Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-15
NEW STOCKINGS.
The Latest Styles in Hose and Gar
ters-The Sporting Buckle"

1t is surprising to learn the newest
patterns in stockings are made not
from silk, but from the fine Isle thread
and even cotton. Fashionable hosiery
runs more to extravaganza of design
than to richness of texture. Doubtless
the riOtouB conceptions that have been
embodied in bicycle and golf hose have
made the ordinary designs seem so
tame and sOmber in comparison that
reaction toward guadiness was ineVi-
table. But whatever the reason may be,
the newest stockings are flamboyant in
the extreme. A background of canary
yellow, with odd designs embroidered
in black or red, is only degree more
striking than a brilliant affair of sap
phire blue, banded crosswise with
white. .-.
Clocks have of course, been in fash
ion for some time and embroidery of
various styles has been brought into
vogue by them. This fancy adds to
the elaboration of the stocking-and to
the expense, for nobody. need imagine
that because stockings are made of cot
ton they are cheap. On the contrary,
it is possible this year to spend more
in this direction than ever before, and
woman who has bought enough var
ieties to feel fully up to the times in
this department of fashion will have a
small fortune.
One Of the most recent designs is
supposed to be worn with summer out
ing mountain wear. 1t is a gay Scotch
plaid, and is, of course, made in many
varieties Of color. Each color is
bright and clear, as it should be in all
fine materials, and the stocking is one
Of the preettiest of the season. Woven
il green, blue and yellow, it presents
very effective combination, and is
wonderfully we'll suited to bright out
door GESTURE.
Another novelty is the striped stock
ing. Horizontal-or in some cases YER
tical-bands of contrasting colCrs make
a very effective stocking, particularly
when an elaborate embroidered clock
is added. When the stocking is to be
worn with slippers or ties the stripes
often extend but half way around, or
perhaps FIJI in a di6mond-shaped space.
Hose of which the upper part is Of some
color, those that are polka dotted and
those that are striped and sheathed in
a hundred fantastic ways are among
the other novelties that are to be worn
this fall.
AS plain silk stockings have come to
occupy a subordinate place, so plain
carriers and garter buckles are passing
a color or colors to match the stockings,
and the buckle, SO far as possible,
should also harmonic in hue. Some Of
the new designs in buckles are worthy
of mention.
Probably the newest is what, for
want for want of a better name, may
be called the sporting buckle. It's foun-
dation is Of gold aid it is covered with
mosaic of many colors arranged in
more or less elaborate design Golf,
tennis, yachting and cycling are a few
Of the sports represented. The golf gar
ter buckle bears q miniature representa-
ton Of the golf maiden clad in the ap-
much animation and enthusiasm as a
mosaic portrait can assume. In the
same way the tennis girl Yields her
racket and the bicyclist rides her wheel
in mosaic colors and On the tiny space
of garter buckle.
The craze of garter snakes has
brought about a revival Of serpents in
! jewelry, and a coiled snake is one Of
| the latest faDcies in garter buckles.
Jewels, particularly amethysts, are also
| popular, and a single large amethys1
an inch in diameter forms often the
only visible portion Of a fashionable
| buckle Smaller jewels, set in gold,
are, of course. Always in demand,
| though this style of buckle is not 50
new.
Another pretty fancy much in de-