The San Francisco call., 1896-04-05


than one. but on the beautiful
Christian understanding OF this
season | must not dwell, for TO
me belongs the discussion OF all the love-
hest. freshest and daintiest of spring and
summer apparel, for were our stores ever
quite so attractive as they are Just at
present? Downtown a very brief tour of
inspection will reveal the fact that the
prettiest of capes and mantels, the most
ethereal and artistic of lawns, mulls and
organizes, the choicest and most beautiful
of silks and the most chic bonnets and
hats are to be had in this City, which can
not be said to be lacking in well-groomed,
stylishly clad women.
aturally the past week has been ex-
tremely quiet from a social standpoint,
but the coming days, until the exodus be-
gins, will be well filled. Many teas and
receptions are announced, several dances
and the usual number of card parties.
Too bad, is ii not. that several delightful
affairs have had to be indefinitely post
poned."
l understand that one of our bellies has
no superstition concerning the month of
May, as her wedding will take place on
the 20th.
Little SausalIto is to be gay this sum-
mer, and its rival, beautiful Belvedere, ;"
is to be favorite resort some OF our most
delightful people having secured cottages
for fve months, so "the Night in Venice"
will; 1t is predicted, be a more brilliant
success than ever. The usual set will be
seen at Monterey, Santa Cruz and Castle
Crags.
AS smost of us wear corsets, they are q
generally Interesting subject, and at the
present moment embroidered batistes are
the favorite materials used. They come
in rose pink, blue, silver gray and hello
trope. which are all embroidered in silk
of the same color, and there are also white
batistes with colored designs upon them,
and black batistes similarly treated. Bro
cades are always used in the manufacture
of these useful adjuncts to our wardrobes
but those most liked exhibit the choicest
of patterns of Louis Seize type, and pink
roses on pearl satin ground is COM bina-
tion always dainty and desirable. Corsets
are being made with special care for ath-
letic women. Bicyclists have their stays
made short in front and long in the back
for riding. The short French corsets are
always worn, and now many slender
women are wearing them altogether.
smartly gowned New York women declare
many OF them, that to go through the
season 1t is necessary to have at
least dozen pairs, with petticoats to
match, which is the correct thing now
adays, and the forated designs are Pc
culiariy adapted to this purpose, botn
corset should be finished with lace and
three rows OF beading, through which
narrow satin ribbons are run.
am glad to be able to announce
that the correct corsets are short on the
hips and low in the bust which gives a
more natural figure, as those which lace
down the hips, making the flesh bulge out
lower down, are III decidedly bad taste.
Petticoats are, If possible, more lovely
than ever, and are most carefully fitted
over the hips, the fullness all being carried
to the back A deep Spanish fiounce
finished by narrow ruffie, gives the ne
cessary width around the bottom. A
good silk must be used which will stand
out well, and very narrow steel tape
run through the beading of the ruffies
gives the necessary flare. A very recent
bride had one OF her pairs of stays" made
of heavy silk, light blue in shade,
covered with blurred pink Dresden roses
and dotted with white. petticoat of the
same silk has little niche-like ruffie of
lace around the bottom of the Spanish
ruffie. For evening wear her skirt and
corsets are of white watered moire
covered with clusters of buttercups.
These charming things are all very we'll
for those who can afford them, but most
of US have TO have our corsets cleaned and
done over, and are thankful if we own
new pair and two others in good condi-
ton, even if only of coutil. But / have
1rlenoS VINO declare tnat Lnev prefer TO
have every year pair of silk or satin
corsets from one of the best akers, even
if they have to do without new dress;
and there is good sense in this sometimes,
when, for instance, one has a verv
difficult figure to manage, or when there
are any defects that must be carefully
hidden. Then even the most expensive of
corsets mast, if necessary, be procured
but when woman has figure like a
broomhandle she certainly can find plenty
of corsets for IS or 81 that will answer
every purpose; and all corsets will lose
their shape if worn too long, so it is best
generally to have three or four pairs in
stead OF one, only one OF satin or silk.
There is fad now for having underwear