The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-29
FOR FEMININE READERS
FOOLISH ExTRAVAGANCE IN SOME
OF THE PREVAILING FASHIONS.
A Sensation I'm SorOsis-The Straw
Old GracefuIIy-Odds and Ends.

In no direction is foolish extravaganza as
apparent as on the silk petticoat of the
present season, showing an astonishing con-
glomeration Of fashy colors, plaids, polka
dots, fiounces, frills and fiimsy furbelows,
mass of heterogeneous materials heaped
together regardless of taste, appropriate
ness or art, says a fashion writer. A
contemplation of a dozen of the latest of
these Preach creations shows them to be en-
tlrely worthy of the. disordered brains of
coterie of hopeless lunatics. 1t is vain to
attempt complete description of the ma
Jor1ty or the styles just sent over. They are
everywhere displayed, and they transcend
anything in the way of color, fiummery and
absurdlty that has ever been described as
excessive and Haunting. They are as alb
solutely vulgar and unrefined as they are
expensive. Who, without actually behold
ing 1t, could believe that skirt was offered
Tor sale marked SAT that had gored founda-
tlon breadths of black and Spanish yellow
blocked taffeta, with fiounces of accordion
pIeated red satin, slashed here and there
with fan-shaped insertions of the plaid.
tnese nounces alternating with festooned
Irllls OF plain yellow silk edged with black
lace and caught up with bows of flaming
RED satin ribbon? This is rather mild ex-
ample, for there are skirts of green blue
magenta red and yellow plaid, with gam
boge yellow lace fiounces and green silk
trills, bumblebee styles of yellow striped
with black, with ruff1es of purple, gold and
cerlse silk, and other models shot plaided
and extensively brocaded in several differ
ent colors, these serving as a foundation
Tor fr1lls founces and filigrees of as many
more. These are not for sale on Avenue A.
put at the leading fashionable importing
houses OF the city, and the statesmen affirm
tnat they are purchased by the very best
OF thelr patrons; ergo, nothing more is to
De urged against their wear They are
mere opponents Of the present rage and
effects ~
To the minor details of the toilet such
especlal attention is now paid that no in
loWance is swallowed up in the purchase OF
Ir1lllngs, blouse fronts, cape collars chiffon
vests and collarettes, buckles. ornaments for
the halr and belt and other ct ceteras
Whch, alaS, are ephemeral to the last de.
gree; Unless one can afford to renew ones
stock of fripperies very frequently, it is
better to choose wisely in their selection.
dispensing with some of the more delicate
varieties; for nothing looks worse than
crumpled ISse, dtngy laceS, or ribbons that
nave lost their pristine freshness In place
of the elaborate styles are sold many very
pretty, neck ruches with tiny lace edge
that does not easily become soiled; also a
variety of finely pleated fabrics that are
used as garnitures for the neck They are
wonderfully becoming to the most of women
and and fatty eontradict, the old adage. of
beauty unadorned.' Not a few of these
frillings do up very successfully once and
again.
Shirt waists of every dainty variety.
fancy, tight-fitting basque bodices. with
small reVers, or Etons, with or without
elongated scarf fronts, will next season be
permissible on all sorts of out-of-door cos
tunes, as well as many indoor toilets.
These Notwithstanding their extended
h0 fi11Ir vAfo
turesque fashions which can be elaborated
upon by those who like fanciful effects or
they can easily be modified to suit the taste
of the most simple dressers. The easy neg
lfge order of things is still to be carried to
considerable extent this summer, reaching
even to the gowns of ceremony. But trim
ness and extreme neatness go hand in hand
with this approved style There are soft
surplice folds, but most carefully draped or
dropped. There are ribbon garnitures, but
time is taken to arrange each loop, choux.
and falling end. The shirt waist is taut on
the figure, and where you find the flowing
lines and the. easy grace of the so-termed
''neglige'' toilet there also you will find
traces of the tailors work, or the symmet-
rical finished workmanship of the artistic
dreSSmaker.