The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-28
GOWNS FOR YOUNG GIRLS
AT THIS TINE OF YEAR MOTHERS
CONSIDER SPRING OUTFITS.
Simplicity Is the Rule, but the Pretty
Materials Allow Infinite
Variety.
correspondence OF the IndIanapolis journal.

give 10 home sewing. with ample oppor-
tunity TO look over and renew the chill
dren's wardrobes. From time immemorial
lenten quiet has meant that task well done.
From generation to generation has de-
scended the habit of careful consideration
OF and provision for family needs. Not
even modern methods and modern clubs
have caused IL to die out To-day, as
much as in our grandmother's time, the
children's needs are carefully considered
and supplied, and seamstresses and dress
makers are kept busy making small frocks
and pretty girlish dresses during the weeks
OF seclusion that precede the great spring
feast.
Girls from twelve to sixteen follow some
what closely in the wake of their mammas.
That is to say, their fashions are modelled
upon and influenced by those of their eld-
ers. But. while this is true. they must not
be replicas and must mean a certain SIM
plicity if they are to be correct and smart.
In this one thing, If no other, wisdom and
fashion go hand in hand. 1t is not fash
ionable for girls to be deliberately dressed.
La Mode says time enough for that when
the school days are past. Wisdom un-
questionably urges that the girl shall re-
main one both in fact and seeming as long
as il is possible to do and puts off the
wearing Of woman's styles as long as it can
be deferred. Youth at best is feeting. 1t
is wise to prolong it TO the uttermost limit
Therefore. as / have already stated, there
is peace between the powers, in this one
realm at least, and good style and good
sense are closely allied. Jacket suits of
quiet color in lightweight woods are much
worn and are undoubtedly serviceable. For
the spring the blouse model, with a plain
fiared or plated skirt, will take precedence
of all others. Blues. tans. browns and
| the new sage green's are all in vogue. Gray
is rather old in effect. and not so desirable
| for young girls. Lightweight serges,
cheviots and homespuns, flecked with
white, are exceedingly fashionable for
| knockabout suits and for school. For oc-
| casions or greater dress yelling is much
used and very charming suits II makes; but
| many mothers prefer separate coats for
the younger girls. reserving cloth costumes
| Tor those past fifteen. Jackets of covert
cloth always are in style and suit women
| OF all ages past four years. Also loose
coats are much worn, both in full and
these the frock may be of any lightweight
material and is rather more girlish than
the suit with its implied shirtwaist These
last are shown in all ages from ten to full
/
under fourteen. When younger girls wear
| jacket suits rather more fancy waists are
used, as the severe style seems over ma
| ture. trimmings for the cheviots and
cloths may be any of the pretty fancy
| braids or bands of plain cloth on mixed,
while the suits of broadcloth are, many
broidery. but this is only in the case of
the older sisters who are fast approaching
| womanhood.
| PRETTY INDOOR COSTUMES.
Indoor frocks are charming. For early
spring wear veilings, cashmeres and the
like are being made by the score Tucks
make favorite finish and are seen in all
widths. Charming dresses for the girls
from twelve to sixteen are made with yoke
OF simple lace and full sleeves showing lace
cuffs With these tucked. plain and founced
skirts are all worn. The girls of fourteen
and sixteen are allowed foulards in simple
| designs and India silks, but the soft wool
voiles, veilings and the like are so charming
| there seems little need for the use of silk
| even in these simple sorts For school
| wear blouse dresses are in demand and are
| exceeding serviceable as well as stylish
! made OF serge or mohair. Younger girls
| wear tucked dresses, plated and Gibson
| dresses more or less modified from the orig
| inal style. A recent innovation, and one
| that is TO be welcomed, is the combination
| OF the Gibson waist with the plated
| skirt. For immediate wear these are charm
ing In plaids, but later will be much worn
| in pique, which is to be a favorite of the
summer. Simplified blouse frocks. too. are
| seen, and many dresses of such white woods
| as serge and mohair. but these. of course
| are for afternoon wear. AS pretty frock
could ask is of white serge and is made
| with the new yoke skirt and an open
bloue The skirt is box plated and is
Joined to a yoke about three inches in
| depth that consists of alternate bands OF
| the material and lace stitches. The blouse
is box plated at the back. Is cut out al
| 1T forms tiny revers. Yoke and full front
| are of simple cream lace and the sleeves are
plated above the elbows, with puffs below
| charming entire frock is of cashmere in
| Nile green and is tucked both as to skirt
and waist. the latter being finished with a
| yoke and sleeve caps of lace. Most allurins
| guimpe or no guimpe, as weather demands
| and are shown in linen and cotton ma.
terials of many sorts. most effective
dress for any age from six to twelve is OF
| plain colored linen and is box plated The
| skirt is straight, finished with a wide hem
and laid in plaits two inches wide. The
| waist is the simple round one, but il is laid
in slightly narrower plaits and is finished
| with pointed bertha of white linen fin
| ished with a scalloped edge worked in blue
| and supplemented by French knots Tbs
sleeves are plain, in elbow length. but are
| finished with cuffs that match the bertha
Worn with guimple of white lawn il is
charming LOT all out the intensely warm
| days of summer, when the guimpe can be
| omitted and low neck and elbow sleeves al.
/ lowed to take its place We shall see much
low neck, by the way. when genuine sum.
! mer arrives. Tiny dresses for the wee chill.
! dren of two years are made in Mother Hub.
bard style, but without yokes, and from
that age upward guimpes are omitted unde,
| intensest heat. 1t is difficult now when we
| are battling with wind and storm, to realize
that there are times when even filmI
| guimpe is oppressive, but the last few sum
| mers have brought some fierce heat thai
has caused the little ones to droop like
flowers in too hot n sun, and provision l.
/ wisely being made for repetition of SINH.
| lar conditions These pretty little dresses
| are delightful worn without additions ot
any sort. but can be supplemented by
| guimpes whenever desirable.
FOR PARTY FROCKS.
Summer afternoon and party frocks bear
a close resemblance one TO the other. Fol-
the former materials are sprisged mus
lin. fine lawn, Swiss muslin and the like
while for the latter they are white or.
candle, null. mousseline and similar film,
things but in cut and style they are closely
similar Round necks with yokes n,
guimpes and shaped berthas prevail Wee
wee tots of three and four wear double
/ skirts as we'll single. and children I'M.
| der ten wear frocks with long Frenct
waists. but this last tendency is not so ex.
| aggeraJed was the case last year and
the older girls prefer plain skirts. Fine
| handwcrk makes the characteristic of ali
dresses of the better sort. Most exquisite
! imported models are of fine muslin EN-.
| broidered by hand, and where such work
| is not used briar stitching. hemstitchilne
and the like are noticeable. The mother