The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-06
PARIS GOSSIP

Paris, May 4-lThe work-rooms of the
modistes look like snow-drifts. Great banks
of white materials lie piled upon the tabios
and the floors are strewn with embroideries,
laces and white garnitures of various
kinds.
The prediction that it would be a white
summer has been verified, but in a different
way from what was intended The white
goods, instead of being the sample nulls and
lawns are of more expensive stuffs and
the prospects are that the cleaner, as well
as the modiste, will reap a rich harvest.
One of the beautiful materials is the fig
ured white crepon which is so delicate as
to look like figured gros grain silk. It has
a heavy corded surface scattered over
which is a big flower design in pure white
silk Made up this has a curious raised eff
feet which is very pleasing. The flowers and
figures come in all co,ors and are exquisite
in their new peachblow hues and in the
blues and yellows.
1t is impossible to predict, at the present
moment, the fashionable summer color, but
1t looks as if rose were to be as popular as
green was year ago, or purple the season
before But this is only guess Certain
it is that the heavy crude colors navy blue,
brown cardina and bright green will give
place to delicate tones that suggest rather
than declare
Tho crepe de chimes come under the head
of wash goods, as they can bear water
without losing shape and consistency. The
wool varieties have a wiry, wavy look
which makes them something of novelty.
They are cool, and being slightly stiff keep
their shape well There is almost sug-
gestion of cheese cloth in these wool crepe
de chimes. Though the expense is much
greater, five francs being very reasonable.
The silk crepe de chine is familiar, but
this year is comes in a very durable wash
grade and, if made up with wash ribbons.
such as white taffeta, or wash colors can
be Numbered many times
1t must be said HAT the aim is more for
beauty than durability, and one shudders
AT fh6 extrava CANT fancies which are in the
shop windows.
There is decided taste for stripes These
come in every material. Striped ginghams
are very pretty made into shirt waists and
skirts. The waist is quite tight fitting and
the skirt is also snug.
Tho smartest shirt visits are now very
close fitting, and are made to order. The
modistes show them with the sleeves fitted
and the neck completed, but with the under
arm seams left open ready for the final
fitting. By this method there is little DE-
lay in purchasing.
French women find, as do their Ameri-
can sisters that one half the beauty of the
shirt waist is its availability. There is no
waiting for the completion of the dress.
One can see, purchase, put on and weari
The tight fitting shirt waist which is so
snug that 1t must be fitted, is kept in stock
in all sizes, cut and basted ready to be
tried on. 1t can then be sewed and finished
in a few hours. and the trimming, which is
kept ready made, can also be put on speed
lily.
There is a great fancy for tucks, and this
helps the ready made waist. All these
waists are tucked in some way, usually
Down the front, though they show some
extremely pretty shirt waists of striped
gooos that have the tucks put on In yoke
form, coming to a point in front.
Modistes are making a determined effort
to revive the full costume. The reparate
waist and skirt, they declare. is inelegant.
Nevertheless. there are still thousands of
these sold every day.
There is fancy now for making the hat
to match the shirt waists. The shirt waists
may be of striped cotton goods with hat
trimmed with the same stripe DIR the waist
may be of wool goods with hat with soft
crown of the same material
Dotted goods are small this year. The
very large dots of a year ego have been
succeeded by very small dots The dotted
mulls are made up over silk goods, making
them very elegant. Silk slips are made by
the half dozen and purchased In lots to be
worn under thin summer dresses.
The silk slips are of delicate colors, rose
leaf pink pale slate blue, cream of orchid
blue heliotrope and ripe strawberry. These
worn under the same thing gown with rib
bons to match, give wonderful result.
French women are exceedingly deft at thus
managing materials and can do more with
three silk slips and one null gown than
many an English woman can do with three
times the number of entire costumes.