Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-08
GOWNS THAT WASH.
Shirley Dare Tells of Pretty Fabrics
for Summer Fancies.
THE DRESSES IN BEAU BRUMMEL.
A Plea for Kate GreenaWay's and Other
Styles of Times AgOns.
HOW GIRLS WILL WEAR THEIR HAIR
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH. ]

ing. For the daintiest rosebud Of girl is
| human flesh and blood and throws off some
| pounds a day OF perspiration, or it is the
worse for her health and looks if she does
not. Most OF this is absorbed by the clothes,
and the country and city dust which settles
in them renders daily change indispensable.
1t is hard to see how it is possible to be
really nice without it. English houses are
making up a great variety of cotton and
linen gowns, washing silks and Veilings,
delaines and wool crepes, not to mention
seryiceable outing cloths that will stand
washing two or three times without loss Of
color.
1t is nonsense to insist that the expensive
cottoDs must be treated by the French
cleaners to keep the color. They may be
washed by any careful laundress, who un-
derstands to have soft water, with a very
little borax dissolved in it, and will wash
one piece through without stopping till it is
ready 10 dry. Then it should have a slight
dressing with wheat or potato starch, hav-
ing some isinglass in it, and be ironed with
more care than one in hundred is willing
to give. The point is to avoid any more
contact with water than is necessary to
cleanse the dress, and only starch to hold
the hbres and colors without stiffening.
CoTToNs AND LINENS.
Among the prettiest new cottons are the
striped and figured dimities, which English
makers call damask cotton, In soft dull
blue, lilac, or pink cord and cluster stripes
on the white firmly twilled ground which
gives its name. These are 35 cents yard,
are pretty and substantial enough to last for
seasons, and will bear ordinary washing.
The silk finished linens with small silvery
brOcade figuring in gray and blues bid fair
to be more appreciated than they have been.
Large plaids and bold stripes figure on the
counters, but woman of taste passes them
by, and contrives to look the very touch of
the mode with the polka dots, pin dots,
Marie Antoinette flower sprigs, and the
pretty new floral stripes; for instance, pale
blue with garland of small yellow roses on
white stripe, or pink stripe with haw-
thorn in white, things which make up
charmingly in those garden party dresses
which avenue modistes charge $50 for.
They are as much trouble to fit, it is said,
as silk gowns, take as many stitches, and
lace and ribbons count Just as much.
Which are so many arguments for woman's
understanding the full art and mystery OF
dressmaking or themselves. There is not
two days work with a sewing machine in
any cotton goods Tor an expert, and very
few women can make or save money to bet
ter account than in making their own cheap
gowns as they ought to be.
DRESSES IN BEAU BRUMMEL.
The artistic set in London are taking to
frocks with pulled short sleeves and long
silk gloves above the elbow, which used to
be pinned to the sleeve to protect the white
arms from sunburn, and iri,led skirts which
show slippers with ribbons crossed over tha
instep. Mrs. Bernard Beere, who wears the
best designed dress of any woman on the
English stage, appears in the long graceful
overdress and gown OF the Edgewofth
novels. which every woman OF taste desires
TO copy on sight. The new style has been
brought out very prettily in the dresses for
the new play, ''Beau Brummel," which re-
fleet great credit on the ladies Of the play.
The designs sent over expressly Tor the piece
by Mr.. Seymour Lucas, the English artist,
proving too expensive if made by cos
tuner, the ladies of Mr.. Mans6eld's conf
pany got up most OF the costumes them
selves from the pictures with very fair sue
cess.
In the first act Mrs. Brutoue as The
Duchess wears brocade of deep red, with
pattern of gold net between the stemless
roses which cover the surface. The waist,
with folds open to the belt, is filled with
mechlin dotted net and frills of handsome
lace, with rosette of the brocade at the
point in the back, long gloves OF pale tan
harmonizing with the old gold in the silk,
scarf of crane and lace and a wonderful
crimson silk drawn bonnet, with PIumes
which must delight the heart Of any mil
liner, for no amateur hands could achieve
such an enterprise.
AN IDEAL PARISIENNE.
Miss Beverly Sitgreaves was charming
in her dress for the cotillion scene. One of
the pest bred women on the stage, slender
and graceful as a grass blade, her swaying
figure in a pale willow green satin, with
Just lace enough to so ten it at the neck and
sleeves, made one think OF sylph, an Un-
dine, one of Daudet's ideal Psrisiennes, i'm
possible of awkwardness or incorrectnesS.
1t is a pity women in the audience do not
take note OF such examples of artistic
morality in dressing to see what may be
done with the simplest of pale green satin
frocks with surplice waist, a frill at the
hem and net tucker, worn with ladylike
grace and a slight, supple figure. The
sight of her elfn witeheries, her curves and
is enough to make women
forsWear flesh and incidence forever.
The tailor gown demands the best materials
for effect, and the Medici fashions are ruin
Gus il we'll carried out, or theatrical in the
worst sense if done at less expense. But the
X tte Greenaway styles, as we call them,
have been tried on our little folk long
enough to realize how charming they are Tor
older wearers. and they are likely to come
in ior a good while. The tight gowns,
which look like corset and bodice made in
one piece, look very wooden and piteous as
seen on the avenue beside the full French
waists and the coquettish old English gowns
IN lowered challies and gay silks which
venture out of doors on fine DAYS.
WILL BE GAY, INDEED.
The park will look like garden and the
streets like flower borders when the new
tyle takes possession, But 1 never heard
hat women were any worse wives and
riends when they walked out in gay mus
ins and howery delaines than when they
wear black till they smell of dye or go do
nure in mode colors.
One thing girls will be grateful for, thar
smooth hair will be worn this summer;
mooth hair in large coils or twists at the
pack, with slight gathering oi wave or
,url to so ten the face appears IN the newest
nodes abroad. The bang has bad itsf time;
he saints be praised, that Its ugllness is
,ver. Those who can pear II wear tne nalr
,rnsbed off the forehead and high in the
,ock for cooln-ss, with slight wavemarks to
hou the gloss of the hair at the sides
snonisb curls or 'beau catchers' are worn
~ mature coduettes, and the bandeau Of
,slvet or the ribbon tied in the hair suits
he styIes of Edgeworth simplicity.
SHIRLEY DARE.
THE LILYs PIETY.