The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-06-03
FASHION AND FANCY.
Sessonsble Suggestions on Ladies' Cos
TUNES.

A couple of ladies, who have for many
years given special attention to costum-
ing and the prevailing styles in dress,
made the tour of the shops the other
day for the sake of getting a general
idea of the present and future of good
clothes. What is and is to be are very
closely connected, especially in the
best houses. Conservative trade, which
is always the best, most artistic and
most wealthy element, rarely jumps
from one extreme to another.
The grande dame does not adopt one
style to-day to throw it away to-mor-
row.
In the course of the outing several
points were noted. Eight out of ten of
the best-dressed women who inquired
for costumes demanded plain skirts.
And the palmer the skirt the more
fanciful the waist was to be, exception
being made, of course, to costumes for
special purposes and occasions, when
q plainness was one of the necessities.
, The ordinary waist is simply eXtrava-
giant in its dressiness. One model has
the entire front and deep shoulder
points of the most elaborate embroid-
cry. The points fall over the outside
of large soft sleeve puffs. The material
of the waist is put upon the lining
| rather full, being gathered in at soft
belt.
Another waist has the entire front
made up of little ruffles set from Shout
ders to waist line. Each one has head
ing of very narrow gimp. The belt is
wide and folded, and there is a bolero
effect in draped ribbon which falls
! over the outside of the rut1les.
Another waist has a bolerO of ruffles
not over an inch and a half wide. Be
tween the edges over the front of the
waist are soft puffs of the material,
which is an India silk of fine quality.
Among the most stylish bodices are
those that fasten at the side. They are
! made with pulled, rutfied or embroid-
cred fronts, either smooth or loose,
hanging with the baggy effect that SC
many slender women affect. Puffs and
rufles are the thin woman's blessing.
With them she can build any figure she
chooses and makes herself as stylish as
her fancy and ability may prompt. AS
a novelty one-siA.d effects have been
introduced An enormously wide rever
begins at one shoulder, nearly covers
the front of the waist, and is tucked in
at the belt on the opposite side. 1t is
accompanied by deep pointed shoulder
rut1les that almost cover the sleeves to
the elbows A pretty waist is made OF
plain silk with tucks running length
wise for the body and sleeves and cross
wise for the yoke. The tucks are not
| over quarter of an inch wide and are
set their width apart. The entire sleeve
| piece is in continuous lines of tucks
and cut out afterwards, the material
being completely tucked before the
| garment is made at all The yoke por-
ton is tucked separately and crosswise
| OF the goods.
One of the prettiest of these waists is
made of Quaker gray India silk. The
tucks are put in with pink silk thread
The yoke is edged with white lace with
a pink silk heading pinked out and
gathered into full ruche.
A charming dress of silk muslin has
the waist in little pufings round and
round. The front is fastened at one
aide, where there is thick ruching
Srom the shoulder to the waist line, fin
ished with a large bow of velvet. There
is a loose belt of velvet with long loops
and bows at the back.
4 handsome costume is Of checked
suiting. The front and side seams are
trimmed with heavy braid in fancy
pattern. The waist is in surplice fash
ion, with an abundance of braid in the
form of yoke, shoulder straps anG
sleeve trimming.-N. y. Ledger.