The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-04
RISE AND FALL OF THE SLEEVE.

Changes in the fashions of women's attire
are so numerous, so frequent and SO sure
to come, that the average person notes
them, for the most part, without surprise,
as one of the inevitable, unaccountable and
comparatively embarrassing incidents of the
world feminine. There is more or less COM
ment of satirical sort INDUCED in by news
papers over each development of an unusual
sort, but commonly the fashions come and
go without much said publicly in the way
of protest or approval. Skirts are volum-
bustles have their day; cloaks reach to the
hem of the gown or are cut off almost at
the waist line; hats tip down over the wear
er's nose or rear their brims high above
the brow; shoes have pointed toes or broad
and all the successive changes are accepted
as a matter of course. Usually the trans
formation from one mode to another is
development is scarcely noticed. But fash
ions rule, like others, has it's exceptions,
and the recent evolution in sleeves is one
of them. The sleeve has always been
distinctive feature of woman's dress. Much
study has been lavished upon it by makers
of the modes, and, as historical portraits
show, it has been subject to many changes
once adopted, a sleeve has always enjoyed
what, in fashions annals, might be called
a long lease of life. Always, that is, until
it's latest rise and fall Usually one fash
ion remains in use until its predecessor is
forgotten, but in this case the evolution
was too rapid, and even the most careless
observer of feminine costuming has been
aware of the sleeve for some years and
has observed it's growth and shrinkage with
wonder. Ten years ago it began to grow.
Its first development was the addition OF
a fullness that stood up like budding wings
above the shoulders. Presently this fullness
was fattened out and the sleeve grew in
breadth until it became prodigious, the size
of an arm enveloped in it's voluminous COW
eringS often being equal to that of the
body. Needless observers smiled, but there
were those who saw virtue instead of an
extravaganza in this use of cloth. 81 hope
the big sleeves will stay in fashion, one
reflective and kindly matron was heard to
say; 'they have married off many girl
a remark that may be left for individual
Interpretation. But they did not "stay in"
They began to decline before the public had
fairly grown used to them and they shrank
visibly and rapidly. Just as we were be-
coming accustomed to breadth of shoulder
that seemed to make woman an athletic
creature equal to any emergency the Shout
ders dwindled until now the outline is dis
tinctly visible and arms are seen in all
their slimness. The transformation may
be all right, but it is too swift and causes
a wrench to the optical powers. Some in
fluence should really be brought to bear
upon fashion authorities to persuade them
to proceed more slowly in their work of
making over the feminine form divine. 1t
is injuriously bewildering to one of only
ordinary strength of mind to find the OBJ
ject of his affections changed in a day from
a buxom amazon rivaling Gibson's girl
into a slender maid with meekly dropping
shoulders and arms that by sudden contrast
are painfully thin Fashion should really
be more considerable.