout, and are trimmed with
two rows of white pearl buttons on the
front and on the back down the coat
tails; the skirt is cut bias and stitched
on tho hem. m.-Harpers Bazaar.