Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-01-03
PRETTY COTTON GOWNS,
styles That Seem to Have Taken thu
Country by Storm.


Country by Storm.
Cotton dresses Of percale, with spots
or stripes of color on white, or chintz
figures and stripes on china blue, ecru
or cream grounds, are made up in the
prevailing simple fashions, with a belt
cd waist, full sleeves and q straight
skirt that may have doap Spanish
flounce in front and on tho sides, or else
its fulness is gathered Oh two thick
cords all around, just below the belt.
The belted bodice is the oid-fashioned
spenser waist, called also the French
waist, with the only seamS those under
the arms and on the shoulders, the full
ness gathered at the waist line in front
and back, and plain at the Tsp, though
the present fancy Is for adding fulness
at the neck in front and back alike.
These 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. A turned
over collar and cuffs of open embroidery
are sufficient trimming. Formerly such
waists were permanently gathered to q
belt, but for fear Of shrinkage 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 IL the bodice
shrinks 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; OF
else the back can be made plain, and the
fronts drawn by ribbons passed through
two or three tucks extending from the
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
terial, and the back breadth should laI
to fasten on the left side, instead Of
having placket opening in the middle
of the back. If belt of ribbon IL used
it should be tackled on the skirt belt il
the middle of the back, and brought {,
the front or the left side, and tied by
the wearer Skirts with a Spanish
flounce have two breadths of percale tn,
whole length of the back, with tn
flounce only on the sides and front
formed of three breadths extending u
halfway between the knees and waist
then joined to top piece only half a
full, which is scantily gathered to tn
belt, The top of the hounce may hav
one or two standing ruffles, or else b
headed by puff four inches wide, wit
ruffle at each edge an inch wide whe
finished, either with a hem or else @
the percale doubled. Lawns are yer
pretty when made in this way, ais
dotted or sprigged white muslins, wit
colored ribbons drawn through double
rufies as heading for the deep founce
An odd fancy, quite the opposite c
J the gowns just noted, is that of maxim
gingham dresses in tailor fashion, wit
the double-breasted habit bodice an
the plain habit skirt. This style
liked especially for plaid gingham
notably those of the tartan coloring, an
these are made up with lining of tn
D same throughout, and are trimmed wit
I two rows of white pearl buttons on tn
front and on the back down the Coz
: tails; the skirt is cut bias and stitche
0 on the hem.-Harper's Bazaar.