Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-08-24
JAPAN'S FASHION IDEAS.
ny mARY ANxAnLE PAXTON.

HNuta isis SUMMER. IN thS euAftest tuoues
tor the ssrm weather Il Is easy to trace
Japanese influence, not only ia color and
design OF trimmings aud material but
often In the actual cut OF some OF the
newest garments.
And as the japanese have been nation
OF artists for more centuries than we have
been a nation st sii, 1t seems reasonsb BILE
that they should have at least few worth
while ideas la color schemes and decora-
tions for us.
Perhsps this Oriental idea IL most no.
ticesbie 10 the embroidery trimmings aud
the very fashiona BILE semi- precious jewels.
Really the loveiiest trimmings OF the
season sre the Oriental emhroideries OF
various sorts, The smsrtest shirt vast
suits are OF japanese Ersss-liuen, en-
broidored all over with the fiat japanese
long stitch embroidery, IN cbryssathe
NUNS or cherry blossoms, or flights Of
birds, not two designs are exsctly alike.
and all she most exquisite hand work.
Shirt waists OF Japanese wash silk, OF
Japanese raw sill kinu and homomen, a.
well as AL sorts OF fine linen and cattou
ctepes are embroidered in siik, linen or
cotton japanese design. TIE dragon,
large and small. is used again ard again,
aud the lotus and grotesque birds ard
fishes. Or your shirt waist totters under
pagods or a ricEsba Ia ii hand WORK.
Eatire motor suits or travelling suits are
made OF these rich, thoush not expensive,
wash raw silks. They are embroidered or
trimmed with bands OF japanese painted
leather, tackled on lightly, or with en-
broioered satin bands taKen from a
Mandarin coat, or with strips OF silk
work from the ends OF Persian scarf.
All sorts OF japanese eostoas are used
toe home decorations and for indoor
gowns, tor l0ungiug robes, and matinee
( jackets, ana the finest white aud pslc cot
to crepes are very pretty for summer
evening i,oket- with trimmings OF cotton,
stamped with gold--aii very cheap.
The very newest summer coats for driv-
ing or travelling have the ktu.ono cut !.
that IL, without shoulder seams and with
the wide shspeless sleeves and ungored
body. They are straight up and down,
reach TO the knees and are s'ashed at the
sides up about foot. The neck ia with,
oit collar, but has some sort Of Oriental
bSnd trimming
All sorts of materials are used for these
kimono coats, American, japanese, Iadisn
snd every variety % trimming tnat comes
in fiat bands. A japanese raw silk coat
will be trimmed most Teckleasiy with
br liant Russian embroidery, coat OF
rhibetsn cotton with Eeglish lace, Amer
lean linen with Pniiipp'no lace and plain
linen with home made cross stitch, which
Is the best taste OF all.
For longing rohes and jackets, the Xxi.
mono cut !, the most ia hionaole you eau
have and undenIahly the most comfort
able, OF japanese cheap prints or pretty
American lawns, as you prefer.
japanese belts and stocks are very fash.
ionsble and you eau easily initiate them
With a little embroidery SILK and gold
thread aud japanese scroll or fan or
picture TO copy flowers or dragons or
birds from. There IS usually q touch OF
gold thread on all the prettiest dress &C.
cessories. Black or white satin ribbon
makes a good foundation, or linen or
cotton II you want wash bslt, aud no
gold.
! Naturally all these stnffs and emhroid-
cries, though often cheap enough to buy,
must be washed most carefully, as they
are designed for a nation that has no busy
regular wash day, and the laundry is not
considered in their manufacture.
Their cleansing must be accomplished
by gentle methods, without the harsh
treatment Of the boiler or the dashboard,
and also acid cleaning agencies must be
avoided where the o.iental eolors are to
be held In bondage.
Probably the all around surest as well as
easiest method is to add little pure borax
to the washing water, first soaking the
coiored garments in cold borax water,
then washing in hot but not boiling
water, washing white also In the solution
having a couple of teaspoouiuis OF borax.
Rub lightly through the hands, wiring az
dry as possible in the hands and put out
10 the shade where there is, II possible, a
fresh breeze. 1t Is very bad for delicate
eolors to dry in the sun. 1t is apt to mean
fading no matter how careful the laundry
process has been. Colored embroideries
always ~ tA~bN1 NA
side, and they look better II ironed before
they are absolutely dry, instead OF being
allowed to dry In lot Of wrinkles and
then sprinkled uneveniy.
Thisfsd for japanese effects adds most
interesting snd picturesque feature to a
wardrobe, and is not al all expensive to
achieve II one lives near g city or is at all
clever at initiating colors and designs
With needle or paint brush.
Pointed Paragraphs.