Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-12-13
CHRISTMAS IN THE SHOPS
Lovely Creations in Neckwear and Great
Variety of Pretty and Useful
Things Can Be Seen.

Christmas is close upon US. but it is
not too late to choose or make some
charming gifts which will surely delight
the feminine heart. The shops are show
ing lovely creations in dainty neckwear
and also a great variety of pretty and
useful bags which are an absolute ne
cessity in this pocketless age of the
woman world.
Another Though purely decorative ar
ticle) much priced at present is the neck
chain. These articles which have al
ways played a conspicuous part in the
feminine wardrobe can be made by hand.
The bead chains which d little while ago
were trying my lady's eyes so severely
were many of them very handsome, and
Will gain little value as time goes on.
One young woman wrought a dainty one
in blue and white, the blue beads for the
foundation and the white ones the letters
which spelled the words, self reverence,
Self-knowledge, Self-control." This was
a rather ambitious effort, and the work
hardly warranted the result, but the
beauty and charm of the token was
unquestioned
A traveller just returned from Porto
Rico brought back chains of the seeds
found there. One in pearl gray was very
pretty indeed while another in the
bright scarlet of the sea bean contrasted
prettily with the dark hair and bright
eyes of its youthful owner.
These chains are easily made, and the
inland shores furnish ample material to
the obseryant and diligent. However, to
the city workers these odd gatherings
are not possible, and they must be con-
tent to Gull materials at the trimming
stores and let dainty work and the low
ing thought take the place of the more
original and unique found in nature.
Of the neckWear there is an endless
variety from which to choose, but unless
ones purse is we'll filed but few gifts III
this line may be offered. Fortunately the
majority of women still retain the skill
Of Inheritance. Collar and cuff sets are
as fashionable as ever, and admit of
great variety. This variety is not made
by the stitches used but by the fashion
ing of the sets themselves For instance.
by collar-cuffs, l do not mean the dainty
linen bands alone, SO suitable for street
and morning wear with their feather
stitching and hem-stitching and embroid
cry, but also the more elaborate work
shown in the wide collars and deep cuffs
worn with the dinner and evening
gowns. Some Of these collars are out OF
piece lace and are round and deep, CT
square in sailor fashion with one edge to
match put on with dainty insertion made
by the deft hand Of the expert needle
woman who knows how to twist and
turn and weave her threads in all man
ner of wonderful ways
The craze for Battenburg has some
what abated, but the stitches used in this
work are always useful and decorative.
For general wear the jabOt of lace and
muslin or chiffon is always pretty and
acceptable gift. These are prettiest
fastened to ribbon neckbands or just q
plain standing collar of silk.
Fine net with fine lace edge can be
made into long strips several inches
wide and then knotted and shirred and
draped as fancy dictates, or as the shop
windows suggest. The main thing is to
show the Individual touch and that it is
the result of ones own effort and needle.
This can be done by putting French
knots in embroidery on the silk collar, or
weaving into the net colored silks in
Grecian or scroll patterns on the edge of
the jabot or up and down or diagonaly
ored silks are also very decorative.
There is another form of neckwear
quite as acceptable as a gift, and very
useful. This is the kind known as tail
ored neckwear because Of it's especial
adaptation to the cloth and street suits.
This neckwear is of course severely
simple, with long tab ends and the col
scarf itself may be of washable material
or of silk, according to the material OF
the waist with which it is worn. But
even on this plain scarf needle work
plays quite an important part, for Wheth-
er of silk or linen, the long ends WIDEN
ing below the knot must have touch
of embroidery somewhere, either me-
dallion or two of odd design and con-
traSting colors or in black and white
stars and circles according to the
groundwork of the scarf. This is faS-
clnatlng work when begun, and delight
full in result, for when completed and
prettily laid in one of the gift boxes to
be found at the paper stores, these Gre
atoms IN neckwear, whether fluffy with
lace and chiffon or dignifed and COM
pact OF linen, they make gifts valued for
themselves, and for the loving thoughts
woven with the dainty stitches.
Of the bags mentioned as also appro-
pirate as gifts this season, it is hardly
possible to speak in detail. Velvet and
suede with soft silk Innings are suitable
and useful for street and shopping For
the matinee and evening gay satins and
silks are always in favor There are,
however, some wonderful bags shown in
leather so soft and pliable that they real
~ are as handsome and more useful
than the long used silks and velvets.
There is q particularly soft and fine ma
terial called japanese leather which is
shown in tan shades only, but the cords
that hold it and make the handles are of
silks in color as fancy pleases. Flowers
and other designs in Japanese outline
are the proper decorations.