Evening star., 1896-07-04


democracy are TO sigh for the heshpots or
the aristocratic Egypt?
In some things, though. even fashionable
society has made a Declaration of indie
pendence. 1t refused crinoline; 1t has re-
formed the corset; it has persisted in the
use of the bicycle. despite those who would
have frowned it down. Yes, 1 really think
fashionable society is more sensible now.
The main difference is that in these days
every one tries to be more or less In the
fashion instead of only few; and hence a
minor folly may do harm to greater num-
Der than of old.
Not that all fashions follies are harmful.
Some are merely amusing. To speak for
moment of mans garb, ii is now absolutely
correct to patch a mans bicycle suit right
where the wear is greatest with the same
cloth as the cuff, or bottom of the knickers.
usually fawn gray. And funny enough 1t
looks too. OF course. riding breeches have
from time immemorial been patched with
leather, but the scorcher on horseback
doesn't lean over until the backbone points
to the horizon in both directions
Women's bicycling suits after the British
and inevitably inferior models have begun
to appear One of these is certainly simple
a plain gown of linen in narrow up-and-
down stripes of BLUSH gray and white, with
q white linen collar. There is front platt
with three white buttons, the sleeves are
big and the gown is simply belted at the
waist This is light. cool and appropriate
enough, except that the skirt comes within
six inches of the ground, and is. therefore
an emphatic nuisance, to which masculine
eApletives might do justice, but mine would
not.
The average cycling skirt In New York is
fully four inches shorter than in Newport
and. being worn always over boomers
seems TO meet most objections Of both the
conservatives and radicals.
A novel English boating and Yachting
gown has revealed itself in blue serge and
bclero jacket, with a wide belt corselet of
plaid silk and an assortment of pretty silk
blouse waists. The plaided corselet is the
only novel element In the scheme and the
effect is very pretty.
They keep talking and talking of smaller
hats, but hats are no smaller. The uuilled
trlll OF tulie makes even moderate brim-
med design look massive. a pretty variant
Is Spanish hat of tulle and cream-colored
lace, the brim so straight and the lace so
close quiiled and loose lying that the edge
looks almost as thick as tambourine The
crown Is capped by just such another over
hanging net of lace, giving something of
the beef-eater effect.
White birds are frequent decoration of
the seasons hats Ospreys in green and
violet are used with cream-colored lace and
black velvet ribbons. Violet millinery take.
violet trimming of plumes and velvet
than Newport.
The most curious fad Of the moment in
millinery is the frequent use of fruit in hat
decoration A red hat trimmed with cherries
sounds rather odd but it's perfectly nrac
tcable- a small straw hat whose high
crown Is tied up with black velvet ribbons
is decked neatly and not gaudily with cher
mes and currants 1 have as yet seen no
similar use made of watermelons
Embroidery is one of the darling devices
OF the year About half the swell dresses
one secs have short embroidered Jackets or
snort coats of China silk Crepe de chine
and foulard are perhaps two of the most
fashionable materials of the hour for rath-
er dressy dresses
Shot canvas in blue and green Is the