Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-21
SUM M Err FABRICS
Light anc Airy Goods to Be Worn
in Warm Weather.
MANY new AND VARIED STYLES
Cloth Suits That Look Very Fine
and Fetching.
G REP ONS AND LA WIN S
3ecial Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, April 10. 1894.
The contrast between the bleak winds
which rage in all directions at once and the
shop windows filled with the ARREST of
spring CONNECTIONS is more marked than is
usual even at this time of year. The early
coming Of Easter and the misleading warm
days preceding rather forced the season.
1t is with something Of shivery sensa-
ton Of pleasure that one stops to examine
more closely some specially attractive OBJ
ject of summer attire or adornment, merely
as pretty thing to look at. but quite i'm
possible as anything to use-except in a fu-
ture which seems too far away and dim to
even consider now.
New York has not hint of spring in
vegetation to help along the belief that sum-
mer is really coming-some day-so the
imagination has no impetus from nature in
what is generally the business of the hour
in April, that is, spring shopping.
Rewilderment of COlOrs.
Taking the matter on trial. however, and
going into any one of the big shops. the be-
wilderment of light. colors and gauzy fab
rics makes itself felt before the outer door
is fairly closed, and in the course of fifteen
minutes the beautiful garments spread out
TO catch the rowing eye have conjured up q
whole summer of opportunities In which TO
display their charms and before one real
ICES 1t the unwary shopper is committed
and a choice is being made as to which is
really the prettiest and most suitable for
the coming warm season, which is all WIS.,
ion of the fancy as yet.
There seems to tie a tendency in shopping
inc ir1a ~ hridfya
proper, and ignoring the serviceable but
less attractive wool gowns, which would
naturally soonest come to use, to be led
away by the destinations of light silks,
muslin and laces, and cotton fabrics Of all
kinds
The styles are pretty and graceful, the
materials lovely, and the effects produced
most charming.
Lavish Use of Lace.
Among the touches of novelty is the use
of narrow Valenciennes lace on India silk
gowns. and waists sold separately from the
skirts. The very lightweight silks are
trimmed thus, very narrow bias ruffies
edged with the lace being the accepted way
of combining them.
Around the shoulders, outlining a yoke,
the rufiles are also used, instead of the
deep lace or silk frill which has already
been SO popular. Sometimes sthree over
tapping ones with a lace edge heading to
the upper one.
On other waists the ruffles continue to
the collar, making a full yoke of ruffles.
but only very slight figures can wear this
style and have ii becoming.
The dresses are lined throughout with
thin lawn, and are lightness and coolaess
personified.
Organizes and muslins of all kinds are
simply fascinating in their lovely coloring
and the attractive ways in which they are
made up. Insertions of lace put around
the skirt in rows still seem to be the IA
vorite trimming, the whole skirt being
thin accordion plated, giving a particularly
pretty effect. The waists are usually trim
med similarly, and the sleeves are varied,
some being plated and then pulled. with
and without insertions CT lace or pulled
enormously without the plating. Ribbon
or velvet stock collars and crush belts are
on almost every one. Other silk gowns,
taffetas with dots or figures in them or
bayedere or lengthwise stripes, are much
trimmed with the heavier laces IN ecru
tints and often with black satin ribbon as
additional accessories. two wide ribbons
sometimes extending down each side of the
front breadth, tied in a large bow at the
bottom of the skirt.
The lace continues to be put on in bertha
shaped effects, and the sleeves are rather
larger than even the winter styles.
Crepons IN very heavy crinkies and beau
tiful shades, trimmed with lace, generally
combined with black satin ribbon, make
the prettiest of wool gowns ana are as
elaborate as silks.
simpler Fabrics and Styles.
Coming to simpler fabrics and styles. the
pretty cottons are almost without number.
Duck in corored and white. linens in soft
art shades, Galatea cloth, cheviots and
p;oue are all made in the so-cailed tailor
STYLES. with coat and skirt, sometimes waist
coat though more often blouse waist is
the third garment of the suit.
In thinner cottons the crepons are in
beautiful colors IN stripes, in plain, deli
cate shades, and with a woven dot in the
more expensive qualities.
Ctevio is the name of a new cotton, with
a satin stripe in natural effect alternating
with one composed of small flowers, either
in one color or of the so-callei Dresden
STYLE combining various gay little blossoms
in the same stripe.
I,imties are prettier than ever. and their
name is legion as regards design and col
ors and there are also zephyrs. ginghams
and cambrics, with which everybody is
familiar.
Cloth suits there are In abundance. the
coat and skirt being the accepted version.
with shirt waists of silk or cotton. vests of
pique or cloth. null or chiffon being added
according to individual fancy.
Dotted muslin was somewhat worn last
year for vests This season many ready
male ones are seen, with crosswise inser-
tons of lace. or with just the muslin gath
cred full into velvet or ribbon collar.
To Vary the Vests.
lrlrIS with any ingenuity may vary these
vests Indefinitely, for they take very little
material and are easily cut and made at
home; or they may do as one girl did last
year, and drape one pretty square or scarf
of silk or embroidered stuff. pinning each
time, and SO getting new effects with each
adjusting.
Turkish work on silk was very effectively
used In this way, and in gold-colored silk
on white, with gold belt buckle, toned
with almost aiy costume.
The coats to the new suits vary consider
ably in style, and particularly length. The
skirts are often added at the waist line
still, and the back is flaring, giving the full
fiuted plaits of the winter.
Among the prettiest of the wool costumes
Is a cheviot of grayish Tone barred with a
darker thread. to give a small plaided eff
feet, the skirt full and moderately farfng
perfectly plain. and lined with dull pink
changeable taffeta silk.
The coat is of medium length rather
short indeed. With full back, large NUT
ton-leg sleeves, and large revers in front;
the coat barely meets in front at the waist
line. with a large button on each side COW
cred with the cheviot, and is intended TO
leave open. displaying the vest beneath, in
the old blazer" style. The coat is cut all
in one, which is prettier than with added
skirts. and is lined with the same silk as
the skirt 1t Is very light I'm weight light
In color, and about the prettiest model for
summer in wool outing costume FIX
actly the same thing unlined is ten dollars
cheaper in price, but neither looks nor
hangs as well as the other.
A Handsome Costume.
NJ