A SILK DRESS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9365, 14 March 1896, Page 3

A SILK DRESS.

Fortunate iudeed are they who possess lengths of the old cliene "silk, Avith its mirror-liko surface and blurred floral designs, for these are undoubtedly the silks of to-day, and if firm and of good substance, are someAvhat expensiA-e. Bodices of chene silk in light shades are much Avorn with plain, fluted skirts of black caracul crepon, and also with black satin or the brighter type of silk

For smart v/ear, garden parties, and the Park, entire gowns of the glace chene silk are relieved by paste or steel buttons and the velvet in a dark contrasting colour. Often there are three or four materials in one gown, even then notalloAA'ingbuUonsand trimming. Acharmingoharmingmodel for a smart gown is a bright reddish-heliotrope shade of chene silk, and very effective in appearance.

The revers are of mirror moire in a deeper peach shade, and edged with shaded passementerie in the same tones as the silk. The front of the bodice is slightly fulled and crossed by bands of the shaded trimming, and the belt, rosettes, and cuffs are in a rich shade of dahlia satin, with four paste buttons.

The skirt is made with three back gore 3, and the dress cannot be made from less than twelve yards of twenty-one or twenty-two inch silk, as the sleeves alone, with their deep, separate poitffs, require three yards. If the waist is short, a belt of less Avidth is more becoming, but the bagged front is not suitable for this style of costume.

The bodice lining is cut Avith two bosom darts in either front and an entire back and two side pieces, but the silk is cut in the stretched style, and is in three parts only, with a little fulness also in the centre of the back. The opening may be in the centre of the front, beneath tho folds, or the rever on the right side may hook over on to the plastron.

At the back there is a sort of collar of the moire., edged passementerie, this running to a point in the centre, and both this and the revers should be interlined with canA r as to keep them flat and smooth. In cutting the pouffed sleeve, the lining should be of the exact length, and cut very closely from elbow to wrist.