The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-13
FOR FEMININE READERS
FASHIONS OF THE COMING SEASON
SHOW FEW STRIKING CHANGES.
Business Women Make the Mistake of
Attempting Too Much--The Useful
MirrOrs-Various Suggestions.

Extremely pronounced bows of ribbon
quite rival those of warm weather and add
their quota to the production of wide-reach-
ing or high-rising effects in millinery, says
an article on New York fashions. These
when united with plumage render new hats
the marked production which they are, nor
should ostrich plumes be omitted from the
list of millinery garnitures Again, they
impart the elegant finish all their own, and
in black give the admirable toning effect
possible to nothing else Black in general
IS used much as hitherto offset to
colors, and such use may indeed be looked
for so long as color shall reign in dress to
the extent which has been the case of
late.
New silks, like ribbons, show Oriental
mixtures of color in richer and darker COM
binations- and woods or mixtures of silk
and wool show effective patterns a
similar order where close-lying leaves and
flowers are a marked feature. At times.
however, the patterns become bold by rea-
son of heightened sprays, and such varie-
ties give special opportunity to tall and
slender women. AS the weeks progress
likewise fresh importations of the new can
vas weaves arrive and afford proof that
such styles are to be quite as popular in
wool as they have been in linen cotton.
Rep woods, too, come in for a large share
of attention. though neither can initiate
seriously against the demand for mixed
woods in small, indistinct checks stripes.
Economical buyers choose them. since be-
longing to no special season they last pro-
portionally longer, and these remarks hold
good also concerning plain materials such as
serge, cashmere or cloth. For the last
named there IS quite demand on the part
of ladies who are sufficiently ingenious to
add braiding, although the shops exhibit
dress patterns in variety enough to satisfy
the most critical.
In making, there is an admirable modera-
tion Extremes of any sort are avoided
skirts are narrower and sleeves less exag-
gerated, while corsages retain the features
that have rendered them at once dressy and
becoming. There is neatness, without Sc
verify, and convenience which does not
lapse into contempt of the aesthetic. Some
effort, indeed, Is made in the of skirt
trimming, but in thick materials, even
slight addition adds to weight, and gener-
alton accustomed to bicycle freedom is not
likely to tolerate much undue hindrance in
dress There Is a graduation in width ac-
cording to material and light quality fab
fulness.
More changes occur in sleeves than else
where, but ladies who have large-SleeVed
dresses or waists left over need experience
no apprehension. If very greatly exagger
ated, they cap easily be lessened; but I'M
less quite extreme they will not be mark
eddy out of style, though it is true that
new models show sleeves not unduly ex-
panded at the top, while quite number
have sleeves tight all the way, but with a
dropping puff from the shoulder. Such
style will give special opportunity to braid
ed gowns, since the tight portion of the
sleeve may be mass of braiding.
So long as sleeves remain full, capes will
be in favor, and handsome ones in cloth are
elegantly braided in contrasts or self-color,
effective adornment being added by rosettes
of Hercules braid set among patterns of the
narrow. Braided jackets give much oppor-
tunity both for comfort and coquettishness
to the young and slender but have the dis
advantage of being not easily put on or
taken off The-ease with which capes may
be placed around the wearer or discarded
has rendered ladies tolerant of the fact
that they are really insufficient protection
during the severity of Northern winter,
and now with the first decided shrinkage
in sleeves Newmarkets have again made an
appearance.