The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-10
THE FIN DEsIECLE STORK.
Some of the Latest Novelties in Up te
Date Layettes.

Some of the Latest Novelties in Up to
Date Layettes.
Baby things were never more dainty
| or costly. From the little bands and
shirts of the finest, softest wool to the
dresses which may be as elaborate or as
simple as fancy dictates, everything is
the perfection of fine work and material.
The getting together of things of this
sort is commonly the occasion for much
family needlework 1.-The sisters and the
cousins and the aunts" delighting in
| contributing something which they per-
sonally have made, and women who
| don't know how to sew frequently can
embroider, and are more than likely to
give flannel petticoats of elaborate de-
sign.
Flannel petticoats are works Iof art.
There are six Of them embroidered by
member Of one family who made the de-
signs herself. They are flower designs,
two of forget-me-nots, two of violets
and two of lilies valley. Inter
twined with leaves, the flowers run
round and round the skirt in trailing
vines for depth of about six inches and
are so perfect that one almost expects
them to emit the delicate perfume of
the flower itself. The embroidery is, Of
course, done in white. This emblem of
purity is sine qua non Of baby clothes
Another flannel feature Of this layette
is the sacks, The knitted sacks so long
in use are out Of date and in their place
have come sacks of fine French flannel
or cashmere embroidered about the edge
or dotted all over with tiny flowers and
tied at the neck with white ribbon. No
baby can have too many Of these and
they form an important part of the lay
cite. as do the e-cornered flannel
shawls which are SO convenient to tuck
about baby's head TO ward off danger
Gus drafts.
Though some women rhapsodize over
the sweet little sacks" and darling
little shirts and other minor features,
by far the most interesting things are
the dresses. They have grown to be so
exquisite that few women have the time,
patience or skill to make them, and Or
der them from some one Of the smart
shops which make a speciality of baby
clothes. In design these dresses are
pretty much alike-long skirts put on to
a round or square yoke, but they may
be finished simply or trimmed in doz-
en- ways. AS rule the Jokes are of lace
and fine tucks. The skirts are
of sheerest French lawn, some merely
around the bottom, while
others are tucked and trimmed with
bands of lace insertion and finished with
a ruf1ie of lawn or several tiny overlap
ping ruffles, each edged with real Va
lenciennes lace. Feather stitching plays
an important part on most of these
dresses, as do the fine tucks, and there
Is usually much drawn work, particu-
arly when no lace is used.
All this is done by hand and so dain-
ty is the sewing and so beautifully are
the parts put together that 1T Is diff |
cult to tell the wrong side from the |
right. Most of these dresses cost about |
thirty dollars, and several of them cost |
one hundred dollars.
Christening robes, known as such, are
obsolete. They were made with what |
was known as an apron front, trimmed |
across in bands Of lace and tucks and in
sertion from neck to hem. Fussy be-
frilled dresses were these, which used to
make their appearance at the chrlsten-
ing anu NEVER were WbiH dGdlil. WO-
men who were christenad in them and |
still have them laid away in lavender
get them out for the christening of their
own babies. But this is a mere matter
If sentiment
The French give a dash of color to
heir babies. They have a fashion Of ty-
ng a blue ribbon around the sleeve if
he baby be a boy, and a pink ribbon if
he baby be girl. This not only gives
olor but is a great convenience to the
nother's friends, who find it bit try
ng to determine the sex of young
'aby The French also order two basil
lets, one of each color, and keep the
lue or the pink according as the child
$ a boy or girl. New York women do
lot follow this closely, for the basinet
5 usually lined with blue, which is re-
uired to do service for a girl as well.
Femininity dearly loves the basinet
he square or round basket is padded
nd scented and lined with silk and con-
aims about as many articles for the
aby's toilet as are to be found on the
ressing table Of the mother.-New
'ork Press.
IT |