The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-01
Cycles Of Fashion.

Baltimore American.
They say that fashion runs in cycles. and
what was in favor once is sure TO come back
again, perhaps in a more modified form or
perchance, even in a more exaggerated one.
but at all events the wheel of time turns
around, and customs and habits that were
once loved, then tolerated and finally
scorned return to us in all their former
pristine glory. Truly this is so. Many of
us have lived long enough to recognize
some past fashion revived. some old custom
reincarnated, and so. doubtless the present
century in many ways will be but repeti-
ton, at least in fashion and fads, of the
previous one. Dame Fashion is both tickle
and faithful, and. although she soon tires
of her edicts. she frequently recalls them.
For instance, look at womens dress; how
many styles of thirty or forty years ago
are now returning. The English women are
adopting the old way of dressing their hair,
low on the neck. called by them at that
time bob, and by Americans who then
INDUCED in that fashion waterfall"
few OF our own women are now arranging
their locks in this way, which, until one
becomes accustomed to ii, is very ugly.
Earrings also are revived, and many smart
danes now effect them, and those who dis
carded what they were pleased to term ten
or twelve years ago a 'barbaric fashion"
are now reappearing in their pearls and
diamond ear adornments.
Sleeves never stand still, and yet each
change in wearing them is but an old style
brought back The voluminous tulle and
chiffon undersleeves of the present are
simply a copy from the past of the last
century. Low collar effects, too. are strug-
CLING to obtain appreciation, but really few
women can quite afford TO show their
threats in all their thinness and yellowness,
made so by years of high stiff collars and
many folds of ribbon wound around them
Whether the crinoline. or hoop skirt, will
ever come In again to torture its wearers
and TO give the comic papers a chance for
new jokes remains to be seen. AT present
there Is no appearance of it with the slim
skirts and petticoatless fashion, which now
obtains. Nor is IL feared that the revival
of the hustle, once adored and then hated,
will come back. Women now think too
much OF long, flowing lines to approve
either of the hoop skirt or hustle style But,
as everything does return, save youth and
universal wholesale trust and belief in ones
so-called friends. both fashions may yet
come to the front again.
In entertaining there is a talk of using
again the dear old name OF party" to APP
ply to an affair which is too small TO be
called ball or reception and yet too smart
to figure as tea, even a supper. A
party simply means an assembly of in
teresting people. who come not for any OBJ
Ject except the society of their friends Mu-
sic. dancing and supper may all be promi-
nent features, but the chief motive is the
pleasure OF meeting ones host and guests.
One custom not likely, however to come
back Is the early hours for meals. Fancy
any one now partaking of early dinner save
on Sunday, or even calling a s o'clock din
ner late. as one did when the custom of a
midday meal was still in vogue. Indeed
like our London cousins we are nearing
the o clock hour. and no hostess, except
when a smart dinner is TO be given before
the play or the cotillion. ever invites her
guests until s o'clock or later. Another
thing which Will not return is the old style
of loading the table with various courses,
which are now served always by the wait
ers from the pantry, and although the ia
bic is a mass of flowers fruit, bonbons.
| lights. etc. never does anything more solid
obtain resting place there. There is a
| tendency at this season 10 revive the old
| fashioned way of calling. and. many
women have sent out cards for certain aft
| ernoons. visiting in a mild form will come
again TO the front, and during the next few
weeks card cases and cards will be impor-
| tant adjuncts of woman when she walks
| or drives abroad.
One old custom which seems to have van
| ished forever Is the once independent way
that every one. even the smartest people.
went out at night 10 germans. dances and
dinners on foot. or in the cars. and not in
carriages. Few carriages, either private or
hired. were used in the evenings of long
! ago. but OF late years one would hardly