Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-14

in women's styles at the present me
J. ment, differences which mark the tran
d sition from the styles of two or thre
o years ago to those Of the present hour
and, singular to relate, many of thes
Il Indicate a return to the modes of lon
! ago.
u The close fitting gown has returne
5 after over a decade of full skirts; tn
tight sleeve is again seen in the LAM
after a period of pulled tops and bal
loon like dimensions; and now ever
more radical departures are to be no
ticed. After long reign black hosier!
j, for children is called upon to abdicate
, and the SWEETEST children are wearing
! white cotton stockings on their plump
little legs-and very unfamiliar they
2 seem after the long interval which ha:
| elapsed since last they were in vogue
Very quaint figures do the little people
} make in their short gOwns-of wash
| materials or of wool; coats of broad
cloth or of velvet made after the fash
, ion of those worn by their elders
either falling from the neck in straight
lines, like the voX coat, or consisting OF
, close-ftting waist with plain or
plated skirt stitched on. The upper
portion shows a short cape or a wide
collar, as the taste of the mamma die
tates. This is either composed of the
same material as the coat, with an
applique of lace and trimmed edge
or is formed of velvet in the Persian
effects. With these coats are worn
hotc Of Lott oI
brims, trimmed with swagger rows of
lace and ribbon.
4 very cunning little damsel of or
6 appears attired somewhat after the
following fashion: Black shoes and
white stockings, gown Of white main
sock made with broad hem, but with
no ornamentation on the skirt. The
waist is laid in fine plaits, which show
narrow edgings of valenciennes lace;
this is gathered into a ribbon belt
which fastens at one side with smart
rosette. The coat is of white broad
cloth, showing stitched waist and skirt
effect; the upper portion exhibits
wide collar with revers in front COW
cred with a network of cream lace
applique. The hat is of white velvet,
the crown very large, soft and full, the
brim wide and laid in loose box plaits
The ornamentation consists of cluster
of short white ostrich tips placed at
one side. The children are now wear
/ ing very effective bows Of ribbon di
rectly on top of the head. The hair
| is parted on each side, the lower por-
ton, being slightly waved, is allowed
to hang loosely about the face and
neck, while the upper lock is fastened
by a bow made of inch or inch-and-a
half ribbon tied in a double bow with
abruptly pointed ends. The effect is
remarkably good, and where a number
of children are gathered together
wearing these butterfly bows in vari-
Gus shades of deicately tinted ribbon
! the sight is an attractive one.
| For older girls top coats and reef
ers are shown in the biscuit tints,
though black is often employed with
great effect. One such coat is Of black
broadcloth, cut to follow the outline of
| the figure at the back, but left loose
in front, the narrow, black, rolling col
| lar widens in front in a full rever
which crosses the bust and fastens a
little to one side Under this is a
standing collar and front of panne vel
vet in the orange shades designed in
Persian effects. The hat is of black
velvet, soft crown and slightly rolling
brim. A swagger bow of the Persian
velvet is the only ornamentation.
Older Girls.
| Gowns for young girls from 10 to 10
are fashioned Of soft wooden stuffs,
either plain or in some of the novelty
combinations or plaids. The skirts
are plain, all trimming being confined
to the bodice, which is made more or
less elaborate, according to the occa-
sion for which the costume is designed.
For school wear a guimpe of taffeta
silk either Of the same color or OF
contrasting hue is utilized in order to
give lighter effect. This guimpe is
tucked or shirred. Often the sailor
blouse is used and then the silk or
brodacloth collar and shield are put
on perfectly plain and smooth, filling
the throat lightly, and exhibiting no
ornamentation save the handsomely
embroidered naval design in the center
OF the shield. 4 very attractive gown
of this description is of dark blue serge,
the wide collar and the shield being of
pale blue silk embroidered in black.
The same effects are shown in the sail
or blouses intended for the boys, the
serge collar being supplemented by a
shield and with collar of blue, red,
brown, black or white silk, as the
buyer may fancy. The vestee suits
for small boys continue to be popular,
the little cutaway jacket and the knick-
erbocker Of blue, brown or black,
while the vest is of some fancy color
mixture or two-tone novelty cloth.
Norfolk blouse suits and Russian de-
signs are shown. Coats are either of
broadcloth for the younger children,
made with triple capes and wide belts,
or of the heavier cloths for the older
boys and youths, a chinchilla effect in
black and gray cheviot or frieze being
the proper thing.
AS for the women's clothes, they con-
tinue to be very gorgeous in coloring
3 and extremely pronounced in cut. In
order to have the proper fit they must
be worn over silk tights, petticoats
being entirely eliminated.
At a recent dinner ten Of the twelve
women present wore no skirts under
their exqUEsitely fitting evening gowns
and it is easy TO realize, in contemplate