Year: 1879

Fashion's Mirror.

 The new materials and fabrics for summer wear are so lovely and so varied that 1t IS difficult to select where one has liberty of choice.

 The newest grenadines have an alter hating stripe, very narrow and in chintz colors, upon a fine, thin black mesh, with as narrow a one of velvet: the effect is extremely rich and novel. The .scwing-silk" grenadines appear with the addition of a tiny brocaded figure, which enriches without being conspicu- OuS, and there are other beautiful grena- dimes ln which a brocaded stripe alter mates with one of velvet or satin Buntings have established themselves in popular favor and are verx greatly improved. The fine, soft, semi-trans- parent fabric which now claims to be a kind of bunting. and secondary class rather more wiry of texture, have little in common with the coarse. canvas-like materials which first presented their claims to favor. The French buntings are fine and little wiry. They are i'm ported this season in very dark shades, accompanied by plaids in which the dark wine colors, navy blue, brown or invisible green of the plain material re- appears The more delicate white l buntings are called gasoline, '' and make

 lovely evening dresses when put in con- trast with gold and black or blue and

 white narrow-striped satin. For young girls they need no such combination, and are prettiest trimmed with plaitings Ot the same and irOn-satin ribbons.

 French organdies, trimmed with lace and ribbons, and thin white dresses will

 be much worn this summer. The

 beauty of summer dressing is it's fresh ness, its comfort and the lightness and dellcacy Of the principal materials used in its construction. In the obtaining of | lovely summer fabrics there is no diff culty. Cottons are improved until they are equal in appearance to silk, and, maae up after pretty costume model, are as attractive looking as those that cost twice or three times as much. But l then, what is the use? They are not | silk; they cost more than double the price of an ordinary cotton dress, and when they get into the wash they are ruined, for if the color is not all washed out of them they are streaked and stiff ened with starch, discolored, ironed out of shape, and made glossy by being pressed on the upper side, or left wrin- kled and unfinished. so that resemblance to the bright, fresh, pretty toilet of a few weeks before is entirely lost. This is why black grenadine and summer silks have been so popular; both are safe and durable, and can be worn on most occa- sions.

 Many of the new hats remind one of beautiful old pictures. The variety in shapes is very great, but the style par e1cclIence is doubtless the "M'selIe Prince" Some of the most elegant hats for Newport and Saratoga have been ordered from this design, and one of the most beautiful sat gracefully upon the head of petite brunette well known in | fashionable New Y ork society. It is of fine Tuscan braid. with its broad brim lined with peculiar diagonal shirring of satin the color of the straw The brim was caught back with rich steel and gilt clasp pressing from under soft bed of pompons and ostrich tips, same shade, of the most delicate character Just below this at the left side are few loops of rich, soft ribbon, holding in place single spray of exquisite flowers that partly encircle the crown and cling so closely to it that one might imagine | they grew there. The roses are almost the exact shade of the hat, while the leaves only depart from it to take on a few streaks of a pinkish golden, sunset tinge. Then, again, this spray of flow CTS is unlike all others seen, as it pre- sents somewhat crushed appearance, l yet It IS IONSly, So tiStiS

 The summer straws, chips and tuscans, with wide, flexible or turn up brims, are l innumerable. The newest are the satiny braids, sort of apotheosis of the l Florida straws, but as greatly improved in shape as in the preparation of the I fiber The flowers were never more l perfect than this season, and, though l French milliners are apt to encourage the use offeathers, yet popular taste does not confirm their choice.

 The rage this summer is for striped

 parasols For seaside, country and mountain climbing the Pekin satine-a

 very fine satin finished, cotton material, showing satin stripes-is shown in the new Brighton colors, ecru and beige shades being the favorites. These are mounted on basket or whip handles,

 which are exceedingly hobby, and are sure to be very popular with summer 1 dresses. This same material is shown in

 black as well. All the colors are made up in large sizes for mems use, and will be quite as fashionable as those for la- | dies.

 The Japanese style, introduced early in the season, has round. low top, and sixteen divisions. which is very inele- gant for parasol made of rich material When the stripes are narrow and mat-h the trimming of the dress, or the dress itself, the parasol looks very well; but when 1t is quite different, as it usually is, from the figure or design in the ma