Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 February 1912 — The HOME DEPARTMENT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The HOME DEPARTMENT

HAS GREATEST CHARM

COSTUME WITH SOCIAL STAMP MOST ALLURING. Well Described as at Once a Compliment and a Challenge—Many Styles From Which to Choose Most Becoming. Without a doubt, it is the costume with; the social stamp which is the most seductive to feminine eyes nowadays. The street suit of chic sort has undisputed allurements, but the gown of more elegant description, which tells of the receptions, high teas visiting, etc., bears with it something far more entrancing. It is elegant to begin with, and, besides, hints of one’s Interest in and appreciation of friends. It is at once, a compliment and a challenge. One seeks for becomingness above all

Qualities in these costumes social, for the best textures that can be afforded and for colors which will not conflict with drawing rooms. As to styles, how many there are to choose from. The close slip covered with a Greek shirt, in some finer contrasting material, is much admired for young married women who give smart receptions, and to whom the classic stamp is becoming. Fine wools and velvet textures made up with hlgh-

walsted coats short bodices with (innumerable sorts of peplum tails, and the one-piece gown in all its ramifications are other favored models. Few long skirts appear for day wear, although if the reception is to be followed by a “dansant,” the hostess, or the young matron who helps her receive, may wear a unique “tail” —the Skirt running out into a sharp point behind, or else bunched together with a buckle or rosette. How funny the styles of the day will appear a decade hence, when history has shelved them, with things dead and gone. In the interim there is no abatement In the love of foolishness —tight skirts, mammoth handbags, hats which look like Indian headdresses, bushel baskets, what not. And as yet the foolishness is an lovely. . In the illustration the one-piece effect is given here and a flat trlipmlng used on both waist and skirt. The style is charming for a fancy wool, veiling, cloth, or marquisette, and here quite an inexpensive novelty cloth in black and white is used. The trimming is black velvet, the buttons being covered with the gown goods. Black and white, all black, black with color! Who can foresee the banishment of- black for use in color, the time when it will be regarded as passee, unbecoming, undesirable? Nobody can, for the good reason that black is forever rewarding to becom-: ingness, forever smart, distinguished,, rare; and so, although season by sear son new colors come and go, the black, dress in all its phases remains. At. present the black and white version is the distinguished thing but it would take a book to tell of all the materials used, all the styles of the “ink-and-snow gown,” all the hundred and one tricks employed to soften and vary the bodice. But one thing is everywhere observable —the black and white scheme must be definite sharp black; sharp white and never little blurring mixtures. You literally see the gown coming like a circus horse —that is, if it is the latest French notion in wool or velveteen. With the black and white gown many pure white hats and fur sets are worn, or else the hat will be black with a white fancy feather, while the charming markings of pointed fox will give the bldck and white note to the furs.

One-Piece Style Adapted to Many Materials and Pocketbooks.