The herald., 1898-08-28
Some Chic Bathing Dresses

NEW YORK, Aug. 22.-Although the
bathing season is nearly over, every woman
who bathes Is interested in new ideas for
suits and the models l am about to describe
will be worn next year, as they are model
ones from Paris. Nowadays the bathing
dress forms an important part of the ward
robe. A couple Of decades ago even the
smartest of women were content with
sack-shaped garment of the ugiest posi-
Bile shade Of dark blue. What a contrast
between these horrors and these works of
art! All French women discard sleeves,
and this year we have done the same. OF
course, many women object to this on the
score that their arms tan so quickly and
that tan is so unbecoming.
AS to that. opinions differ; but this much
do know, that when once the tan has worn
off-and it wears off very quickly-it will
be found whittier than before. Tho reason
for this is not far to seek. The sun and wind
act as tonic on the skin, so that when the
temporary inconvenience Of the tanning
does go away the skin Is healthier and, as a
consequence, whittier thun before. How
ever II you dread the effects of sea air and
tan very much, here is a recipe by means of
which you may combat them: Take half
mound Of fine almond NEAL place it in
jar, which possesses a screw top; then
squeeze into II as much lemon Juice, freed
from pips, as will mix into a stiff paste.
Stir 1t up thoroughly. add few drops OF
eau de Cologne, cork up tightly. and use
night and morning instead Of soap when
washing the neck and arms. If you wish
to use 1t for your face also, in place of pure
lemon Juice use half rose water and the
rest lemon Juice. Too much should not be
mixed at once, as it is better fresh made.
And now to go back to THE bathing gowns
which have been patiently waiting for our
attention all this while. The first, and by
far the prettiest of all the models, was of
white serge, in fine ribbed make that had
yet sufficient substance to enable the short
skirt to hang well, sans lining. The knick-
ers, which were not unduly full, reached o
just below the knee and were banded in by
a smart band of white silk military braid
and a tiny mother-of-pearl buckle. The
skirt which was smartly gored, came some
two or three, perhaps four. inches above
the knickers, and by some process, the
secret whereof was known to the dress
maker, and which 1 did not, being in a
hurry satisfactorily solve, was fiXedto the
same band. The bodice was very pretty
| 1t pouched a good deal in front and slightly
at the back, and the square decoletage
was set into deep band of embroidery of
the white silk military braid. Perhaps
should rather say braiding, instead of en-
broidery, but the military braid used was
so narrow and the designs employed so
fine that quite passementerie-like effect
was obtained From beneath this band
were deep tucks reachnP.to we'll below the
bust line. The sleeves were mere straps
of the white serge covered with the braid
embroidery. This bodice fastened invisi-
bly, under the left arm and was attached to
the knicker skirt by means of button and
ttonhole back and front. Over this
went smart belt Of the white silk braid,
fastened with a mother-of-pearl buckle.
The skirt which, as have said, was un-
lined, bore very deep hem, turned up on
the reverse side under a broad band Of
the white silk braid, but was otherwise
plain. A fetching little cap of the white
serge, with q smart bow of the military
braid, kept in place by a mother-of-pearl
buckle, completed this dainty little Co.'S
tune.
Another model, built on similar lines,
was Of black serge with scarlet and white
braiding in narrow lines, whereas that
used on the above model was wide. How
ever II succeeded In looking very smart,
which is, after all, the principal thing.
The design on this was In the key pattern,
that Of the first model in the usual conven-
tional scroll.
Another style which gained my affections
instanter was also of serge-cream serge,
with bright blue stripe running through
1t. This model had no skirt, only very
full pair of Knockers, buttoned at the sides
with four buttons of dark-blue bone, 1
expect. The bodice was cut after the fash
ion of a child's sailor blouse, and the decol-
letage, which was slightly higher than
| that of either of the two preceding models,
had huge sailor collar, fastening with
a button beneath made bow Of its own
material. This collar bore no ornamental
ton save some half dozen rows of beaut.-
fully done machine stitching. The sleeves
were double frills of the serge, machine
stitched at the edges like the collar. The
fullness at the waist was kept in by
band stitched similarly. BY the way the