The courier., 1903-01-31
FASHION

NEW YORK, Jan. 31.-It is all in the
pronunciation. The spelling is the same
In both cases, but a difference in the
manner of pronouncing the word marks
a distinction IL the blouse be veritable
creation by one of the best couturieres
and possessed of certain indescribable
STYLE IL is called ''bloose"; but If IL
comes from a Sixth avenue department
store. and Is one of a thousand identi-
cally alike, IL is just common ordinary
..blowse" "Blooses" are more in vogue
than ever just now with the Modishes-
dainty conceits of exclusive design, bear
ing the mark of the most recherche
modistes.
At Sherry's at the luncheon hour, at
matinees. at afternoon musicales. and,
indeed, at any gathering where smart
women throw aside their furs for an hour
or two. the display of these exquisite
waists is varied and enhancing. The
skirt may be dark and plain, and of
velvet or cloth. or it may be light and
trimmed out of all reason, but the
"bloose" must be a. work of art, and,
above all, rich and exclusive-possess-
ing an individuality that is unmistak-
able. Many women of fashion pay more
for a complete man-tailored suit of
finest material.
One of the most beautiful have seen
this winter was made of pale pink satin,
ornamented down the front and across
the bust with wheels of silk drawn work
a little larger than a dime, done in
Mexico by order. and imported by one of
the most original of New York's mo-
distes. simple but perfectly-fitted waist
of this sort costs fifty dollars. The
sleeves show some few perpendicular
tucks and an under-elbow fulness. and
are finished i'm a cuff of the drawn work.
Another model is of pale yellow crepe
de chine embroidered in white silk in
curious designs. The silk seems to have
been first oddly twisted and then made
into cunningly contrived crosses with
French knots for centres. There are
straight shoulder pieces. from collar to
sleeve, ornamented in a like manner;
and the sleeves are tucked in big wide
tucks at the top. and tiny ones from the
elbow TO the cuff.
The bodices of genuine Cluny are still
very popular. Nothing seems to be able
to displace them not even those of gor-
geous Irish crochet. Nothing is more
effective nor more certain to elicit favor
able comment from a man of the fash
ionabie world than a stunning Cluny
lace waist over white chiffon, worn with
a plain black silk velvet skirt. big
black picture hat, pearls in the ears, and
a simple strand of pearls about the
throat The homemade .bloose" is not
by any means always distinguishable
Some of the most smartly dressed wo-
men are wonderfully handy" with the
needle.
/ chaperoned a party of a half a dozen
matinee girls at the Holland House for
luncheon the other day. and must con-
fess to having been surprised at their
confessions. Three of the six had made
their own stunning shirt waists, and two
of the others had fixed" theirs all over.
One of the prettiest of the waists was
OF lovely soft white satin. into which the
young lady had set big medallions of
cream-colored lace. These were in turn
outlined with fancy stitches. after having
first been beautifully buttonholed all
around. Odd-looking turnstiles in silk
floss were embroidered heavily between
every two medallions. and the entire
front of the blouse was decorated in this
way. There were some tucks just below
the collar. and the whole thing opened in
the back
Another girl. with a snowy throat
wore a collarless waist. At least the
collar was a very tiny affair of silk and
lace insertion. and laid down. This blouse
had narrow valenciennes lace applied
I'm continuous squares-a double row