Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-18
ON FASHION PLANS.
ALL GOWNS ARE TO BE OF THIN
MATERIAL.
many BLUE CLOTH COSTUMES.
Pink and White Fouiard SILK Popu-
lara Dainty style of skirt and
Empire Parasols.
Correspondence of the Dispatch)

Correspondence Of the Dispatch)
NEW YORK, April 17.-From all
sources comes the statement that this
is TO be a year or summer when the
thlnncst Of thin materials will rule pub
liz favor. Gauzes, mousseline de sole,
muslins. openwork muslin, foulard, nuns
yelling. cobweb poplin, and a multi
tude Of new and strange materials
will be seen on the counters of the shop
keepers. In fact. it has been decided
that we are going to have a tropical
summer. Fate is fate, and Dame Fash
ion IS It's prophet. The summer girl.
therefore, 10 be thoroughly fin de steele,
must be de diaphanous in appearance.
Everything about the garments that
olo,he her must be soft. clinging and I'M
uulating
This does not mean that blue cloth and
blue serge have been banished. No, in
deed. Among the very prettiest of the
designs fer spring and summer Is
blue cloth dress with a dash of Orien-
talism about It, There is a pleat at the
left side Of the skirt. braided in a long
point OF blue and copper braid about
The back of the skirt is pleated, but the
last two pleats are rather wide apart
and show design Of braidlng from the
TOP 10 the bottom Of the skirt. The
waist has a blouse effect, fastens up the
back. and is braided I'm the point on
the front over a very little round yoke
OF lace over blue silk.
A very pretty dress is an oid-fashion-
ed wavy affair, Of pink and white fou-
lard. The skirt is made with wide
row OF the SILK, alternating with
narrower row of yellow, Indian muslin,
each edged with an insertion of thread
lace The skirt Is fashioned, after
being practically made into the smallest
accordion pleats. The waist is made IN
the same manner of six. lace, and mus
lin. hung loosely over felt, all around.
one OF the prettiest blouses l have
seen has the back shocked in a point
Just under the collar between the
shoulders. The point IS about ilVe
INCHES long. and three and half incnes
wide. This point makes little tulness'
which IS gathered into the belt. The
front OF the blouse has two points OF
shocking. one on either side OF the plea.
The pleat IS not more than an inch IN
width. ana on either side is a ruffle
gathered into the pieat by half an inch OF
shocking. the edge OF the rufiie being
free The sleeves have three points
OF shocking at the top and directly at
the top OF the shoulders, one toward
the front. and the iother toward the
back. The shocked rufiie, on either
side OF the front. Is edged with narrow
lace The collar band Is shocked. and
ends IN "A standing-up rufile, with two
ruaies Of lace inside. The sleeves are
cut in three points at the hands. ana
finished in lace.
Another dress that pleases IS gay
Powered China silk, fiuted In the tiniest
reed-like flutes possible This forms a
sort OF oyerdress about eight inches
from a blue cloth underdress. The blue
cloth comes down over the hips, also
fitting closely and IS cut out in long
points. Lolding ali small pleats ia place
and appHques upon them. Tir bodice
was made OF the reed-lke pleats with
blue cloth points and finished by sort
OF coat-of-mail belt. The sleeves were
IN pleats, one over the other, 10 the
hand
Another blouse which have seen 81
simple enough. IL is a bright, red. silk
cross-barged with fancy black ribbon.
j is made with little, square neck.
filed Ia with black mousseline de SOLE,
and a black satin belt completes the
whole. The skirts with which this
blouse is worn are all made separate