Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1912 — BLOUSE IS COMING BACK [ARTICLE]

BLOUSE IS COMING BACK

Old and Useful Friend Returns After Eclipse Caused by Rage for “Little Frock." Foremost among the revivals of the winter will be the return to favor of our old friend the blouse, which suffered a period of almost total eclipse during the summer, when the all conquering “little frock” swept everything before it. It comes back absolutely in its earliest and most elementary form. The shirt waist was the shape in which the blouse' was first made known to us, if one excludes the old Garibaldi, and this year it will reign again In all its trim simplicity. A variety of pretty designs is already to be seen. Tucks are the favorite, indeed, almost the only fona of decoration, occasionally set in groups or arranged in varying widths, but most of the new blouses are made v(ith half-inch tucks at regular intervals across the front and back. Plain sleeves to the wrist, finished by a straight cuff, not too tight fitting, and either a tucked or a stock collar, and A little breast pocket, Into which a dainty handkerchief can be tucked, aa well as buttonholes cut on the bias, will be features of the shirts In question. For morning wear the leading materials wll be plain and fancy challis, nun’s veiling, washing silks, silk poplin, and the pretty and useful cotton poplin, better known as poplin linen, which washes to perfection and is substantial enough to be very comfortable wear on a chilly autumn day. It la produced practically in all colors, and has the crowning merit of being very Inexpensive."" Striped challis will be very fashionable as a blouse fabric and looks charmingly dainty made with a stock collar and a little tie to match the stripe. Even silk and Batin blouses will be made with the utmost simplicity. If for evening wear, the sleeves will reach only Just below the elbow,xajad will be finished with a band of lace insertion piped at both edges with the silk. Kimonos will still be worn, but often without a vestige of embroidery, the neck being finished with a< narrow edging of the material, bordering a tiny guimpe, with a high col-i lay.