Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-12-20


ciScan monks.
The rage of the moment. is the plain
band of fur finishing of the neck of
velvet walking costumes. These
gowns are frequently cut in princess
fashion, with the corsage plain and
high at the neck, and a narrow band
Of rich fur finishing it off at the throat.
There is distinct tendency, this sea-
son, to revive the plain, tight, velvet
bodice which molds the figure. One
or two Of our leading dressmakers are
making a speciality of velvet gowns
arranged in this way, and these ar
lists insist that we shall return, little
by little, TO the curious fashions OF
the early Victorian days. 1t is true
that the plain velvet bodices, bor-
dered with bands of fur, belong more
to 1880 than to 1880, but all the same
we are going back and back, and no
one can tell where we are apt to end
With regard to neck arrangements,
one of the newest ideas is the rather
high collar edged with frill of plait-
ed muslin. This frill falls over the top
of the collar band and gives to it's
wearer a strangely childish appear
ance. But on the whole these neck
fr1lls are the reverse of becoming.
They make the neck and throat look
rather untidy, and they take away
from the smart effect which high lace
or muslin collars have made pleas
antly familiar.
Each week it seems that ruchings
become more and more ubiquitous;
ruchings of velvet, satin, taffeta, chif-
fon, etc., etc. Every possible mate
rial is ruched or plated and the lin
ings of muffs and scarves, as we'll as
those of coats and nantes, are gath
cred up into tiny folds. A certain
shade of dull violet is in great de-
mand for Innings of all kinds and
this artistic tint comes out well in
chiffon, crepe de chine and mousseline
de sole.
Two millinery models of an attrac-
tive order have recently been seen.
A white felt picture hat has its wide
brim edged with black velvet and the
domed crown completely covered with
folds and bows of geranium-pink vel
vet. The brim of this hat droops
slightly at the sides and at the back
it is turned up, but not abruptly. The
softly folded trimming of this hat is
a speciality of the present season. We
find just such hats as this in the
show rooms of our leading milliners in
black velvet, ravens wing blue satin,
embroidered crepe de chine and other
rich materials.
A second hat is of quite another
shape. 1t is, practically, a large
"beret' and the wide, fiat crown
forms frame for the head and hair.
In this case the foundation of the hat
was ivory white felt, while the large
crown was composed of ravens wing
blue velvet. In front there was a
twisted ornament formed of passemen-
terie and a large black aigrette.
The millinery of the day is decided
ly picturesque in outline and it is. for
the greater part, specially becoming.
The shapes now in vogue are quaint
and artistic, the most delicate pastel
tints are employed for velvets and
feathers. Apropos the latter, shaded
feathers are once more very fashion
able, and on some of the newest
models I have seen a curious feather
which is partly ostrich and partly
marabout.
A visiting gown in the most popular
fabric Of the hour, velvet, combining
the plain and the striped, trimmed
with buttons, is shown in the illustra
ton.