The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-03-04
SMART SPRING SUITS.
Checks and stripes Are More in Vogue
Than Ever.

Than Ever.
Covert clothes are again to be the
| fashion this spring, and just as smart
| as ever do these costumes look, with the
| Jacket quite short, extremely iaunty
and single breasted, with the buttons on
| an invisible lap, and narrow, high re-
| vers and narrow turned-down collars.
Sleeves are much smaller than last year,
but in the same shape, and gathered,
not plated, into the armhole, with here
and there rows of gathering to hold the
sleeve in place. The back of the jacket
is tight-titting. with full, but not far
ing skirt. but the points are loose, with
just one dart to give a pretty curve in at
the waist.
The Elton jackets are not to be dis
| carded, and one in many of the new
costumes, in covert cloth, is one which
fits as tight as dress waist, and is but
toned III front (the buttons not show
ing), and finished at the neck with mar
row lapels and turned-oyer collar, like
the other coat just described. Longer
by an inch OF two than the ordinary
Elton jackets, this extends below the
waist line at the back and sides, and
| gives almost an eXaggeratedly long
waist effect. No amateur dressmakeE
| should attempt this particular pattern
Tor gown, as it requires to be most
carefully cut and fitted, and skirt no less
than waist must be perfection.
Checked and striped cheyiot skirts are
to be worn with the black jackets, and
while this is not new style, it is al
ways pretty and most useful one. The
jackets are double-breasted, but by all
! other points are the facsimiles of single
breasted ones. In all black are some
smart gowns. The coat is tight-fitting
and high in the neck, a la militaire, as
has been fashionable this winter.
Between seasons many of the leading
tailors make up gowns for less price
than at the height of the season, and as
the styles for the spring and summer
are already known, it is by no means
a bad scheme for the really economical
ly disposed woman to order her spring
costume now, as a tailor gown does not
go out of fashion nearly so soon as Il
more elaborately trimmed one does.
The black and white stripes which give
such a slender air to the figure, are to
be greatly in favor, and while they are,
certainly exceedingly plain, have a de-
cidedly smart look.
y plain skirt with narrow front
breadth and well-gored sides and the
,ullness in a small space at the back;
tight-ftting waist, with lapels OPEN
ing just bit to show glimpse of man
nish shirt and necktie, the whole cos
;ume made of the black and white, is
about as becoming gown as woman
can have, and with a warm fur wrap
can be worn now and yet be appropri-
ate for warmer weather, when no wrap
will be needed.
Marvellous are some of the ready
made suits, costing, of course, much
less than when made to order and fin
ished with the greatest care and atten-
ton to every detail. The style of coat and
skirt is the best in these, and then the
inevitable shirtwaist can take new
lease of life. In rough tweeds and chew
lots and in the different grades of serge
and cheviot. there are numberless cos
tunes of this description to be had,
while in more fancy styles with braid
ing galore are many, many more-N. Y.
Press