Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-05-18
FEATURES OF FASHION.
Interesting Information For the Devotees
of Fashion.

FEATURES OF FASHION.
Interesting Information For the Devotees
of Fashion.
Silk is more used than it has been for
many seasons Panels, waistcoats and
sleeves in most of the wooden stuffs are
now in favor.
The particular choice of the season is
Bengaline, both plain and figured, be-
cause it is soft in drapery, lustrous and
rich looking, but not expensive.
Green is the favorite color for fancy
articles, and exquisite little purses for
young ladies ere of green leather in
heart shape, ornamented with the silver
monogram of the fair possessor.
The hair band or small coronet has
been revived as the most approved hair
ornament. 1t is set with gems, dia-
monds usually, exactly like the old
fashioned article and is equally becom-
ing with high or low coiffures.
Yellow is the favorite tint of the sea-
son for all dressy toilets and for the
decoration of palmer gowns. White,
strewn with tiny sprays of pink roses
and torget-me-nots enclosed in a lace
like brocade, is the most effective COM
bination for waistcoats.
Light shades will prevail for wooden
materials, and cheviot, diagonal, and
serge will be used for useful travelling
and street gowns. The cheviots will
have kind of plaid pattern in subdued
shades or narrow stripes, large waters,
or small flowers.
A new Partisan fancy prohibits the
wearing of jewels upon the skin. They
are sewn upon the material of the dress
and even knitted into the stockings. A
pair of pale green silk hose over a yard
long, recently finished, has small dia-
monds knitted into all the meshes.
Paste jewels and artificial stones will
continue to be a feature of dressy decor
ations on Jackets and bonnets as well
as gowns. Cut stones of one color in
three or four sizes will also be en-
ployed, sewed on net of the same color
and used most effectively with black
gowns.
Russian and Neapolitan violets have
lost caste by bei<e too much worn, and
polyanthus, acanthus, and cowslips,
with velvety petals, are the favorite
flowers of spring. The flowers are
placed under the brims of the smartest
headgear, resting on the hair like a
wreath.
1t is difficult to distinguish new hats
from bonnets, for they are like flat
plates with a box-plaited brim of lace,
having within close set wreath of gay
flowers. Indeed, the fashion of having
flowers 7and puffs of chiffon like old
style bonnet borders is now very
marked in all new head coverings.
Tweed is in high favor this spring, for
this canci111n 1rno II 1,
developed a strange frivolity of purpose
designs, brocades of all kinds appear,
and it has even lent itself to senti-
mental display of true lovers knots in
pale blue on darker ground.
The leading idea in the designs is rib
bon thrown on the foundation either in
wavy folds of tied in bow knots. Surah
is generously brocaded with pompadour
designs, and also is decorated with
satin motifs under the name Of ''Surah
de Barry" Another new feature of the
seasons silks is the shot effect which
runs through all the different varieties
of weave.
~Mitten" sleeves are the newest Of
all new sleeves. They fit the arm
closely and descend over the hand as
far as the knuclkles. New sleeves Of
all kinds are very long, entirely cover
ing the wrist and falling on the hand,
and their primary essential is an ex-
crescence, as unexpected as it is unnec-
essary, somewhere between the wrist
and the shoulder. The more fantastic
their outline the more approved is their
design by fashion votaries.
Bicycle and walking dresses are
made in russell tones of light wool. The
skirt. which just reaches the ankle, Is
faced with leather and has little tulness.
The waist is loose shirt of wool or
silk, as the season demands, and the
jaunty mannish jacket on pleasant days
is unbuttoned and turns back in re-
verse to show the shirt, which should
be of some bright and becoming shade.
A soft felt hat, laced boots and leggings
complete the outfit, beneath which is
usually worn a short petticoat and
knickerbockers the color of the gown.
Belts are an importantitem of the fash
ionable toilet this season. Soft leather,
velvet. canvas, passementerie and gold
and silver are employed in the different
varieties. There are Swiss belts, with
deep points in the front, and Cleopatra
SlruleS IaIAlnB low uOWu Oh INC ulpS.
There are Russia leather bands clasped
with the owners monogram in silver;
slender, flexible chain belts of gold,
and, perhaps, daintier than all the
others, narrow black velvet belts, ac-
centuating the slenderness of the waist
and clasped with Rhine stones, buckles
or Renaissance hooks of old silver.
New gloves are short and nearly al
ways with four buttons, to correspond
with the long sleeves, and those white
or pearl kid with black stitchings are
considered the most chic, with wool
gowns for dressy. street wear. The real
Russia leather gloves SO popular in
London through the winter have been
imported and are the most durable and
economical glove for common wear,
though they are rather higher priced
than ordinary kid. They are elastic
and neatly fitting, and, while as durable
as dogslxin, are much less clumsy, and
do not increase the size of the hand like
Al 4. III