The Van Buren press., 1895-10-05
DRESSES OF THE DAY.
Notes ON the Latest In Outing Costumes fol
the Ladies.

DRESSES OF THE DAY.
Notes on the Latest In Outing Costumes for
the Ladies'.
The occupation Of the dress reformer
Is gone. Evolution and revolution are
withus in full play, and Is there Is no
such thing as standing still or stag.
nation in fashion the work will 60 on
with more or less rapidity until out OF
all forms of chaos will come sppropri.
ate, simple, elegant and convenient,
costumes suitable. for all occasions.
There is a great hue. and cry Just
now about bicycle dress. Someone
sends forth a melancholy wall to the
effect that the short skirt snd blazer
are not appropriate for women to wear
because they may come into the draw
ing room. Society has more than once
been shocked when men in hunting
costume presented themselves on more
or less formal occasions. and society
has survived and everybody seems 70
be dbing reasonably we'll. The shock
has: been, recovered from, it's only
effect being to emphasize the fact OF
the eternal fitness of things in dress as
well as in everything else.
1t is difficult to see why a neat, trim,
well-made skirt and blazer should
be more out of place in parlor than
the hunting suit, but that is no reason
why we should expect to see 1t there.
Indeed, fashion ID becoming exceeding
ly arbitrary in many matters, and 1t is
not admissible to appear on state occa-
sions in any other than state costume
But 1t is quite out of the question to
lay down hard and fast rules for any
thing in this world. With the present
rage for wheeling and the arbitrary
costumes required for it, it would be
simply nonsensical to make a point
against such dress if called upon to
meet one of the ordinary incidents of
social life. A few days since couple
of ladies took a twenty-five-mile
spin, arriving at the house Of an ac.
quaintance when afternoon tea was
going on. The hostess and the new ar
rivals fecognized the situation; the
former introduced the newcomers,
who had plenty of social tact and air
to carry the situation out successfully.
They mingled with the guests, cap in
hand and gloves tucked under the belt,
took their afternoon tea, enjoyed the
chats and comments, talked every
thing from wheel to Wagner and then
mounted their silent steeds, amid the
plaudits Of the guests assembled on the
porch and started for home, with q
chorus of ''good-byess and good
lucks" following them. The greatest
difficulty in all these matters is that
too much is made out of little. 1t is
the thoroughbred society woman who
is able to grasp at glance every stu
alton and meet it as it should be met.
Special attention is just now given
to yachting dresses Some Of these
are extremely stylish and should be
becoming, or they should be studious-
ly avoided. Unbecoming dresses in
out OF the ordinary styles are in the
poorest taste Imaginable. A white
linen duck. if white suits the wearer,
is the most approved of all materials.
The skirt is made after the usual pat
tern and the blazer has the full-skirted
effect of the ordinary jacket. The
most approved yachting dresses are
tailor-made and are plain to severity.
A skirt waist OF cambric, sometimes of
wash silk, is worn; the sleeves are full
but not extreme, and the back of the
jacket is close fitting. with loose, flow
ing sides. A broad leather belt passes
through the sides of the jacket and
around the back, then over the shirt
front This leaves the fronts and the
sides Of the jacket loose. This style is
specially becoming and gives one q
trim effect without any appearance of
constraint. Buckskin or canvas shoes
are worn with these costumes and
white wash leather gloves. The sailor
hat is, of course, the regulation head
gear, and q small bag attached to the
side Of thn belt 10 indispensable for
handkerchief, memoranda and my
lady's minor belongings.
French designers are bound to force
the long shoulders on the market in
one way If not in another. The latest
6HOTt buOWS q oilOuluCI nCdh CAbICMC-
ly long and running into point over
the top of the arm. The body of the
garment is curved in front and back,
so that across the upper portion of the
bust and the back it is really little
wider than heretofore. The sleeve is
gathered to this point. II is ugly but
fashionable, its only redeeming feature
being that the point rises and lowers
when one moves the arm and does not
interfere with freedom of action.
Some of the new French costumes
have jackets without any extra full
ness in the skirt. They are as straight
and uncompromising as though sawed
out of boards, are not specially stylish
and becoming, but are new, and are
meeting with fair amount of favor
on this account They are cut very
short, just covering the hips. Vests
are low-cut, and starched fronts, high,
turned-over collars and cross-ties are
worn. The edges of the garment and
the seams are outlined with fat braid
stitched on smoothly and matching the
material in color.--N, Y. Ledger.
There will be great vogue the com
ing fall and winter seasons for reppet
silks corded silk and wool. and all