Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-11
At the Belt Counter.

This Is the season of the year when the
girl who has a shapely, slender waist
reyels in the dazzling array of belts and
girdles which the counters of the big
shops display to tempt her from the path
Of economy and self-denial.
Because the fashions of the moment per-
NIT of most gorgeous designs in the mat
ter of the smaller accessories Of the femi-
nine toilette 1t is not to be wondered at
that anything to At about the waist should
be of the most ornate description. And
to such an extent has this been carried
that even the belts worn with the sim
plest Of shirt waists and tailored skirts
are exceedingly elaborate. OF these morn
ing belts, as they are termed by the glib
tongued shop woman, there are many that
appeal strongly to the tallor-made girl
who likes to have everything that she
wears match In color or tone. For the
brown serge or mohair checked or striped
skirt there are broad belts of alligator or
a kindred rough pelt with large buckles
aud back supports of brown and gold
metal pounded to represent crinkled or
rough surface. To accompany dark blue
or green skirts or suits there are fne
soft kids, with metal buckles set with
clever limitations of emeralds or ans
colored pigskin belts, with self-buckles,
which, while the plainest of all, are SO
perfectly finished that they are immensely
smart.
Cloth of gold and silver is used for
many of the simplest belts. These are
among the least expensive of the autumn
novelties, as any girl who can sew neatly
may make one for herself out of an eighth
of yard of the material, lining 1t, of
course, with gold or silver satin and join
ing the ends with a buckle of matching
metal that can scarcely be too ornate.
1t Is quite possible to decorate the cloth
of gold or silver belts most attractiveiy
IL the amateur accessory maker under
stands the art of applique work, for there
are any number of scraps of oriental en-
broidery to be picked up at the bargain
counters which show wonderful bits of
color in their flowers or medallions. These
are to be cut away from the ground work
and appliqued on to the bullion cloth with
thread of contrasting metal tint.
silk elastic has for sometime been ia
vorite betting and still continues to be
fashionable. In black 1t is used chiefly as
a foundation for steel naiiheads, which
are arranged In innumerable attractive
designs, usually Of the conventional sort,
and In many instances In the Greek key
pattern now to be found on decorations
of every Imaginable description.
Black satin belts are to be found In
every Imaginable shape. Some of them
are straight and wide and heavily en-
broidered in self or colored silk. others
are studded or thickly jetted and many
are soutache braided. Their buckles and
back supports are often wholly of cut jet
or they are of rhinestones, but, singularly
enough, few of them have metal orna-
ments of a very elaborate description
This rule, however, does not apply to the
na.y mir vuh
help to give short-waisted effect to some
Of last years gowns, for these often are
with immense cabachons that
fairly glisten with 'jewels" set In gold,
silver or gun metal or OF hand-painted
porcelain, jewel framed.
To smarter up d simple afternoon house
gown. there is nothing better than
wide girdie or belt or ornate design:
These are made of brocaded satins and
silks, showing yividly colored designs on
pale grounds, and they fasten with huge
rosettes. with Jewel" cabachon centars.
In this class there are numerous attfac-
tive black silk glrdles braided and EN-
Droidered in gold or silver butterflies aad
closing with matching buckles, but none
of these are quite SO alluring as those
to be worn with lingerie house frocks
by matrons and at parties by girls not
vet introduced" These are Chiefly de-
veloped In white satin thickly spangled
with gold or silver, although some OF
them have pearl beading put on as are
the jets and the nailheada applied to
olack satin and silk elastic. whiAe others
ire gold and silver bullion embroidered
n flowers and butterflies.
There are to be picked up By the wom-
n, who walks about the big shops with
Ter eyes wide open, any number Of fab.
les which will make pretty belts. Among
hese are sash ribbon remnants often 10
vide that a half yard may be utilised
" splitting IT and joinlng two ends
'eneath the back support, for both the
dges, rough or selvage, must necessarily
e turned underneath. as q ribbon be,t
lways calls for lining, unless IL is
f the crush order. Almost any OF sha
ancy silk trimmings. especially a The
ale colors intermixed with gold threads.
will make delsctable belts il thew. ara
iounted on dark corded ribbon: ana thers
re no end Of striped black and whits
attn patterns toe positive In chnracfer
OF an entire gown or blouse that wlil
'ork up Into stunning glrdles to accom-.
ne simpler sort. y