The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-07-06
FEMININE FASHIONS.


FEMININE FASHIONS.
New Notions In the Department of WOm-
ans Dress
The special am bition of the average
| woman is to get into her skirts some
cord Or braid stiff enough to make
| them stand out so as to give her as
nearly the shape of a pyramid as pos
siblc. There are little strips of closely
woven fiber that are used for this pur-
pose; but these break down and get
out of sha pc almost Immediately One
of the best arrangements is a hard
twisted cord stitched into a thick cot
ton band. Row after row OF this is
put in, making a band something like
an inch wide. With cordcr in the
sewing machine this is by no means a
long or difficult task. Another home
made device is strips of fber-cloth cut
on the bias. folded over and stitched
through half Il dozen times.
There is, however, very little need to
worry about spreading skirts, for it is
said that their doom is already scale
in Paris. md that the limp a nd clinging
is to follow the recent spaSmodic effort
to get as near to hoops possible.
1t will be n great blessing to fcminiui-
ty when this haring craze goes out, for
there is more vanity and veNation OF
spirit to the square inch in the SO
spreading skirts than in anything tina
has afflicted womanl@ind for the past
decade.
The plain skirt remains, although a
few overskirts have made their appear
ance, and some drapcries are already
on exhibition. But the handsome. Sc
we're plain skirt is too popular to be
easily pushed aside by more ella bora te
effects The markets are full of hand
some costumes. \ dress of cameis-
hair has nine cores in the skirt, and
each seam has a ba nd of inch idle gal
loon set over it. The waist is close-fit-
ting, with very wide revers and a full
length vest that buttons under one
side or the front, the joining being en-
tirely concealed.
There are little. pocket-1id shaped
basque skirts-a suggestion of the re-
turn of the old-timc short basque that
was, in many respects, the most desira-
BILE style that the majority of women
have ever adopted.
Sleeves are large as ever, and some
authorities say they are still spread
ing. new model has a trimming OF
galloon set from wrist to elbow on a
leg-o'-mutton sleeve. The ga'loon
meets at the cuff and spreads the
sleeve widens: the upper ends of the
strips are either turned in to form
points or the ends are doubled over and
make a loop, which is left loose for
about an inch and a half. The sleeves
of ummer dresses will be trimmed in
this same fashion with ribbons a bout
Although a great deal of summer sew
ing is already under way, the demand
for velvet would suggest autumn rat h.
or than spring.
There are full wa lists, Jackets, collars
and capes of velvet, also enormous
quantities of velvet ribbon for trim
ming. Skirts have trimming of wide
bands made up of velvet ribbon Of
graduated widths. These arc set on
about half an inch apart, and are very
pretty if the material on which they
are used is suitable. Velvet ribbon on
very thin ia brics should not be used,
although this is frequently seen, but
the most appropriate trimming for
such goods would be gauze ribbons or
some of the lighter weights of satin
gros-grain.
Figured velvet is again popular, and
very handsome dress is made Of
crepe-wool goods and velvet brocade.
The combination is unique but very
stylish, and the materials are han d.
some, is necessarily very elegant.
Plaids are one of the new fads;
whether in wool, silk or velvet, the de-
mand seems to be increasing. hand
some costume recently made to order is
of putty-co1ored broadcloth and black
velvet. The skirt is Of velvet, a broad
cloth front covered with cut-out velvet
embroidered in jet. The bodice is Of
velvet with lapels and cuffs Of cloth
and cut-worl. With this dress there is
n rather deep velvet cape with two col
lars--a large one of cloth and open
work, the other of velvet, both being
ella bora tely trimmed with jet. A ruche
of ribbon, closely plated, finishes the
neck, and there are very long ribbon
hem of the sl>irt.-N- y. Ledger.