The times., 1897-05-30
TIE LoUNGING BLOUSE.
1t May Be HiI-Short or Ankie-Long
and Has SuppIantcd the Wrapper.

1t Nav Be HiI-Short or Ankie-Long
and Has Suppiantcd the Wrapper.
New York. May 29.-It is the weather
at the moment that rules our fashions and
persuades womankind 20 prefer muslin,
linen, madras, silk and gingham yolantes,
dressing gowns, bedroom blouses and flow
ing wrappers TO The smaftest designs in
costumes that ever made famous the name
of Worth or Paquin. Nevertheless, that
which is cool and easy, and now so much
in demand, can still be very pretty and very
becon,ingiy graceful, be it only calico
conibing jacket, at all the models show,
while some OF the muslin toilets suictiy
for bedroom wear are beautiful toa degree
IL the honest truth must be told con-
cerning these .'toilettes intiines,' as the
French women call them, wrapper is
almost an unknown garment in tie best
stocked wardrobe Feminine preference
seems about evenly divided between the
tea gown proper which can be worn at al
most nyhour, an the long and short blouses
FOR lounging, mapping and general wear In
ones very own room.
utst DlOuStS- Abdl bt mp o'iCiN
ankle-long, bear no resemblance TO the dear
old-fashioned wrapper, and it cannot be
disputed that they are easier TO get into
and out of. roomier, and rather more
practical altogether than the late lamented
garment The bedroom blouse is a wise
adaptation OF a French idea and you can
siuply make one for your own special use
Out of costly or inexpensive materials, as
Your purse or your pleasure dictates. From
fine turkey red calico and a little ecru
enbroidery, from striped dimity and ma
chine-made Valeciennes lace ,er from brown
batiste, with quillings OF narrow taffeta
ribbons, some OF the most becoming little
smocks are fashioned at the slightest outlay
of time or money.
These sacks are cut short, that is, a little
below the hip line, button only to an inch
below the bust and above all things must
not he confined at the waist. More ele-
CANT ones are made OF the sheereSt Swiss
muslin. laid in narrow tucks across the
shoulders hack and front, treated with
lace flounces and insertion, the seams put
together with beading, and the fragile
neglisee worn is used or not, as the owner
plcases, over an under blouse of rose taffeta
silk. Picots and streamers of taffeta ribbon
add to the gaiety of these delicate gar
ments, which are worn with "A smart silk
petticoat.
Very luxurious women have special
pettcoats to wear with their Houses,
jupes of white muslin frilled with lace,
or crisp colored silk ones, with overskirts
OF sslntily accordion plated muslin;
none of these petticoats fall lower than
the ankles, in order that the wearer may
not be deprived of sight of her satin
clad, higir-heeled feet From soft Ha
butai and ralnbowdyed Hengkong SILK
blouses are shown hanging in full ac
Gordon piaits from the shoulder, the
bagging sleeves caught in on the inside
OF the elbow with tiny gold link studs,
and instead of studs or buttons down
the front, the artful manufacturers fas-
ten the blouse with dear little hooks and
eyes of gold.
But if the heart of weak woman goes
out, iii this hot weather, to the cool
silk and muslin short blouses, how much
more earnestly is she inclined TO yearn
over the long ones, called yolantes, with
their well-opened necks, their wide
elbow sleeves, and their long floating
skirts, all OF the sbeerest dotted muslin.
There is truly no higher note of ele-
Eance in the matter of lounging robes
TO be touched than in dotted Swiss The
dots must he small, however, d great
deal OF lace must be used, and those for
the latest trousseaus have bows ana
knots and streamers of white taffeta
ribbon, set on at every available point.
With the dotted muslin long blouse goes
a skirt OF the same material, decorated
with two lace flounces at the foot and
the back Of the blouse, il should be
noted, is not laid in Vatican plaiu
This device, though graceful enough,
adds too much weight for hot weather,
and with none of these flowing garments
is a corset worn. Thus there is hygienic
and comfort, mingled with fashionable
rpIendors, for the long blouse, like the
short one, fastens together only over the
bust, and eNoeedinglylovelyo ones are made