Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-30
SILKS STRICTLY IN SEASON NOW.
1t Requires Discrimination to Select Well,
However.

Surely. never before was there a season
known when silks were so fashionable, of
every weight, color and expense, says the
New York Press. In the shops the coun-
ters are heaped with them; at all the FASH
ionable dressmakers silk costumes are in
variably shown as the smartest gowns any
woman can desire. and alas! not one. but
many of these fascinating gowns must be
included in thoroughly complete summer
outfit.
The prices of silks vary surprisingly.
For the newest patterns and best qualities
high prices are necessarily demanded, but
for less than 80 cents a yard. silk can be
bought that will be smart and serviceable
as we'll Every large establishment now
has bargain counters where marked-down
silks are tossed in apparently wild con-
fusion, while around them is a dense mass
of femininity I'm the maddest state of ex-
element pushing and pulling over the bar
gains in their wild effort to secure some
wished-for sample.
While the taffetas and stiff silks are the
most fashionable there is n constant de-
mand for the India silks, which are so cool
and delightful for summer wear. These
are sold surprisingly cheap, and in n great
choice of colorS and designs. The objec-
ton made to these silks by many people Is
that they are so soft and have no stiffen-
Ing consequently are not well adapted to
the flaring skirts and stiff effects that are
now considered absolutely necessary. The
difficulty, however, can be obviated as fol-
lows: Have silk skirt of taffeta, well
stiffened around the bottom and half way
up the back breadths, well gored and six
yards wide; over this hang the India silk
skirt, attaching it to the under pettcoat at
the band and on each seam as far down as
nine inches. Whenever cheap taffeta for
the underskirt is too expensive, a percale
iae d tod
or a silk ruiile trims 1t, so that If the up
per skirt blows up the under one will look
well.
THIS is CHIC.
An exceedingly smart India silk recently
finished had the under skirt faced on the
outside with broad band of pale tan
colorcd cloth. The upper skirt was cut up
| on the hips so as to show IA glimpse of the
cloth, The waist, cut in basque shape, had
a tight-fittng vest of velvet, which was
crossed by the folds of the, silk in surplice
| effect Bishop sleeves with cuff OF the
velvet, and stock collar TO match, with the
| inevitable tabs of white lace at the back
| finished this costume, which was severely
simple, but "chic" to superlative degree.
IN JAPANESE STORES.
| In the Japanese stores there are always
| silks to be bought. the blue and white
| China effects predominating. Then there
| are In many of the shops handkerchief
| silks-a silk handkerchief of which entire
costumes are observation-disclosures 1t must
| be said that, as yet. these have been more
used for fancy waists than for gowns
| The Madras colors and designs on the
| handkerchicfs and the red and yellow, are
| rather more vivid than is suitable for
| street wear. At the summer watering
| places this season these gowns will bios.
som forth in all their splendor.
| PARISIANS TRIM WITH VELVET.
In Paris. much more than over here, vel.
vet is used in trimming the summer silks
| but this year is to be seen over here chiffon
| or mousselne de sole, and quite as much
| used in ono place as the other, and this
| year Is combined with the velvet A silk
| gown just imported which Is for midsum.
| mer wear is corn colored silk, figured with
| blue and green leaves. The skirt Is plain
without trimming of any kind. The waist
| has full front of pale yellow chiffon
| held down with straps of dark green vel
| vet. At the back of the waist are also the
| straps of the velvet, which go to the tor
! OF the haring collar and taper becomingl,
| to the waist line, The collar has a full
| inner ruche of the yellow chiffon. The
| sleeves are most oddly cut and are appar
emily falling off the shoulders The hal
| Is mass of bluets with a stiff cockade OF
wired yellow chiffon and rabbitt-ear bow.
| of dark green velvet.