The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-04-10

Of colors in feminine dress and the fact
that a greater number of all-silk gowns
viii he worn than We have known in a
space of ten years. Fouards. with their
almost tropical Splendors of tinting COM
mand first notice; the striped and figur-
ed taffetas are reigning bellies and the
richer silk weaves, fleur de velours, etc,
are every one the choice materials Of the
really elegant costumes.
As to coiors blue is dominant every
where the glowing violet, abbess and hy-
acInth blues, while ceTise and all the
clear high tones of green flash out at
every turn. Still the palm for popularity
goes 10 blue, and il is worthy of COM
ment that less is seen of red than any
other color. Blue hats, blue plaid wash
silks, dark blue gloves pale blue lawns,
linens, ribbons. handkerchiefs, silk petit
coats, fans, and parasols There is no
escaping the color, and the sapphire is
the stone that glitters at every feminine
throat and belt, on arms and fingers.
II there is another salient mode of the
Spring it is the fancy for lace applques.
Long white and black lace vines, wreaths.
bouquets, and single flowers, and even
figures of trumpets, drums, coronets,
tambourines, torches. etc, are to be pur-
chased al the shops and applied according
Ia the design of fancy the buyer may
have in her head, and on whatever mater
ial she selects, from silk muslin 10 coarse
brown linen.
Honiton. guipure, chantilly. mechlin, in
all the makes Of lace these figures are to
be had, and from the silk petticoat hid
beneath her dress to the wide muslin
parasol that shades her face the woman
of the moment is sewing on frost-iike
fancies Of net and needlework-
Investigating the matter in detail, We
find there are lovely wired lace coronets
for women TO wear in their hair; in
mechlin are delicate copies Of the i'm
perial stars and orders OF European
monarchies. to apply about the fronts
OF evening gowns, lace necklaces studded
with rhinestones and equally lovely lace
armlets. treated tactfully with the new
diamond and star-shaped spangles.
SO far the shirt-waist has broken the
record for maintaining its hold on popu-
lar favor. Other styles of garments
have had their little hour and gone their
way. but the shirt-waist takes every
week a new and more alluring form.
adds something novel 10 is decoration
and so Keeps the feminine public faithful
at its shrine.
The novelty of novelties is shirt OF
thin taffetas in q. pale tint. barred with
hair liEes of white and bands Of chine
flowers. The shape is commonplace, but
the tie to accompany such shirt is cut
from the sarle SILK, hemmed on both
sides and 10 arrowhead ends 1t is
drawn twice about the collar and knot
ted under the chin in a bowlinot as big
as a chest protector. Ever so many of
this pattern OF shirt are made TO be
worn with the tail outside and the tail
is cut in coquettish scahOps OF points, or
long leaf-sha9ed tags.
a faithful recorder is required to make
mention also of the satin Ascot ties. the
broad ends OF which are accordion plait-
ed; four-in-hands have their ends plait-
ed thus. too, and the collar that attracts
the restless public attention buttons be-
hind, is OF white daintiy polka-dotted
linen and in front Is plain as a clergy
mans Roman band. Under the ears a
flap OF lines begins to roll over. and in
the rear this roll is quite deep. With
such collars wash stocks and but erfy
bows are in best taste.
The majority of gowns seen so far this
season are finished at the neck by plain
high bands. to afford the wearer ample
opportunity. apparently. to change her
ornamental collar as often as she pleases.
Such collars as she prefers she can buy
ready-made at the shops; Of velvet, in
various colors, high-sloped band, hook
ing together in the rear, and studded
with spangles or steel nail heads describ-
ing some artistic pattern on the velvet
surface. Blue, brown. red, yellow. vel
| Vet, satin and ssCde collars Of this make
| are for sale, and many Of them are
made with bib or dickey fronts, to he In
| serted in the necks of tailor gowns.
Velvet belts, trimmed with steel are
! sold with the collars, while for wear
| with skirts and cambria shirt waists
trimmed in steel points. There is q dis
/ tinct leaning toward military ideas just
now. Pretty shopping belts of leather
| have highly decorated reticules hanging
therefrom in the form of soldiers sa-
bretaches, ana black leather or canvas
belts are cIasped with squares of high
! ly polished brass in front On the brass
! plates twin American eagles. crossed
muskets or some such warlike device is
| brought out in high relief.
/ Shopkeepers have ceased to compute
| the number Of thousands Of yards of
! duck and pique already sold since Spring
! shopping began. Suffice il that enough
| Of these goods has been passed already
/ across the counters TO very nearly give
| every woman and girl child IN the United
States gown Of one or the other of
these materials. Bingham. dimity. per-
Gale prints and linens have been all very
much pushed aside by the purchasers in
| behalf Of duck and pique, and there is
/ little wonder thereat
summer time can bring forth no more
charming afternoon suit than a plain
skirt Of sky blue or pale rose. or leaf
green pique, set off with few rows of
fat white cotton braid and worn with
shirt waist Of the same goods and color
| huttoning up TO the left with four broad
fat white pearl buttons. A white wash
leather belt and necktie Of accordion
| plated blue satin, drawn into a four
| in-hand, white wash-leather gloves and
z blue sailor hat having a great scarf
Of white yelling tied about the crown
and knotted to one side finishes a cos
tune that from dress hem to hat
crown need not cost over SIG. vet is fit
TO grace a queens garden party, or lunch
table
Dresden piQues are not bit less at