The Florence daily tribune., 1902-07-12
NEW YORK FASHION LETTER

New York, July i2-Individuality
is the distinguishing feature OF mid
summer gowns and the season this year
is enliyened by an unusual display of
smart frocks.
Combined with individuality must
be Rrate for everything is designed
with view to accentuating this sub
tie attribute of womankind. Mater
ials that are la mode are of the sheer,
soft, willowy variety, accommodating
the demand for draped effects; and
these draped effects, while arranged
with studied freedom suggestive of
classic art and beauty, fit faultlessly
and at no time is the contour of the
figure completely hidden.
The ultra smart skirt of diaphanons
material is sheath-like, expanding at
the foot and requiring soft billowly
effect of undulating frills to produce
the graceful fare that is absolutely
necessary on every style of summer
gown. These frills are made of many
different materials and some of them
are placed on the drop skirt, but often
they are seen as well ON the inside of
the dress itself.
There is very general use again
among the fashionable modistes of
Gotham Of the balayeuse, formed var
iously of lace entire, of plated silk,
organdie, null, batiste or fine Swiss
muslin, narrowly tucked, and finished
with an edge of insertion and lace or
embroidery.
In Some of the skirts the hip-yoke
effect is gained by group Of tucks
set in around the circular skirt. This
is easy to accomplish, if one begins
with the tucks at either side of a mar
row front breadth, which may be fin
ished down either seam with two or
three tucks.
A feature of dress upon which great
emphasis ia being laid is the lace coat
This is distinguished for three things
besides its wonderful beauty-its film
siness, fragility and cost These coats
are really ornaments to add to the con-
fusion of the summer woman's attire.
for Of warmth they have none, and
substantially very little more.
One of the daintiest effects imagin-
able is in soft colored guipure lined
with pale blue painted muslin. An
other model suitable for the woman
to whom black is Indispensable and
this means every well-dressed woman
lis a long black lace coat lined with
cherry -colored chiffon.
1t really seems impossible to imag-
inc q higher attainable perfection in
shirt waists, for they are all that the
human heart could wish this season
in variety, material and price A
style of blouse which is varied in u
number of ways is made of squares of
lace and batiste, the latter tucked
crosswise from side to side and corner
to corner, one tuck in each line.
Lace and embroidered squares are used
in this way, the back like the front.
Lace and silk, and batiste embroidered
squares with silk or chiffon are also
used. Any fancied combination is ad-
missible. but the squares in smaller
numbers are uesful trimming, set in
in detached motifs in any form that
one may like
The greatest variety is afforded in
pongee waists and these are shown in
black, dark blue, red and ecru. The
latter, however are the most favored,
because they combine so prettily with
other colors. These blouses are un-
lined and almost invariable cut with
low neck and elbow sleeves.
Necessity has proved tie mother OF
invention in fashions rs well as in
trade, for the herringbone decora-
tion 80 much used, and no expensive
when done by hand can be purchased
ali ready for use in the shops for
reasonable sum. 1t is machine made
of course, but it answers every purpose
aud reduces the expense OF q gown