The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-03-12
HOW TURKISH WOMEN DRESS.
Wearing Neither Corset Nor Stockings, |
They Have Curious Articles of Attire.

1
They Have Curious Articles of Attire.
In not single respect is Turkish
lady's attire similar to that worn by
the women of the occident. Amazing
| ly little is known, in fact, about the
wardrobe of the women of the narem,
and the average American woman has
little idea regarding it, save that all
| Turkish women wear trousers and a
| veil.
The two most interesting and impor-
tant points are that the Turkish woman
wears no corsets and no stockings. She
has nothing whatever in the place of
corsets, butinstead of stockings knitted
wooden socks. Often these are open
worked very skillfully, and have a mix
ture of silk threads. Some are elab-
orately embroidered in colors and in
gold.
The very first garment the woman
of the orient puts on is long-sleeved
chemise of Broussa crepe gauze. This
is made exactly like the seamless holy
coat of Treves, and its neck is cut out
and hemmed in close roll.
| ne UTOuStTS IuOSI OlDSH vi
chintz or cretonne, and are vivid and
startling in color. They are put on
Immediately after the chemise, and are
about four inches longer than the leg.
They are fastened by drawing-string
at the waist, tied in front, and they
hang down over the ankles.
The entarri, a garment taking the
| place of the trained skirts of the west,
comes next. 1t is of cotton, wool, silk
or satin, perhaps of rich brocade, per-
haps of brilliant tint, but of whatever
material it may be made it is bright and
gay. 1t consists of four breadths.
Next in order come the sash and the
jacket, the latter being worn only in
warm weather. tits shaped like whatwe
call an Elton jacket, and buttoned to
the waist line with small jewels or gold
buttons. The sleeves are sometimes
elbow sleeves. always loose and often
left flowing below the elbow. The
curious thing about this jacket is that
while it is well fitted in the back, all
the portion that should cover the breast
is cut away, leaving the entire bust eX-
posed.
While the other portions of the cos
tune worn by Turkish women are won
derfully picturesque, the most pride
of all is taken in this jacket. Velvet
silk or satin are the materials used for
it. The wives of the richest Moham-
medans have it embroidered with seed
pearls, turquoise or coral, and always
with gold and silver threads.
Exceedingly important, too, really
the most important article in this at
tire, is the yashmal1, or Turkish veil
The Turkish woman wears no hat, but
she nevertheless is not debarred from
the usual feminine prerogative, for il
is invariably in order for her to query
whether her yashmak is on straight
In fact, a woman shows whether she
has style or not by the way she wears
this veil. 1t is a law of the prophet
that Mohammedan women shall never
be without it when outside of their
homes; and this law is rigidly adhered
to.
One valuable use the veil has. Il
etherealizes by it's folds the entire
face, very necessary thing when the
feminine custom of painting the whole
countenance is taken into considera
ton. Without her veil the Turkish
woman looks rather ghastly when she
is in full regalia. Her eyebrows are
blackened with kohl, her lips are Grim
soned, her cheeks are dyed carmine
and the rest of her face is whiteneC
with arsenic paste or some similar com
pound.-N. Y. World.