Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-07-07
NEW YORK FASHION LETTER.

summer. II indications are not de-
ceiving. the days of the present style
are counted. There are several rea-
sons which make radical departure
probable. Ever since spring, when
skirts of soft. clinging materials, full
at the hips and of extreme fullness at
the bottom became fashionable. com
plants have been made that the com
bination of pattern and material was
decidedly impractcable and could not
last long. The principal objection
arose from the fact that the gathering
of soft and clingng material around
the lower extremities impeded walk
ing to serious degree and actually
made 1t an awkward and uncomfcrta-
BILE procedure.
1t has been maintained for some
time by experienced dressmakers that
one of two things would have to be
done. Either the bulk of material at
the bottom of the skirts must be re-
duced or some sort OF stiffening must
be employed to keep the clinging folds
away from the lower limbs and make
walking less awkward. 1t is quite
probable that either one of the two
things mentioned will be done this
fall. and as the effect produced by the
extreme fullness of the skirts at the
bottom seems to please in a general
way, the chances are that the other
way out of the difficulty will be chosen
In Paris the beginning has already
been made. and many OF the most
fashionable dressmakers employ vari
-,
ment in walking Stiff Innings and in
some cases elastic wires are used 10
hold the hem of the skirts away from
the feet. From stiff Innings and
wires to something approaching the
hoop skirt is but Il small step. AL
though IL is scarcely probable that the
coming fall win witness the return to
the hideous style OF crinolines and their
contemporary accessories, the present
style will undoubtedly be modified in
one or more important features.
There seems to be a decided ten
dency to select more substantial ma
terials for skirts that are to serve for
practical purposes. in place of the
soft and clinging fabrics which have
been in vogue for all kinds of skirts
ever since winter, Soft materials will
probably continue to he used for
evening. dinner, reception and theater
gowns, but even then some method
will be used to keep them from inter
fering with the free movement OF the
extremities in walking.
This change will affect not only the
skirts, but also the waists or blouses
and cause a material change in the
languid lines affected by the present
style of sloping shoulders and. droop-
ing sleeves. There is not much dan
ger of sudden return to balloon
sleeves, as they We're in style about
ten years ago, but it is safe to pre-
dict that the coming fall will bring a
marked departure from the dropping
lines of skirt and waist so character
istic of the fashion of the day.
There Is probably not another ma
terial that is used as extensively for
all kinds of attire as silk. There is an
enormous variety of grades and styles
in the market. from the lishtest and
nmsiest to the heaviest and stiffest.
from the cheapest to the most eXpen-
sive There are silks for every pur-
pose silks for every taste and for ev-'
or bather emerged from the water.
That was the critical test. Now il is
different Nowadays bathing suits no
longer attempt to disguise the forms
of the body. but rather seek to dis
close them as far as compatible with
modesty. The bathing suit of the
present day is so constructed that 1t
is not only becoming before, but also
after use. To accomplish that result
it has become necessary to make such
costumes far more elaborate than for
| merly and it is an actual fact that
some of the bathing costumes seen
at fashionable seaside resorts repre-
sent small fortune.
Silky mohair sicilienne seems to be
| the most favorite material for bathing
| suits this summer, 1t resembles silk
and wears much better, especially in
salt water Another fashionable ma
| terial is iellaine. which comes in
great variety of handsome colors.
Among the latest materials used for
| bathing suits are taffeta and kind
of waterproof silk gloria,
For trimming. silk braids. embroid.
cries and even laces are used in many
charming ways. OF course there are
other braids and various kinds of rib.
bons used for trimming, but none of
them are as effective as embroideries
and laces. Some of the bathing suits
are almost as deliberately trimmed as
dress skirts, and the costumes actu.
ally make the impression OF abbrevi-
ated promenade costumes.
The latest wrinkle and one which
will be of interest to a great many
timid women who have hitherto fore
gone the pleasure of sea batning be-
cause they were afraid that their skill
in swimming was not sufficiently
great to make the undertaking safe.
Some clever person has invented
neat little contrivance which can be
attached to almost any kind of bath
ing suit is inconspicuous and at the
same time an effective. life preserver.
It consists of a rubber bag arrange.
ment. which, completely hidden in the
puffy shoulder part. of the sleeves