The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-27
BENGALIHE FOR BRIDES
Airy Swiss Muslin Over Hum
mated Silk for bridesmaids.
SPRING BOAS OF CHIFFON
Ali That GIitters VIII Not He Dia-
mouds-Luck Buckles the Latest
Mascot - Ribbons. Flowers and
NeiIs-FashiOp Has Selected Pur-
pie as Wedding Mourning.

New York, March 26.-This is to be a
white muslin year for bridesmaids. swiss
muslin preferably, garnished with lace
and ribbons, and the crisp snowy slips
are worn over either white taffeta, or
richly tinted liberty satin. The excuse for
these delicate little gowns j. the admira-
bic manner in which the manufacturers
now turn out the complete shaped and
decorated muslin skirts ready TO slip
right onto the Illuminating silk under pet
ucoat. Such skirts come done up in a
box, as daintily prepared as a bridal gift,
the deep fiounces tucked like a bahy's
christening robe and a sufficient number
of tucked and lace inserted yards to pre-
pare the waist, in any style decided up
on.
In addition to the plain white swiss and
the prepared skirts. there are most at
tractive bridesmaids muslins. in the rar-
est tints Of amethyst purple, topaz yell
low, aqua marine blue and green and
ashes Of roses gray, besides white satin
striped muslins. brocaded in delicate
white running wreaths done in either silk
or linen thread. A word must be said
also in praise Of the white hemstitched
muslin, and those so suitable for a color
wedding, that have the sheerest blanched
backgrounds. onto which are applied tint
cd lace hgASes in all the spring tones. For
instance, - white muslin decorated with
big pink lace roses. or huge pale blue
lilies gives an idea OF the effects possible
in these lovely goods.
Ribbons deserve z chapter to them
selves Saving the taffeta quality. that
holds its own. and the liberty satin, that
has no rival. the most popular type is the
transparent weave. Its variations in
mesh and color are too numerous TO be
mentioned. There is coarse silk ribbon,
with satin edge. Grenadine ribbons are
shot with T5a lace, It is possible dS
choice ard costume. silk muslin rib
bon. wlE a selvage chiffon ribbon and
ribbon that is finished in satin of one
color on one side and MORE of another
color on the reverse, are all 10 be classed
among novelties.
Pongee ribbon is one of the trim
minEs much sought after for the deco
ration OF cotton dresses. for the good
reason that ii washes and never loses
its color. Woven just ike any inexpen-
sive pongee silk, il has a simple border,
and comes in a nice shade Of tan, brown
and clear cabbage green. AT least, these
are the colors that return no paler for
2 the repeated assaults Of soapsuds and
hot water.
it is hardly necessary to tell any wide
eyed woman that, next after tucking,
shirring is the treatment TO which eight
out OF ten Summer goods are reduced
these days The fashion halls, of course,
from Paris. where TO shirr is to plisse
and where every type of shirring has its
descriptive name Vatican shirring is
where one thread gathers the cloth in
a horizontal line at a space Of at least
two inches from the next thread. BY
this means a skirt is transformed into a
series Of bayadire puffs and very pref
~ it is in consequence. The double Wat
teau requires three TO five threads run
In as close together as possible, then
pinch space and three to five more
threads are introduced.
Graziella shirring is the mode espe-
cially applicable 10 taffeta or silk muslin
theater waists and decorative fronts. In
this instance the gathering threads
cross each other at acute angles. and
thus small diamond-shaped puffs result.
The grain o corn shirring requires the
thread 10 be introduced in a series of
little scallops, which produces small
puffs that necessitate only a Slight
stretching Of ones imagination TO see
the corn grains outlined.
One OF the attractive novelties result
ing from this fashion IS the big round
Summer boa made OF white or coloTed
chiffon. shirred through all its length.
Such a boa encircles the throat once
lets fall ends Of unequal length. finish
ed with lace and under the chin II Is
held together by a boa pin. This last
item is nothing more than a gold wire
twisted into the form Of an S one end
set with jewel the other sharpened.
Beside boa pins we have sash clasps
that are undeniably tempting and made
Of pretty much anything YOU please
10 cut steel and cabochOn agates. As
a matter Of fact, a woman Of good taste
usually selects the latter. and chooses
clasp in tho form Of a big hook and
eye or = huge Spring glove button. Cal
ly bedight in stones Of every color and
small price. fixed IN imitation gold and
silver settings We promise to take our
glittering way through Spring and Sum
mer
You can scarcely have too many be
Remmed slides 10 your silk. velvet, rib
bon 9r leather belt. and just about the
acme Of absurdity, in straining after
unique patterns IN belt buckles, has been
reached This is the lock buckle in gold
or silver. OF steel. or gun metal, bespat-
tered with imitation colored jewels and
locked with a key. There are paddock.
clasps, Yale locks, spring locks. square
locks and combination safe locks. The
pearer actually locks herself In. hooks
the key as a slide on her belt and If she
loses II she must be cut out OF her CIR
de
Peau dc CANT. feur de bengaline. heur
de mai and taffeta sans change are the
four newest species Of silk. They one and
all have satiny finish which can be
rather truthful!y announced as typical Of
nearly all the latest silk weayes and
their richness Of sheen is indIsputabIe.
For that reason peau de CANT and feur
De benEaline are the especial proteges
Of the brides. who are making ready for
Hymcn's blessing against the arrival Of
Easter holidays
The pinnacle Of bridal splendor IS reach
Cd IN cream white peau de CANT gown.
pretty well yelled with pearled lace and
2 crown Of orange blossoms in the hair
from which lace veil IS draped off 10
the rear upon the shoulders. Something
less costly, but not whit less lovely. IS
white Oriental satin yelled with point
d'esprit well worked IN pearls. and a veil
Of embroidered tulle. Pearls are deeora-
ton every bride feels she must have on
her gown. else hide her diminished head
and wedding in n plain travelling suit.
Happily, though, pearl trimming Is not
cruelty costly just now. and the exceed
ing prettiness Of il IS not TO be disput-
ed
An alternative not 10 be despised be-
tween pearls and plainness. is the ad-
mirable and suitable effect Of silver
spanRles on white satin, silk net or
taffeta. II undoubtedly produces the
most radiantly lovely. If unconventional.
marriage robe, and, before the season
IS halfway over, its conventionality will
be beyond diEuute Never have orange