Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-10-08
If you ARE NOT YOUNG.
How a Woman May Soften Times Ray

How a Woman May Soften Times Raw
ages.
Black is usually safe, but there are
also many colors which become the
complexion of middle age. Most reds
suit fair women as well as brunettes
past their prime, but green's are only
suited to dark women. The deep, full,
grass-green now worn in velvet may be
chosen safely by almost any complexion,
and elderly women should bear in mind
that rich materials are suited to them;
that velvet, plain and brocaded, silk of
the best texture, lend dignity to age,
and that in mantles as well as dresses
splendor of detail should not be ignored.
Fawn is favorite color now, but it is
young woman's shade, unless it be
loaded with jet or gold trimmings. 1t
is better to have one handsome gown a
year and rich mantle in three years
than to choose many unimpressive
toilets for those who have passed the
heyday of youth.
Care must be taken in choosing the
patterns of the materials worn by stout
figures. Horizontal lines must be most
carefully avoided; long straight panels
diminish the apparent size, and great
care must be taken in hanging the
skirt, especially if it be plain one.
Long, shallow plaits ought to be in
serted at the back of the hips, and it
should be so managed that few soft
horizontal folds fall about a quarter of
a yard below the waist in front, dis
guising the outlines of the figure. The
present style of cutting the skirt on
the cross is a help in this class of dress
| making, but striped materials must not
be chosen, and on no account must the
fabric be fitted to the waists without
plaltS as now worn sby young people
The cross cut materials are generally
more elastic.
The best way of trimming bodice
is to have either braces or long revers
on either side, narrowing at the waist,
| covering the front darts. stripe
down the center, hiding the fastenings,
is also good. Long, graceful lines
must be chosen in the arrangement of
any drapery on the bodice, and short,
sleeveless jackets are to be avoided.
Polonaises skillfully managed diminish
the apparent size and though the pres
ent long cloaks cut the figure, and
should be avoided by those who are
short and stout, they are admirable for
| tall, stout women. A girdle placed
low about the hips, in the hands of n
slSillful dressmaker, may be made to
lessen the size of the wearer,
while unskillfully treated it will
increase it. The present style of
wearing chiffon on the front of the
bodice enhances the charm of middle
age; and often it is an advantage to
trim one side, and then carry the folds
across. The waist frills of lace now
worn can be used with good effect if
they are made to end at the side and
not carry in front. but it must be borne
in mind that if the hips are big every
thing must be done to lessen their APP
parent size, and any extra trimming on
the hips is calculated to enlarge the
figure Nothing must, be tightly girt
in at the waist. Long jackets with jet
drops soften the outlines, and stout
women, in trying on both bodice and
skirt, should test the effect seated as
we'll as standing.
The sleeves must on no account be
made over high or broad, and women
with short necks should be specially
careful on this point. For tea gowns
the long pendent sleeves are desirable.
In mantles long sides proves to be
great help to short, stout figures.
With hats end bonnets, much must be
left to the individual. Probably it will
be apparent that it is advisable to dis
guise the nape of the neck and the lines
which will come beneath the chin.
This will make it necessary for a bon
net to be continued low down in the
neck, and strings made of black lace or
chiffon should be tied beneath the chin.
It is only quite old ladies who will rec
oncile them selves to wearing strings
to caps, but the same result may be
produced by encircling the throat with
soft diaphanous materials. Middle age
should abjure linen collars.-Chicagc
Tribune.