Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-10-27

The old saying that "One might
as well be dead as to be out of the
fashion" has never held good with
such force as at present, and on the
other hand never before have the
fashions themselves been of such
comfortable, practicable and artistic
value.
In order to be really fashionable in
her attire the woman of today must
first be cool and comfortable No
consti letting collars, no skin-tight
sleeves, and, more than all, no tight
lacing; these are the sensible dictates
of fashion for the comfort of the
summer girl in this year of our Lord
1904. To be her own sweet self, I'm.
restricted and untrammeled by
artificial constraint, is held to be the
best method of developing both health
and beauty, and we have only to com
pare the girl of today with her grand
mother, or even with her mother, to
see how these methods have vindicat.
ed themselves.
In all the late summer fashions this
same desire to make clothes as cool
as possible is evident. The unlined
yokes of lace and chiffon, the collar
less gown, the loose flowing sleeves,
and the tendency to use a dressy
petticoat for drop skirt and so
obviate a mass of material below
the waist line, all these indications
when acted upon will do much toward
maintaining a fashionable smart ap
pearance while catering to comfort
the while.
For bedroom and informal house
wear there are negligees so pretty
and really so elaborate that they
might almost be classed as teagowns.
These have the decollete neck and
the open flowing sleeve, which when
manipulated artistically are more
effective than might be imagined.
There is a great deal in selecting
the gown which is most appropriate
to the environment in which it Is to
be worn. We all know how hopeless
and forlorn a lawn or muslin, or
chiffon frock looks after the mists and
dampness of the seashore have done
their deadly work, and even in the
mountains the heavy dews, which
occur after nightfall, will frequently
add years of wear to the appearance
Of what really was smart gown.
For this reason fashion has turned
in marked degree to China silks and
the softer linens for country and sea
shore wear, but while these materials
are cool in themselves it is none the
less imperative that they follow the
cool impression in their making,
which is now the sine qua non of the
hour.
For athletic wear the balflength
sleeve prevails, and the shops are
showing boomers in all shades Of
China silk to match the short outer
skirt, so that there is no necessity to
add the bulk and warmth OF a petit
coat to the costume.
For outdoor use, formal and social
occasions. all the gowns are fashioned
of as light and filmy fabrics as pos
sible. Laces are used in profusion,
and wherever applied the material
beneath is sure to be cut out to aid
in producing the required effect of
transparency and GOODNESS.
French knots and hand en-
broideries of all kinds will continue
good FOR an indefinite period. The
fact that hand labor is held at a high
price in this country will necessarily
keep these effects from becoming
cheap or common. Since nothing is
considered altogether smart nowadays
without piquant touch of black the
French knots are almost invariably
seeded in this somber color, and the