Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-01

Nowadays the small folk have Just as
charming, just as distinctive fashions of
their own Us do their grown-up relatives.
In those which are decreed for the
spring and the early summer days there
ID evident delightful simplicity, COM
hined with certain amount of modish-
r.l@ which surely must charm the hearts
OF both mother and daughter alike.
I An the salient features of the adult
fashions are copied in miniature for the
sshttle folks. Their new skirts are full,
their sleeves are delightfully."- big and
I puffy, and their sashes are of generous
width, with big, splashing bow in the
back, or else tied in studied carelessness
Nat the left side.
There is simply no style or fashion in
frocks that has proven SO universally be-
coming as the Russian dress in some one
or another of its many new guises.
Whether the little mademoiselle be short
and stout-or. rather, let us say plump
or whether she be Of the tall and slender
mold, there Is no design which will show
up her good points and conceal her slight
defects OF figure as will this same model
The plump little girl gains height and
slenderness from the long, straight I'M
broken lines that run from shoulder to
hem, while her more willowy sister finds
most becoming breadth in the broad box
pleats that are inseparable from this de.
sign.
In the new models the fastening Is most
often effected invisibly under the box
pleat that runs down the center of the
front. Stitching often appears on those
pieats. seeming to hold them down on the
body portion. and after the loose belt that
passes around the hips is reached, then
i the pleats are released. firm pressing
enabling them to hold their shape with
out any undue tightness of effect.
The vogue of the collarless neck Is seen
TO perfection In these frocks. Usnnly
there Is very shallow band to which
separate collars may be buttoned. and
= the exclusive shops are full Of dainty de-
signs In collar and cuff sets, to be worn
with Just those same Russian frocks
that to see Is to purchase There are
some charming cavalier sets, and in sharp
contradistinction to these are the Puritan
sets, the former all lace and dainty hand
hemstitched ruffles, and the latter OF
plain linen. not too fine, and with sim
pie coral stitching for its sole adornment.
The belt is usually en- suite with these
latter SETS
Then there are the bretelle or suspender
frocks, and doubtless large part of their
vogue, apart from their novelty. ia the
fact that little daughter can wear with 1t
shirtwaist that is really and truly just
like what mother wears. These have the
fashionable full skirts with more or
less deep belt or girdle from which the
bretelles or braces spring, these usually
fastened with fancy pin on the shoulder
to hold them in place.
For these, us well as for the Russian
frocks. all of the fashionable materials
are called upon. There are the chiffon
finished mohairs and the silk warp hem
riettas in all Of the leading shades. and
so fine and lustrous is the finish that one
might be readily deceived into believing
them silk. Pale colorings. especially in
the rose shades, are chosen for the best
frocks. but for nursery and schoolroom
wear there are charming and serviceable
shades Of navy blue. brown. many reds
and several greens. all of which will not
too readily.
The plaids. too, are having glorious
inning, and everything from the tiny
shepherds check In black and white up to
and including the Scotch tartans are In
the height Of the style. For the Rus
sian frocks the less obtrusive ones. aud
especially the tiny checks. are best liked.
for there is but little opportunity for
color relief afforded In this design. The
smaller OF the tartan plaids go well, too.
in this, while the suspender frock Is
glorious In the size and the brilliancy of