Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-18

| o. her little coterie hunting or haunting the
counters where the new cottonS are heaped
/ so temptngly that even on a snowy day
| they look inviting.
MOusseIaine Heads List.
The particular material she wanted was
mixture of silk and cotton which is known
simply 'mousselaine.'' Names, however,
are 50 often changed by both manufactur-
| ers and dealers that it is best to know
what you want in fabric and design and
| then hunt it up regardless of nomenclature.
The term ''mOusselaine," however, suits
this dainty, transparent mixture of silk and
linen 1t looks like a modified boiling silk,
but is not at all stiff. That will be one
comfort with the trailing. ciinging gowns
! of this year Inartistic starch will no long
err be the most necessary adjunct to sum-
mer gown. Grace will be more indispens-
able to smart creations. This material may
also be washed, which is a great point in
its favor. 1t is an aristocratic fabric and
| may not be carelessly given to the ordinary
laundreSs, but with little care it comes
out as fresh and new from the laundry rs
the simplest white muslin would. 1t is not
inexpensive. But 1t may always be taken
for granted that one pays for novelty. Later
in the season there will be material
ductfon in whatever patterns are left. Put
of this little viii be left and one might
well take it and economize on lining. For
on account of its beauty a lining of near
silk some such fabric is often used in
stead of expensive taffeta. Floral effects in
small designs or polka dots put ir
regularly that they look more like snow
storm than the ordinary cut and dried ct
feet of dots are the favorite patterns
Striped and Dotted.
But because they are liked in this dainty
material it does not follow that floral eff
fects are much used On the contrary, al
most everything is striped or dotted. When
patterns are used they are not apt to be
small and conventional. such as fieur de lis,
at, Twin
polka dotted cottons begin with a stripe
first-a fine stripe-and the polka dots have
the effect of having been sprinkled on after
the stripes We're put on. Even checked
goods have the stripes accumulated much
more one way than the other, which gives
them striped rather than plaid
checked look
Silk and cotton combinations are going
to be much used, although usually the silk
is only "A finish or part of the pattern and
does not form part of the fabric as in the
''mousselaine,' which bids fair to be SO
well liked and not at all common for all
that Silk ginghams, swivel silk, as
they were known a few years ago. have
been revived. The manufacturers now
claim that they have discovered a method
of making them which will prevent the
constant complaints about their unSa tiSfac-
toriness after being washed. When they
first came out they were supposed to wash,
but ii was better to be discreet and send
them to the cleaners instead of the laun-
dress. All this is said to be changed this
year.
A Variety i'm GinEhams.
Bingham has become such an extended
term that one may go into shop and ask
for almost any variety of wash goods
under that name. Novelty ginghams, lace
striped ginghams, silk finished ginghams
and a host of others are all making a bid
for popularity. Bingham, too, the bingham
We, used to know. has become dainty
production. 1t used to mean something a
few grades finer than calico, but something
quite as serviceable. Now 1t is thin, very
fine and silky to the touch. 1t also comes
in very dainty shades and colors.
Speaking of shades and colors brings me
to the fact that the rage forsgreen cottons
which was quite feature of last summer
seems to have subsidized. Pink and blue
pale blue usually. are the favored colors
Yellow is extremely fashionable and iudg-
ing by the number of weaves in which ii
appears 1t is evident that dye has been
found which will keep it's canary hue as
long as most summer gowns. One of the
smartest cottons of domestic make Is CALI
ed a gingham.. Most people would say
pfque upon glancing at 1t casually, for 1t Is
repped. 1t is a white ground with serpen-
tine stripes of canary yellow going across
it. With a knot of black velvet at throat
and waist and a large white hat one wo-
man 10 going to trim a gown Of this sort.
And the effect Is going to make every other
woman envious
An Old-T4me FavOrite.
Batiste Is to be worn a great deal for
whole summer gowns. although for shirt
waists madras and cheyiot will be the most
popular materials. The name batiste re-
calls thick. rather coarse cotton fabric.
which took the starch" as the laundre.s
says, so successfully that when 1t had once
been laundered 1t was forever afterwarsl as
stiff as thick wrapping paper and about as
comfortable to wear. Now 1t, like Bingham,
has experienced change of weave 1t IS
fine and almost thin as lawn. Like ging-
ham, 1t has all sorts of finishes-silk stripes.
lace stripes and various other combinations
A great number of the SIMMER COTTON aouns