The Jersey City news., 1904-02-27
LENTEN FASHIONS
Gowns Which Fair Penitents
Will Wear During the
Next Six Weeks.
QUAINT OLD STYLES
Advance Models Show a Mar
vellous Increase in the
Width of the Skirts.
QUAINT OLD STYLES

OF late years the traditional sack cloth
and ashes of Lenten seasons have taken
unto themselves features both frivolous
and fetching. Indeed, Dame Fashion de
mands of her votaries specially construct
ed gowns nowadays for the Lenten af-
fairs, and when milady attends vespers,
or the sewing circle, or the morning lee
turc, she must see to it that her gowns
have the touch that makes them up-to-
date A little more of simplicity,
little less of gorgeousness and milady is
ready for the season of church attend
ance and good resolutions.
The usual gay frivolities of society be-
ing relegated to the background for the
nonce, there must be something to fill
the time which they formerly occupied,
SO many of the smart girls of society get
up clubs of various aims and imports
Some of them are of charitable intention,
others are for physical culture, or for
educational improvement, while still
others are purely social in intent. But
no matter what their aim and object,
the gowns in which the fair participant
makes her mild social appearances dur
ing Lent are a matter of care and fore
thought.
For her daily church attendance, for
society is religious, the costume must be
of the plainest that Fashion will ap-
prove. The severe or but little trimmed
tailor gowns are considered the correct
expression for this duty, and, indeed. the
very smart pedestrienne costumes. which
the best tailors are turning out, will be
found to answer exeellently for this pur-
pose Her hats, toe, must partake of
the same Lenten severity, and flowers
for millinery purposes are for the mo
ment taboeed.
Luncheons are favored form of en-
tertainment during the penitentiaI sea-
son. and while therefis no lack of gaiety
among the guests, the menu is supposed
to be fashioned upon Lenten fare. The
dainty garments in which the fair peni-
tent appears, however, while supposedly
attuned to the atmosphere of fasting are
dainty enough in themselves to atone for
any penance in the bill of fare.
1t is at the Lenten luncheon that the
little separate waist appears in all its
glory-ih the apotheosis of its glory,
even. Fashions may come and fashions
may go, but the separate waist, in some
one or another Of its many fascinating
guises, remains with us still. They are
concocted of silk, of satin, of chiffon, of
ribbons, of laces; in fact, there is no end
to the materials in which they may ap-
pear, and still be well within the pale
of Fashions elect. One very smart lit
ltlessluncheon blouse, which will make its
appearance at buds" luncheon in
mid Eent is of double chiffon, which is
said ito launder like linen. This is mount
ed upon perfectly fitted lining. which is
snugly featherboned to the figure, and
the chiffon is put on with shirred tucks
frem neck to belt, giving an appearance
of billowy softness. through which the
outlines of the svelte figure show with an
added attraction.
One thing to be noted in the advance
models which make their appearance
about this time is the marvellously in
creased width of the skirt. The extreme
of the mode is seen in some of the light
weight silks, which really and truly be-
long to summer time, but which are so
dainty and so attractive that it is some
what of a temptation to use them before
.heir season. The smart girl who is
clever dresser will be quick to adopt this
style IN Its nrSL appearances, the H0Ie
particularly so as it is wen adapted to re-
production by the home dressmaker.
With the very light and sheer fabrics,
which are even more the mode than ever,
though, the cut and fit and hang of the
drop skirt or petticoat become very i'm
portant items in the success of a costume.
In the very full dress skirts, which in
many instances are cut with just sus-
picion Of a gore to the widths, it takes a
clever hand to manipulate that straight
Rulness to the best advantage. It is a