HOW TO DRESS CHILDREN: WINTER MODES.

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

HOW TO DRESS CHILDREN: WINTER MODES.

The Princess shape of dress, I see, is returning into vogue for young girls, but it must not be made too tight. With a cape, it serves as a coat, over an underdress skirt, It is then called a redingote. Being only of the same length as the under-dress, which is short, it does not touch the ground, and it is, therefore, as useful as it is gracefuL I saw, but not very long ago, a young girl of about fourteen springs dressed in a pale grey-ribbed poplin skirt, and a black Terry velvet princess redingote over it, and I assure you that every eye was directed to her. There was not a A-estige of trimming either on skirt or redingote, but a fur throatlet and fur muff gave a cosy look to the otherwise cold simplicity of the costume.

This, of * course, is. the month for cloaks and mantles, and I have so many modelbefore mc that I know not which to select.

I will take the first that comes to my hand, namely, a long, loose coat of black velveteen. Back and front are cut straight —down the front, round the neck, and hen:—and round the shoulders and wrists is a wide band of fur; a fur collar also falls to the shoulders. The sleeves are wide and full from shoulder to wrist. On the head a little fur toque ; fur muff. This same model could be made in cloth, and be trimmed with fur or astrachan. Any warm woollen material is suitable for

little eirls' coats, and the trimming may be of stalskin. astraehan, or fur. The buttons, ■which are gigantic in size, are made of the same fur as the trimmings.

Dark green or na\-y blue cloth makes comfortable and handsome coats for children. One or two capas are added to them. Chinchilla or sable looks Avell on them. Babies' cloaks aro also trimmed with some light, fluffy fur, Avhether made of soft merino or rich brocade. White, blue, pink, or grey swansdown are all worn through the natural colour, white, is always the prettiest. I have seen one in pale grey merino, which was a gem. It was lined throughor.t with a still paler shade of grey, in satin ; and it had a hood, to be drawn over baby's head when needed. The whole was trimmed round with blue fox. You may say that this was not suitable for a baby. "Never mind : it looked just too pretty, and everything that is pretty is suitable—but it must be pretty. A pretty little frock fcr baby is of Avhite or coloured merino, "inch is Avartner than muslin for this season of the year. It is embroidered with white silk up to the knees, and has insertions of lace betAveen each row of embroidery.

Another pretty, warm and useful little frock is of icd iia-tnel, with insertions of red applique Aelvet lined Avith a lighter coloured silk. The bodice in either case is made square, and the sleeves are short and full to the elboAv. An embroidered belt or silk sash round the waist.