The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-16
THE DRUM-TIGHT SKIRT.
Ellen Osborn's New York Fashion Letter De-
scribes 1t Minutely.
scribes It MinuteIy.

which there would seldom touch the
ground. Neither our importers and de-
signers nor their customers, who feel
that they muBt dress as we'll as women
who own carriages. recognize In any prac-
teal way what is really a striking differ
ence in American conditions.
The athletic girl is the worst sufferer
This morning youngster Just indicted
into his first 'longies" whimpersd, "0f
course I've got TO wear the things, be-
cause other boys of my size do; but
cant run In 'em. I'll lose as much as a
second on my hundred yards record"
Such is the difference between knicker-
bockers and trousers. From free skirts to
those skin-tght is from tennis to the
mildest OF croquet.
The new skirt necessitates new walk,
which is difficult OF description. The step
is slow, for the play OF the muscles is Wis.
ible, and this must not be violent. cer-
tain undulatory snake grace is attainabls
indoors: but upon the face OF woman on
the street anxiety is writ large. for she
must not pick up her skirts, and she may
stumble over them. The least effort at
haste offers spectacle to beholders.
The new skirt has to be guarded against
bagging at the knees as carefully as q
mans trousers. Another distressing possi-
bility is the formation OF wrinkles over
the hips, this calmity being tho worst Sin
now to roe laid ut the door OF dressmaker.
| The secret of a spring costumes success
turks in its Innings, or rather In Its lack
OF them. The softest. finest and most
sheer of all fabrics are used for founda-
lions; stiffenings there are none The
new skirt Is simply hemmed at the bot
tom. II frou-frou there must be a clinging
| elk drop" skirt Is allowed, with a few
| lace frills: these are sometimes supple
mented by clinglng pctticoat of ribbed
| spun Jersey -knit silk, which Is not hung to
the waist but tho bottom of the corset,
and which lies close to the figure to the
very feet. where are attached lace founces.
The exaggerated tlghtness OF the skirt
Is not inconsistent with an increase in the
favor shown the overskirt There Is, In
fact, new oversldrt, which. to carry out
the pseudo classic Idea, Is called pep
Ilum, and IS as scant and clinging as the
lunderskirt. The peplum is sometimes very
long the dress skirt being reduced to q
pettcoat fare below IT. sometimes II Il
pointed shawlwise back and front, ant
sometimes 1t Is drapod high on one side
as In certain pictures of angels whose
skirts are ostentntiously hitched UP and
buckled to show the right leg, the left one
being covered.
II is not necessary that overskirt ant
undersirt should be Of the same material
and this latitude is sometimes utilized Ii
the Joining Of two vivid colors for outdoo
: dress. but oftener results in the addition
OF flmy, lace-like overdresses to costume
OF heavier fabrics.
: Tho golden side OF tho shield Of thu
! summer fashions is the beauty of fabric
4 and OF colorlngs No dress can be who'll,
bad when carried out in the delicat
I cloths, the soft, lowered silks, and tn
shimmering cobwebby, transparent stun
a now in vogue. Ethereal, fairy like, wove
: sunshine and cloud. these things refuse I
5 be vulgarized.
IS Pale blue organizes, lowered muslin