The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-25

| lustrous textiles are also employed for
evening dresses, made in various styles.
Some of the patterns, especially desir-
able for combinations, have stripes OF
medium width in very beautiful color
ings. In other designs the grounds are
g.lace with two cOlorS intimately blend
ed, the shadoWy surface sprinkled with
shaded flowers of natural size. The
price for these vari-patterned satinS is
about one-third less than when they
were first introduced, but in the mat
ter of quality, coloring and device they
are of much higher grade.
The transition from winter to spring
costumes is in not few instances styl-
| ishly and agreeably affected by the
| long, graceful redingote worn above
a skirt which is very often of differ
ent material. Upon occasion this re-
dingote is of very costly satin brocade
or satin-striped MORE. More gener-
ally it is of ladies' cloth, zibeline, or
Venetian cloth, accompanying an &C
contemplated skirt The diversity is
in the shape and adjoining of the cor
/ sage, the skirt portion of the redingote
being but little changed. But the de-
tails of the corSage give it special char
acter and cachet. The front, as rule,
is this season in jacket style, and
when one considers how very many
! jacket styles there are, very fair idea
of the variety in new redingotes can
! be gained.
The new skirts tucked or gathered
around the hips and made separate
from the lining are among the summer
models from Paris, but the gracefully
! gored skirt fitting the hips smoothly
is much more becoming to any but very
slender women. Soft pliable silks are
! gathered in at the waist and again
several inches below, on cords which on
| certain forms make very pretty ef-
feet. Light cloth gowns are both
tucked and corded for about six inches
below the belt. A very stylish model
| of pinkish violet cloth is tucked finely
down from the belt on the front and
sides. The violet silk lining is not at
! tached to the outside skirt except ait
the belt. The white cloth underwaist
is braided in violet and gold and the
! tucked bolero turns back with white
cloth facing bordered with the braid
work The sleeves have white expand
| ed cuIS 10 match
It is a matter of comment that for
the coming hot season, red is to be
extensively used in NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
scarlet, and not alone the deeper shades
in Jacque roses, begonia, geranium,
damask claret, and other tints that
have been so popular. Even the mauve
hats with gilded basket-work crowns
atxal1i
with vivid lobelia blooms or gorgeous
field peoples, whose uniform we all
know, and trails of trumpet-creeper and
loops of cerise satin ribbon aid in the
conspicuous decoration of the dreadful
chapeaux of 1897. Many of the bright
flower trimmings are treated aigrette
fashion, set up very high on the hat
at the back, the leaves forming a top
lofty background against which a small
conservatory of flowers nod and sway.
The instructive good taste Of the
American woman in matters of dress
has never been more clearly shown
than this season, when her Partisan sis
tiers, especially, whose footsteps are US
ually a safe guide in questions of toilet,
have gone astray over the brilliant col
! ors introduced. From Paris have come
over box after box, filled with defect
! able hats, worked out with but few ex-
ceptions, in the most burning, eye-daz-
! Zling tones on scarlet cardinal red
| warm vermillion and vivid rose The
| straw, flowers, ribbons and plumes all
partook of these startling flaming
/ tints. They were indeed wonderful,
and in their eccentric way almost love
| ly, but with the rarest exceptions the
milliners have had to copy these far
| ing models in more refined coors, pre-
serving of course. the style of the Pa
risian hat. All this proves that it will
require something more than the cachet
of Paris and the approval of princesses
to force the most daring American wo-
man to wear a headpiece that will ex-
cite public comment and smiles.
Next to the Importance of crowning
her head, every conscientious shopper
| is actively deciding the wherewithal
| she shall be shod for the six months
| to come. Shoes assuredly are at once
| the American woman's strong and
weak point for we make do not inn
port, the smartest sensiblest footgear
| in the world, and lady with a neat,
slim high little pair of extremi-
1 ties is to be pardoned if she is very
dainty as to their coverings. Like wise
virgins and matrons our daughters and
| wives are almost emancipated from
pointed toes, beveled soles and button
! foxing. The honest, broad. solid.
! square-heeled, blunt-toed, picadilly
shape is first for walking, first for shop
ping and first in all outdoor athletic
| exercises. Moreover the bicycle and
golf habits have made the lace shoe es-
sential and now nearly universal. The
dominant walking boot for this season
laces rather high on the calf. has a
fiat, not a spring toe, a boys heel and
unless very highly dressed, half-weipht
calfskin is used, dull dongola, trimmed
| With bright dongola, is considered the
| most discreet selection.
That it is an Ill wind that blows no.
body any good comes uppermost in the
mind at the assurance of the dress