The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-02
THE HOME.
BICYCLE DRESS.

BICYCLE DRESS.
The average length of Teady-made
bicycle skirts is from thirty two to thirty
eight inches. or reaching just below the
shoe tops. Cutsom- made skirts are usual
ly longer and vary in length to suit the
taste of the wearer. Fashionable riders,
who ride short distances in the park only,
wear longer skirts than country riders
The most popular materials, according
to the q antlewor1an, are somewhat
heavier than those in vogue last season,
and very few, even OF the more expensive
suits, are lined. One of the hands0mest
materials is the Erich, double-faced
cloth which tailors like BEST This mate
rial is not lined, the bright plaid or check
of the reverse side of the cloth forming
its own lining. Cheviot, covert cloth,
homespun, tweed, serge and alpaca in
mixtures, especiallyiin brown and greys
are much used. The lighter weight
goods, however, need to be lined.
Crash bicycle suits in many tints are
among the novelties of the season. They
are made up liks the wool materials, and
in the darker shadeS-noss green, navy
blue, mode and castor-are destined to be
popular. They will not be lined, and,
like the wool suits, will be worn over
silk, satin or sateen knickerbockers and
with a shirt waist and jacket Knicker-
bockers should match the skirt in color,
and should never be made of wool mate
rial, as this sticks to the skirt. Under
the knickarbockers are worn the ordinary
equestrian tights.
The usual bicycle skirt is a plain, cir
oular shape, simply finished with deep
hem stitched with five rows of stitching,
or braided. The opening is at the side
fronts, where row of buttons ornaments
the flaps, which may be closed with hooks
and eyes, or be left open. A cluster of
pIaits holds the fullness firmly in the
centre of the back. The skirt may have
q broad band of the material, which is
finished to wear as a belt over the shirt
waist, thus doing away with the necessi-
ty for the uncomfortable stiff, leather
belt.
The divided skirt is not kept in the
large shops, but is made to order. Ac-
cording to the latest designs it is as long
as the ordinary bicycle skirt and much
fuller; the fulIness is confined at the
sides by an elastic band in the hem. II
made of light weight material it should
be lined. 1t is usually made with
double box-pleat in front, one side lap
ping under the other, in order to conceal
the opening. Unless the rider is to mount,
a diamond frame wheel there seams to be
no advantage, either of comfort or grace,
to be derived from the divided skirt,
while many women who have worn 1t
have discarded it.
Stout women prefer the skirt having a
box-pleat at each side front scam. The
skirt, when finished, should not be less
than three and one-half yards around the
hem, and four tosfour and one-half yard
is ample for tall or stout women.
Women who seek trim and tailor
made effect in their outing suits wear the
stylish Norfolk jacket. This is usually
made plain in front with q high. man
nish collar, which turns slightly away
from the throat to reveal smart neckties
The newest styles incline to fat effect.
at the back which is finished without a
ripple, and has two box-pleats from the
shoulder seams, ending at the waist line.
The Jacket extends about three inches
below the waist line, and may be worn
with belt, but a popular style is to have
:. uelG of the waist material, which ex.
tends either back from the under arm
seams and buckles in the back, or ex-
tends forward from the same seams,
buokling i'll front. Sleeves are much
STDuller Gnan laSU seasons, ana snow
welt or strapped seams the same as upon
the skirt.
Double breasted REFERS and Elton jackets
ara much worn for cycling, and iy-front
Jackets, closing with braided frogs, are
both convenient to don and stylish and
comfortable to wear.
The charm of this seasons bicycle suits
is mainly in their simplicity; no fsoings,
weights or other devices are used to finish
the bottoms of the skirts, but an elastic
strap fastened to the hem at the side
seams slips over the foot and holds the
skirt in place. Very light weight mate
rial may require few buttons along the
under side of the hem to keep it down,
but tailors are not using them, nor are
they shown on the ready made skirts.
The New York Tribune has some
very good notes on cycling: ga good
fitting pair of cycling shoes makes vast
Improvement in a riders style OF pace. 1t
Is good plan to buy new shoes in the
summer, when thin stockings are worn,
and by the time the winter season comes
around it will be found that they are
quite big enough to admit of thick wool
On stockings being used.
"When cycling see that the clothing