Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-07-13
LAST SUMMERS DRESSES.

Rv MARY ANNABlE FANroN.

dsiu,y last season, and the skirts that
cited 50 exquisitcly aud appeared so far
In advance OF the fashion.
There are plenty OF skirts the wrong
length and fnlness. and waists too scant
over the bust and too narrow seross tue
shoulders and sleeves, too full at the cuff;
but the swagger wardrobe we PACKED
away IN November confident that we
wouid have little renovating to do in the
spring, Is lest utterly, there isn't a trace
of 1t.
And instead OF chest full Of garments
suitable and stylish for the 6rst warm
days, sit is to sew" as usual, and to make
over and to bring up to date gowns that
seem hopeless.
And yet all this sfriag work is not 80
difficult as it sounds. There sre so many
fashions that are good style this year
that almost every sort of old waist and
skirt can be effectively remodeiied.
/ First OF all there il scrap OF comfort
Ia the fact that your shirt waist doesn't
! have to be changed. The sensible Ameri-
can girl has decided thst, granted we'll
cut, wesl.fltted garment in the beginning,
the smartness OF the shirt waist Is very
largely in its immaculate freshness, in
the way IT'S done up and worn, and 10 the
/ right sort OF collar and tie or stock.
/ Sc, even though your lsst years @sist
may have more fulness at he elbow than
I this years model, and tire shoulders be
| tribe narrower, and the buttons triHs
larger. still II you have 1t done up care
I fuE4v and fp a. ~ L..
linen collars aud a smart four in hand tie
or two, You will look very much in the
style, Or you may wear the new ''once
over" stock or the silk Byron bow.
But your silk aud lawn waists you must
change. Make them broader over the
shoulders with deep round yoses or
shoulder bretelies or shoulder straps, open
he sleeves from cuff to elbow, take out
lower fuiness, aud in the open space puii
through lace uudersieeve or a pun of
chiffon quite full at the elbow. II narrow
over the chest set In vest aud where the
vest tils space ga hsr back the material
either side
II your lawn skirt is gored, rip It open
and set IN wide insertion betwcsa each
gore; IL rs circular, open down the front
breadth, set In wide panel. push back |
the original front gore to the sides ard |
you will gain considerable fulness.
AS skirts are shorter than ever, even |
the dressy afternoon skirts, the length Is |
easily managed, all the new short skirts |
tat up ever so lit,le at the tack, and e.. |
cape the ground in the front. To be 10 |
fashion this summer, cut off any OF your |
last seasons skirts that do not depend |
upon length to hang properly.
Besides actuslly adding 10 the width OF !
a skirt with new material. an effect OF
fainess eau be gained with the new wide |
sash that has come back again this |
spring, tied with long ends and the old |
style two-Ioop bow. This sash ia very |
becoming to slender women, aud entirely |
disguises the last years ha Bit back skirt, |
which Is utterly out OF fashion now, ex- |
cept for short street skirts, aud even 10 |
better style.
An important step in getting last years |
wardrobe into condition for this summer's |
wear is washing and pressing It, SO that |
after all necessary making-over II will |
look fresh and new.
1t is very good plan for mother or |
daughter to superintend, or even herself |
wash and iron the nicer cotton frocks, as |
the average woman of-aiI-works is not an |
accomplished laundress.
There are certain ways OF doing up
summer things so that they viii not fade |
or shrink, put It's bit more trouble for
the housemaid 20 do them separate from
the other work and to remember about
special washing preparations, and so
more often than not she Just doesn't
bother.
But you are very likely to be decidedly
careful about your own pretty frocks, and
TO take every precaution to see that q
gown you have been three days making
shall not be spoiled In three hours wash
ing.
II there is color In your summer frocks,
put them first OF all In a tub of cold
borax water TO soak, half cup of pure
borsx to tub of water.
Leave for an hour, then wash, without
boiling, in hot borax suds, made four
teaspoonfuls OF borax and half bar of
CASTLE soap to tub of boiling water,
rinse in clear water, and use bluing very
discreetly, as melancholy blue dots are
not at all fashionable. Creamy stuffs are
not blued at all.
To make cotton froeks look like new
iron on wash day before they are quite
| dry. and where there Is embroidery or
raised fgures, Iron on the wrong side.
| With a days work, once In two weeks,
summer dresses can be kept looking like
new all summer. Often Y is not necessary
TO wash a cotton frcek at all to make II
fresh. Clean the spots and soil with gas
oiine, brush thoroughly, hang out In the
wind to freshen, and then iron. This
method OF freshening dress is especially
useful with black cotton null or swiss,
which ia so likely TO turn rusty IL washed,
| even il carefully done.