National Baptist world., 1894-09-14
FASHIONS IN DRESS,
Timely Suggestions Concerning the Max
ing of Stylish Costumes.

ing of Stylish Costumes.
The minor details of dress are receiv-
ing large share of attention just
now. With fancy waists, collars, vests,
WaiStcOats, blOuses and neck dressing,
one may almost transform an ordinary
wardrobe. 1t takes but little time, and
less material, to fit up some of these
things, and their effect in Frightening
the average costume is necessary to
expense, and eminently pleasing to the
eye. A great deal of very fine plait-
ing is seen on some of the new import
ed dresses, and when appropriately
used, is an exceedingly advantageous
means Of trimming. especially in the
hands of the amateur. The full vest
or front of silk is boon in hot wealth
er. With simple blazer suit of duck
or serge, with one of these soft-draped
waists, one may be as cool as modern
dress can be arranged.
There are several styles of these vests
Among the most desirable are those
with a collar, half-ftting back, with
draw string Or trap, and the draped
front usually of Grape, soft brocade or
India silk, either plain or figured. They
are easily made, the collar having a
stiff lining, with folds of the material
over it. The front is fitted in around
the neck and sewed in at the shoulder
seams; the linen may extend under the
front if one chooses, but this is not gen
orally the case, as the front fits equally
well without it, and is much cooler
There is belt that is worn outside of
the band of the skirt, or draw-string
and extra belt, according to the taste,
figure Or convenience of the wearer
There are also stylish fronts of
linen, duck or cheviot, to be worn with
low-cut waistcoats or vests. These
vests are emphatically mannish, but
are comfortable and appropriate with
severe tailor costumes. The blouse
is quite as popular as heretofore,
although the fancy waist seems to
have, for the moment at least, dis
tracted the attention from it. But
there is SO, so much comfort about a
blouse, and it is so eminently stylish
and becoming, that it seems to be re-
served more especially for travelling
and informal occasions. Shoulder
models show more fiat trimmings and
great deal Eof putting. Elaborately-
trimmed waists with galloon and ruch-
ings of silk made by folding the silk
double and gathering it through the
middle are seen. The collars on almost
all dresses remain high and close, an
exceptionally uncomfortable fashion
for hot weather, but one which seems
to obtain in all styles of dress except
those for strictly house or evening
wear A handsome costume is of plain
gray silk. The skirt has a straight,
slightly-gored front, at the sides of
which are panels of deep plaits. The
sides and back of the skirt are gath
cred in the usual fashion. There is a
very deep corselet Of plain black gros-
grain, with ends of very wide black
ribbon falling from one side of the
front almost to the hem of the skirt.
The waist is in jacket-fashion but the
fronts are cut away to the first dart.
The jacket-skirt is plainly finished and
has very little fullness in the seams,
fitting the figure almost smoothly.
Very wide revers in cape-shape fall
from the sides of the collar, covering
the tops of the sleeves. These revers
are of silk, to match the corselet; the
collar is also of silk; the gathered front
of the gray meets the corselet belt.
The sleeves are made after new
model, the effect is that of perfectly
plain, rather close-fitting leg-o-mut-
ton sleeve. From the shoulders a sec
ton of the goods is draped, one end en-
tering the seam at the top of the front
of the sleeve and passing around to be
gathered in on the back and extending
slightly under the arm. The general
effect is hat of large loop of material.
IN. Y. Ledger.