TAFFETA STREET SUIT for an elderly woman; the coat is belted in at the back, and full shirring appears at shoulders, elbows, and on the skirt, also narrow braid trimming. THEL F There is a craze for shirring and cording both on skirts and on coats, and the fad of the shirred shoulder seems to be on the increase. Rows of shirring at regular intervals on the skirt are not becoming to the figure, as a rule, but they are fashionable, and consequently skirts must be made in that way. The main point is that clever dressmakers put the shirrings on in such fashion as to bring most of the fulness well towards the foot of the skirt. The bolero jacket is a very favorite style of trimming, and is made, as a rule, of embroidery or lace or of some material different from the skirt. A charming model which can be made in veiling or silk has the skirt shirred around the top, and then from half-way down to the very foot of the skirt are tucks of different sizes. The body of the waist is of chiffon-in fact, there is a chiffon blouse over which is worn the bolero of heavy lace or net embroidered with cutwork outlined with silk. The gown has some features of last season, but is distinctly novel in many other respects. Even the wraps and coats share the general fate of enormous sleeves and quite elaborate effects. It would hardly be possible, however, with the sleeves of waists made the size they are, to wear close-fitting coat sleeves, so that freak of fashion is more practical than it might appear. The long coat or wrap is much more fashionable than a short one, and indeed is a necessity. a necessity. It is of silk, light-weight cloth, mohair, or pongee. White is a favorite color, then the natural color of the pongee, bright red or bright blue -all are popular, and in spite of the amount of material required in their construction, these coats are quite smart. All the new hats are most eccentric, and those of the very latest style are quite different from those of a month ago. The small fruits and flowers are still fashionable, although pears, apples, and lemons of medium size are seen on some of the very newest shapes. This fashion is altogether too eccentric to be indulged in excepting by those individuals who prefer to dress in striking costumes. Crowns are to be noticed among most of the new hats, either the large flat crowns or the small high ones, and in contrast to the eccentric styles are some charmingly simple ones, such as a hat made of white crêpe crêpe de Chine or tucked batiste with a twist of velvet around the crown EVENING GOWN with skirt of white liberty satin with white lace and silver embroidery; blue satin shoulder straps and bows. or a band of velvet ribbon fastened in front with a fancy buckle. Such a hat as this is, however, not com FARIS ARIS plete without a lace veil which is draped over the brim, and the ends of which fall gracefully at the back. PLISSEE LAWN AND LACE UNDERDRESS, over which is worn a loose coat, without an opening, of white striped silk and wool trimmed with dull blue braid. Then there is the combination of flowers and ostrich tips that is very new, and which undoubtedly will be seen this winter on the pretty hats made of velvet or of the soft beaver which, judging from present indications, is to be very popular again. In summer quite as much as in winter is it now thought requisite to have gowns made to wear only in the house. The matinée is a very favorite style of summer house gown, and this year there are several new models. The three and quarter length short jackets, half-fitting, and with skirt to match, are made up in all the different varieties of wash materials, and also in India silk. These gowns have the skirts so full and the jackets so decidedly on the négligée order as to at once stamp them as only suitable for home wear. The very newest are made of silk, with skirt trimmed with three pleated lace ruffles, while a long, rather shapeless coat of striped silk hangs from the shoulders. The sleeves are skilfully cut all in one piece with the coat, and are finished with double ruffles of lace and a trimming of fancy passementerie. Accordion-pleated crêpe de Chine, chiffon veiling, and lace are all as fashionable as they were during the winter, and certainly make most satisfactory tea-gowns. C HILDREN'S clothes are in these times a matter of most serious consideration, and Dame Fashion takes much more interest in the styles for little folk than she ever thought necessary in the old days. Following closely on the lines of the fashions intended for older people four times a year— spring, summer, autumn, and winter-are the new models and materials for children made public, and even to the most minute detail in the cut of the skirts and the shape of the sleeves must there be, for the very fashionable, some new style. There are critical individuals who would have us believe that all this talk of clothes and latest fashions is extremely bad, making children vain and self-conscious, thinking too much of dress. On the other hand, there is no doubt that a child, as well as a grown person, when correctly and suitably clothed, does not attach anything like as much importance to dress as when made self-conscious and uncomfortable by some ill-fitting and conspicuously unbecoming garment. Common sense is visible in most of the modern fashions for children's wear. styles that are so practical and at the same time so smart and attractive in appearance. The one-piece suit worn over short knickerbockers is made both in wash materials and in serge, in colors and in white. The white Small boys, in particular, LITTLE GIRL'S DRESS of batiste and embroidery, in pale blue profit greatly by the present with cream white English embroidery. |