The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-02-24

sents have been noticed here before, but the later display shows a tendency to en- large the slze of those, and, although much has already been said of them. much remains still to be said. The pres ent fad for trimmings, which Is only, by the way, beginning to assert itself, makes clever use of those plaids and checks. Plain materials are plped with plaids and checks; ceintures, cravats fields and false tucks are fashioned of them; and already one sees an occasional French frock in which the bodice and the upper half of the skirt are of plaid, while the lower half and the coat are of some plain colored cloth. This mixture of the two makes for a charming effect when well handled, but 1t is likely to prove pitfall for the unwary woman who must entrust tho making of her clothes to an inexperienced dressmaker
 In stripes the variety is endless; but it must be noted that it Is the small bair- lines placed close together that the best makers employ Just now. One point for the woman who is economically inclined is the fact that striped materials take less trimming than almost any others, since the material offers so many ideas in itself. Just some piping of plain ma terial reversal of the position of the stripe, or a fragment of braid or lace is all that IS required to the trimming of most modish model.
 What are known abroad an encadre- ments-a literal translation renders the word as a framing-are applied on the edges of coats and skirts. It Is really a flat piece of the material cut to shape and finished at the top in as fanciful man. ner as the design will allow. Since in the new modes the hem of both wrap and skirt represent the greatest widths, re- spectvely, 1t will be seen what q field for elaboration this little Idea presents. Scalloped, battlemented, waved and futed folds are to be seen at those points, and braids and pipings play very i'm portapt part in the scheme of trimmings
 And speaking of those little wraps brings To mind that even such modihca- tlons of the bolero as are made use of all display the same tendency to the cape sleeve that is so much favored for almost everything nowadays Wraps of the cape order, too, are not scarce. but anything more unlike the old time cape us we re member it cannot well be conceived. Rather are those novel little shoulder GOV erings fashioned upon the lines of the visite or the yictorine, as they used to be called, and by which names their revlyalS are known 10 the Parisian dressmaker of today.
 The lining of those little wraps Is quite an art in Itself. There is usually white satin lining, over which transparent printed orgafNie or batiste lining, or even painted chiffon one, all edged with lace, is laid. There are no sleeves to those little wraps. so that the laying in of the lingerie lining, as they are called. is an easy task, and n few tacking stitches retain 1t In place until it Is re- moved for a necessary visit to cleaner or laundress. according to its genre. Mar row Mechlin lace is rapidly succeeding the yalencennes for this purpose, and the imitation Alencon laces are making a viz orous bid for recognition in this connec- tion
 Those clever girls who are wont to make sl do the work of S2. with the friendly aid of the bargain counters, must needs be reminded that all of the new designs cut into both cloth and trimmings in what seems almost q Anful wax--were