The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-01-25
THE FASHIONS.
Instructive Notes on the Subject of wom-
ans Dress.

Instructive Notes on the Subject of wom-
ans Dress.
PROFESSIONALLY this is a period of
extremes. While we may not be will
ing at once to accept all of the eccen-
tricities sent to us from London and
Paris, it is fact that we cannot but
admit that after time we quietly
wheel into line, and the first thing
anybody knows, are gently sailing
along in the wake of these cities, copy
ing their models, perhaps with little
grain of reserve, but eventually COM
ing up in tolerably fine style to the de-
signs that they have furnished US.
1t seems little strange, and to con-
sentative minds little shocking, that
English Grape, the heavy and somber
attire of first mourning, should have
become almost fad with Partisan de-
signers. But such is the case, and
Grape will be worn, whether we like it
or not, to an extent never before
known in this or any other country.
Entire dresses are to be made of it;
long wraps are all of Grape; the veil
that barely escapes the floor is to be
the popular style, and plaitings, ruch-
ings, ruffies and trimmings of Grape
are to be worn in the greatest pro-
fusion, even on some of the first
mourning dresses for others than
widows The regulation widows
costume is composed almost en-
tirely of this material. A Paris outfit
that was pronounced absolutely fault
less was made for widow, an extrav-
agantly beautiful woman, by the way,
and one who finds almost any material
she wears extremely becoming. The
dress, with very wide skirt, is of lus-
terless silk entirely Grape covered. 1t
is without trimming of any sort The
waist is made in the prevailing short
basque fashion, and has wide revers
turning back from a vest of plated
Grape. The sleeves are large lego
mutton and plain. The neck is fin
ished by tiny ruche. The bonnet is
merely foundation for the vail and
the white ruche that is again in the
height of fashion. The veil, which is
fastened with crape-covered pins, is
long, indeed could not be longer with
out sweeping the floor. The long
wrap is one of the notable features in
modern mourning. 1t is in a modified
ulster shape of silk with the Grape
over. With the exception of the cloak
lining, no other material than the
Grape is visible in the entire costume.
The cloak is doublc-breastcd and has
very wide revers, large sleeves and the
conventionalized shoulder and collar
ruifles of Grape with silk lining and
some sort of stiffening that makes it
stand up, almost concealing the throat.
All in all, this is one of the most re.
markable of the seasons mourning or
ders, remarka BILE in that it is said to
be type of what we may expect in the
near future.
Indeed, the crape-surfaced fad has
almost run its course in everything
colored. Why not transfer it to one OF
the most elegant of fabrics, the Grape
used for mourning attire?
Among the caprices of the moment
is the use of white Grape, the identical
fabric with the black save the color.
At private wedding in noble fam,
| ily, where bereavement was recent,
the sisters of the bride wore white
Grape costumes and violets. The fabric
made up in the most exquisite fashion
and the dresses were beautiful almost
beyond imagination. The decorations
| on that occasion were almost entirely
of English violets, the brides bouquet
and trimmings being of white, while
all of the others were of the ordinary
purple.
And so it appears that the anti
mourning societies have utterly failed
of their purpose, and that fashion i:
even more powerful than theories, pre-
cepts, economy, and the hard ant
painstaking work of philanthropists
for we are entering upon a crepe sea
son that will be elaborate almost be
vond reason, and, like it or not, WI
must accept it.
But the question arises, Why should
we object to it? There are those VIII
think they cannot wear Grape. Thes
may leave it alone if they choose
Others do not approve of it, and 40 on
compels them to follow the fashion
Indeed, in this country we all do pref
ty much as we please. But whateve
we do, we are quite sure to amble con
tentedly along on the fashionabl
highway, and accept as gracefully a
our circumstances will permit the, die
tum of the goddess that rules tn
world.-N. Y. Ledger.