Evening star., 1898-02-19
FOR UP-TO-DATE WOMEN
The Use of Lace is More General Now Than
Ever.
Effects That Rival the Delicacy OF a
CObweb-Insertion, Honiton
and Irish Lace.


Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, February IL, 1898.
Lace is so large and serious a subject,
and its use at present is so universal, that
no one letter can give more than an out
line of what is most used.
The most beautiful laces are very clever
ly initiated nowadays, and the modern wo-
man of many wants generally prefers to
keep for berthas and flounces her expen-
sive laces, using for ordinary gowns the
very best of the machine-made article.
Latest and prettiest of the novelties is
imitation point, a really handsome article
and only inexpensive when compared in
price with real lace. 1t can be bought by
the yard in various widths, and makes a
most exquisite trimming. 1t is also fash
iored into berthas to go about the necks
OF evening gowns, and this shape can be
bought ready to put on. 1t is most used,
however. in medallions for trimming sleeves
and bodices. For the tops of sleeves the
medallions are elongated, while for the
bodlceS they are the usual miniature shape
Nothlng half SO pretty as this imitation
point In whatever form it comes has been
brought out this year. 1t bids fair to be
most popular on spring and summer silks
but 1t is too delicate a lace to be applied
to any but the finest and daintiest of cot
ton or linen fabrics.
For neck and sleeves the laces called
nerre" are still most popular. There
seems to be no diminution in the use of
lace for sleeves and neck, although now ii
is generally caught up in some way, either
ruff1ed or frilled.
The laces sold under the head Of 'ir-
regular Insertion are most used for
bodices, etc. In the flower patterns they
are so made that they can be detached at
the end of each flower, and thus applied in
the medallion style as separate pieces. Both
the irregular insertion and the lierre laces
come in an endless variety of patterns and
In Whit. cream. blltter color or IA
imitation point can be had in white only.
Use of HOniton.
Honiton lace, or real Honiton braid fash
foned in various beautiful patterns has
been much used all winter, and is no less
popular now among those who can afford
handsome laces. A great deal of 1t was
used on black chiffon for elaborat, neck
arrangements. The latest use of II is on
Zouave jackets of black chiffon, elaborate
ly braided IN beautiful patterns with cream
colored Honiton braid.
The effect is beautiful. These Jackets
may be bought ready made of course and
used to freshen any handsome black gown
which has grown worn under the arms AMI
on the bias seams.
Another beautiful use for the Honiton
braid is on chiffon f1ounces for evening
gowns The flounce is the full length which
the skirt is intended to be, and is generally
SO put on to the chiffon petticoats as to
l.,
showing the plain chiffon back of the skirt.
A full, low-necked waist of chiffon, with
bertha of Honiton lace completes a beauti-
ful and effective gown. which is not ex-
tremely expensive except for its perish
ableneSs. A chiffon flounce with Honiton
applique can be bought for nine dollars and
bertha need not cost more, which is not
very high for the whole trimming of an
evening gown. But unfortunately chiffon
has so many qualities which render its life
almost as fleeing as that of champagne
that it is rather expensive in the long run.
Much more durable and serviceable and
not more costly is the beautiful renaiss-
ance all-over lace which is so effective in
these days Of silk slips to be worn under
every overdress. This renaissance lace
comes in such exquisite patterns and is
SO cobwebby in spite of its wearing
qualities that one can conjure up quite
little dream of fairyland when looking at
it. 1t is quite wide and not great num-
ber of yards are needed to make the pres
ent evening width skirt and the full, low
necked bodice.
Gowns Of Lace.
Gowns of lace, net, erenadine, canvas or
even transparent nuns veilings over silk
premise to be the feature of the summer.
So IL you have any lace over dresses pre-
pare to use them now. Brussels net is not
quite as high in favor grenadine, but ii
is so much more serviceable. II you are
pavering therefore, between black gren-
adine or a black Brussels net choose the
latter If you d. you will find your trim
n.ings made up, which is something of a
help ir these busy days. Black Brussels
net, with narrow frills of black lace. chif-
fon some sitter material. may be
bought by the yard. 1t also has between
the rows of frilling tiny figures and pat
terms embroidered on the net. This frilled
net is much used for the back and front of
bodices. using plain net for the yoke. sleeves
ard skirt of the gown.
Spangled net for bodices is in great de-
mand This. of course. also means a taft
feta silk lining which shows. Very often
the lining is of white silk satin, whicn
appears, marveously tucked, In the yoke,
sleeves and collar.
Robe Effects.
Every one is writing and talking about
the new robe effects. as the skirts of
lawn. etc, with insertions of Valencienne;
and ruffles of embroidery, are called. AS 4
matter of fact they are only mild and mod
flied forms of trimmed organdie skirts.
Nest of us rummaging among the gowns of
our mothers girlhood, or later among our
own christening robes, will come across
skirts on which the insertion is far more
elaborate. They are very pretty, however,
these new skirts. packed in dainty boxes.
ard quite ready to wear except for the sim
pie matter of putting band. The all
over embroidery for waist and sleeves
comes separately. Almost any Industrious
Eeedlewoman can fashion these skirts at
home and make them look quite as finished
and dainty.
The most effective and quite the pretties;
embroideries shown for spring and sum-
mer are the Irish point effects. which are
almost like lace they are so fine vet are
very durable. Swiss nainsook is as beauti-
full as ever. and all these pretty summer
trimmings combined make one quite look
forward to the summer girl and her pretty
gowns. MABEL BOYD.
Twice Quick.
From Puck.
Former ReSdenf-aW hat did prodiula l,