The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-18
APRIL'S FINE CLOTHES
ARRAY OF SPRING GARMENTS SEEN
AT WEDDINGS SINCE EASTER.
than Ever-Mixtures of Lace
a Feature.



solemn joy, and Lent, with its subdued
pleasures, both have become things of the
past The spring season is at its height
and wedding bells peal forth each day. No
woman with a vestige of superstitution in
her makeup will consent to marry in May.
June will have its full quota of brides, but
April is being somewhat rushed, that all
those who aim TO take on the matronly
state before the spring season is past may
take their vows without fear of that shad-
ow which is said to Turk somewhere for
those who brave tradition and seek Hy-
mems altar in the merry laughing month
of May In my own acquaintance is wom-
an, now welded some twenty years, who
deliberately chose a Friday in May for
her marriage and who has been and is
ideally happy. but such defiant souls are
few and the loveliest month of the spring
remains under ban, as ii has been for gen.
erations. April therefore or its last two
weeks, is crowded with weddings and
thoughts OF trouSseauX and of appropriate
gowns for the guests are in the very air.
1 wrote of several last week, but as each
day seems TO bring forth something new
one.
Soft, clinging, transparent woods make
such feature of the season that L am
sure some mention is made every week,
but 1t is impossible to write of these April
weddings, or indeed of April fashions and
omit descriptions of gowns made from
wolfe, barege and from chiffon yelling.
This last is really first in the list of favor
ties and Is as lovely as its name implies.
White is conspicuous and is always a de-
light, but champagne color also is having
great vogue. Two costumes that were seen
at a wedding of Easter Monday were both
or the material, one in white one of the
lovely shade known as champagne. The
white gown was model of the dressmak-
4 u md avid -
is little overelaborate, but 1 have a dis
tinct preference for the comparatively SIM
pie Things: To me they are far more chic.
far more truly elegant; but 1 must tell of
what is, not Of what any individual may
like. The white gown bore the unmistak-
ranged in shirrings, that formed scalloped
outlines. from the belt to the edge of the
deep founce, the shirrings being placed
several inches apart. The flounce was side
plated and on each plat was a slender
pyramid formed by graduated discs of
white outlined with black, which were en-
| Ice was indeed a marvel. 1t was soft and
| full. in blouse style, with shirred bolero
that was finished with heavy white lace
| at its lower edge and at the upper with ap-
plique of ecru batiste overlaid with APP
| pliques of red silk which, in turn, were
overlaid with motifs of ecru represe lace.
| low yoke was of tucked chiffon and bits
| OF red and black showed in the stock
Down the front of the bolero at the clos
| ing were tiny bows of black whose ends
were hung with small pendants set with
| rhlnestones: At the waist was worn a
soft belt of white silk. The sleeves were
shirred at the shoulders, were flowing In
shape and hung over full undersleeves of
| white chiffon over which fell founcing of
represe lace. The ensemble was Partisan,
as any. casual glance would show, and
thoroughly charming in spite of the appar-
| ent medley the written words appear to
convey.
COMBINATIONS OF LACEs.
The use of two laces is by no means un-
| common. In fact combnatio of the sort
| have become a feature of the season, and
one sees heavy lace with thin at every turn.
The colors were blended and handled with
consummate skill until, in looking, one was
scarcely conscious of detail until brought
back to its study by a sense of duty to be
done. The gown of champagne color was
exquisite. The skirt was free of all trim
ming, but was shirred and tucked with
elaboration. Front and back were alike
and unbroken in length, being laid in fine
| perpendicular tucks for several inches be-
low the belt. then allowed to fall in soft
then shirred In horizontal lines below. The
bodice was the inevitable blouse with the
| soft draped belt of silk, and showed shir-
and a deep yoke of ecru lace over white but
| 1t is the skirt upon which / wish to dwell,
as II marks a notable element in the sea-
sons styles. Tucks and shirrings are used
and used in profusion. One sometimes is
led to wonder whether beauty or a desire
to display his skill animated the designers
these unbroken lines at back and front
and are rendered exceedingly graceful
thereby. Sometimes they are formed by
| full length plaits sometimes by tucks and
! again, as in this instance, by tucks stitched
| for a portion of the length only but how
ever they come about: they always are good
acme of style. Front and back cores that
are unbroken by any horizontal lines 60 a
long way toward bringing about the effect
and are to be welcomed.
The combined laces, to which have al
ready referred, tend to give some curious
effects, and one is sometimes tempted to
wonder II remnants have not been used A
gown seen within the week is of blue wolfe
and shows a jacket with position and long
loose 'front.' or blue and white fillet lace
trimming Of heavy Cluny bands and yoke
and undersleeveS or cream represe When
two sorts, one heavy and one thin are
used some very chic and smart effects are
gained gained: Giuny with represe is charming.
| Gulpure with Chantilly is exceedingly hand
some and some of the f1llet laces are most
eHecuVe with ngnter sorts but the fashion
Is one OF those which mean disaster unless
| the designer possess discretion and inner
ent good taste. Entire gowns of white lace
| are hung over cream fillst net to give
really charming result. Such lace as Chan
| tillY is draped over spaneled net and
variety of similar combinations are made
BLACK AND WHITE POPULAR.
Simpler costumes. designed for the street
are of many materials, but are never more
attractive than In the fashionable black
and white. A most charming black tafreta
is trimmed with black and white and COM
bines skirt and jaunty little jacket. The
skirt is made with flounce that is edged
with a bias band of shepherds check
| above which are five scaIloped rows of
| black and white braid Above the f1ounce
| the silk is shirred The Jacket is exceed
/ ingly short at the back, but forms STOLE
| fronts and Is banded and trimmed to match
the flounce, while beneath il is worn a most
exquisite waist of white chiffon and lace
| A still simpler costume is of silver gray
etanline fecked with white and trimmed
| with bands of plain gray silk piped with
white. The skirt is made with groups of
| broad horizontal tucks that are all pined
new loose ones that suggests a collarless
| Monte Carlo. but includes a charming little
| shoulder cape that stops off about the mid
die of each front and is finished with
stole-like strap. The cape Is piped and is
| held at the front by cut steel buttons set
| with rhinestones, and the stole is of plain
| gray piped. The lining is white satin and
/ the revers embroidered in dull fade
/ coors. blue, pink and green. The sleeves
are the new full ones that are held by
| straight cuffs cut in one with the in
side of the sleeves but overlaid with plain
/ gray pjped with white.
Braid trimmings and braided patterns
| are much used and exceedingly ele-
/ ant hon Ac hn~