The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-11
To he Worn in the Spring.

New York Sun.
Whatever else the mysterious future may,
produce In the way of spring fashions. it is
already evident that the Princess style of
gown will stand out as one of the leading
features of summer dress. 1t sometimes
promotes economy in dress to know before
hand what is to be worn, and certainly we
can pin our summer faith to q revised and
up-to-date Princess which will bring out
the lines of a slender figure to perfection.
1t is the slim woman who will find herself
in the height of fashion in this sort of
gown. The shoulders are cut long, the
sleeves very close with very little fulness
at the top, and the hips are compressed
as much possible to give the long, slen-
der. sylphlike figure prescribed by fashion;
The anew styles Show in b and I'd
waist, and anything which can as
feet is the thing to wear. The latest corset
fits tightly over the hips, and to prevent
any extra fulness there is new invention
in the form of a corset skirt. which is cor
set and circular skirt cut all in one to fit
perfectly smooth over the hips. The lower
part of this skirt. from the knee down, is
sary fulneSS at the bottom.
The skirts of all the new gowns which
are not Princess are almost nodded to the
figure from the waist. to the knee; bodices
are fitted closely to the figure with posi-
bly, a little fulness in front; and the latest
Jackets are what may be termed tight fit
ting, as very little of the loose effect re-
mains, and this is directly in front. Elon-
cation is to be the fad of fashion for the
coming season. if tendencies are any evil
dence, and we shall soon be able to con-
trast our slender appearance with the dis
and try to solve the problem of preference
as applied to extremes in dress.
The princess gown will admit of many
variations in trimming, and one of the pref
test models opens at either side over panels
of contrasting material. Some are bloused
a little at the belt, and perfect fitting should
be the special feature of every gown or 1t
cannot be an entire success The old but
very rational advice to cultivate a back If
you would have q stylish air about you can
be accepted with a new significance now
that the lines of the figure are to be de-
fined so clearly. and it behooves every
woman to practice the art of standing in
correct position. A good back is an inn
portant feature of that coveted indescrib-
able something called style, and you may
tiful a goddess in the face, but if YOU
miss this one element of nineteenth century
success in fashion you lose the enviabe
point to be gained in an up-to-date appear
ance.
One new skirt model in blue cloth has
yoke around the hips not more than nine
inches wide. where it points down little
in front and at the back This is turned in
on the edge and stitched over on the skirt
which is cut TO fit without any fullness ex-
cept directly in the back. where two plaits
meeting in the center dispose of the extra
width. rms yoke is fitted as carefully
if it were bodice, and is quite as close and
plain at the back as in front. Rows of braid
trim either side of the front breadth and
outline the yoke all around.
Our spring gowns are to be decorated very
lavishly, too particularly in all the ways
which can be accomplished with a needle
in dainty handwork. With all the pretty
tucking, cording. shirring and embroidery
done by hand and the pretty contrasts en-
ployed to give the gown a striking effect
at distance, dressmakng has become a
high art which seems likely to devotion still
greater possibilities. The guimpe style OF
gown so much worn this winter will flourish
in the most fascinating guise in the summer
fashions If rnmor is correct and with skirts
opening at the sides over panels of a con-
trasting material which matches the yoke
and sleeves there will be the illusion of two
gowns worn together. Some of the con-
trasts used for y0kes and sleeves are more
noticeable for difference in material than
in color; for example. white satin is en-
ployed with pale tints of pink and gray,
or the under bodice and sleeves may be OF
velvet matching the gown in color
The sleeve which Is literally tight fitting
without any puff at all at the top appears in