Bodoir Gossip on Frock and Fashions

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 921, 5 September 1896, Page 21

Bodoir Gossip on Frock and Fashions

(By Gladys)

Ribbons of all "widths are popular for trimming thin gowns. A new fancy is for black grena dine s flounced all over in soft colours. All stales of handsome fichus will be worn with embroidered nraalin gowns. Dresden ribbon garnitures are used with good effect to brighten up linen gowns. The all-popular grass lawn has been made into summer underwear, and it assuredly has the merit of coolness. Fancies in belts run from one extreme to the other, varying from an inch wide to four inches wide, ihe latter style being veritable corselets. The latest collars are tight-ntiing, and have a depth of at least three inches, while in addition they are surmounted by a deep frill of libbon edged with lace. Serviceable summer gowns are made of finely checked taffeta silks of three or four colours, with plain skirts and simple full waists, with a deep fancy collar of lace. The most stylish shoe is the black Oxford tie, with patent leather vamps and suede back, tied with a ribbon almost two inches wide, and care must be taken that the bow is tied, not made. Black and -white striped silks are very popular, and are combined with a white chiffon bodice artistically arranged with narrow frills, edged with creme lace, and a yellow satin belt and collar. Chine silks and ribbons are exceedingly fashionable, and chine parasols are the latest development of the fancy, while chine effects have been copied in cotton goods for shirt waists and wash gowns. Capes and jackets will . be both worn this spring, though the latter, «ut with loose fronts and sack backs, bid fair to be the move popular. The plaiced back, however, is more graceful than the straight cut one, while the yoke of a handsome velvet coat is covered with silk passementerie, with black accordion-plaited chiffon forming the epaulets and full neck ruche. The materials employed are usually smooth-faced cloths and velvet, and when of the latter fabric, the yoke is generally trimmed with jet. Flowered muslins are made np into blouse waists for the summer days, to wear with odd skirts, and a pretty design has shirred sleeves with frills over the top, and a lace collar, .while another model is shirred in on either side of the front, with a vest of the same muslin crossed with lace insertion, white muslin dotted with blue, pink or yellow, and trimmed with creme lace, being especially effective when made up in this style of waist. A stylish and handsome ,skirfc consists of a narrow front gore, a wide side gore, which falls in folds below the hips, and a straight back gore, which may be gathered or side-plaited as preferred. A placket is finished at the right side seam and the skirt is completed with a narrow belt. The skirt measures four yards at the lower edge in the medium sizes. Grass linen, lawn, grenadine, in silk or wool, as well a3 serge, tweed, lightweight cloth, and dress goods of all varieties are chosen for this design The really up-to-date dresses are all fitted out with close sleeves, though in thin matoiiald they are shirred and puffed with tiny little ruches up and down the ana, and in this way disguise the decrease in size. An extremely pretty model has narrow insertion stt in tbe waist and elbow sleeves, with the neck cut low and square, and finished with pink or blue ribbon bows on tbe shoulder*, and also ribbon for the belt, while three tiny lace-edged ruffles trim the skirt, or a wider one is tucked up and down in clusters, ending thaee inches short of the lower edge, which is trimmed with lace and insertion.