Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1874 — Winter Wraps. [ARTICLE]

Winter Wraps.

There is unusual variety among H inter wraps, not only in shapes of jackets "and mantles, but in the materials, which range from the pew matelasse silk to plain serge cloth. Among jackets tlie French sacque is the popular garment of the season, because Of its long, shapely style and its adaptability for plain garment* an&fieher ones alike. There afe, however, many stylish Henri Trois and Medicis sacques, with long fronts and short backs, and many of the useful English jackets appear again for general wear. Black wraps are almost universally worn, as they snit with all dresses; the only colored wraps seen are designed for special costumes. The prevailing shapes for velvet wraps are simple jackets and polonaises of various kinds, from the demi-polonaise with its short basque back to long garments that almost cover the figure; the latter have either cuirass corsages or else basques behind with belted fronts. W e have already spoken of the fur borders used on velvet garments. ’ When fur is not chosen the trimmings arte jet galloon and thfead lalce. Camel’s-hair, drap d’ ete and cashmere sacques are warmly wadded or else lined with flannel and worn throughout the winter. The fancy this winter is to trim these woolen wraps with row after row of Titan braid sewed on lengthwise and edged on each side with a line of jet beads. Other sacques have rows of silk soutache or of the mohair tubular braid put in Greek designs or in Idhf pattern. Imported drsp d’ ete sacques are embroidered all over, or else beaded in diamond patterns,, and are edged with fringe. In buying such wraps ladies can select the garment unmade and have it cut to fit them.

Most comfortable of all are'.the cloth jackets, provided a soft, thick, warm cloth is selected. These are smooth-faced beaver cloths, with tufted nap on the wrong side, that are as yielding and flexible- as cashmere. ’These make' senficeaable garments, and should be plainly trimmed Titan braid or else wiih substantial gros grain; the repped turquoise silk ÜBed last-winter frays, and is not worth the trouble of sewing on; jet trimmings are too dressy for these plain cloth garments. It is best to have these cloth jackets buttoned up closely in front and high in the throat, yet the English jackets with their wide re vers collars are still popular and are sold in large quantities. Twenty dollars buys a wellmade sacque of good beaver Cloth. More dressy cloth sacques are woven in matelasse patterns,.

Among mantles the newest have round backs belted down, and ending with the loops Worth is so fond of making on the back of all garments, while the fronts are long and either rounded or square. Dolmans still remain in favor, |u| more especially with ladies who have several wraps in their wardrobes, as the Dolman is too light and dressy for general wear. Velvet, Sicilienne, damel’s-hair, ahd cashmere are the fabrics for Dolmans. For trimming they are richly wrought with beads and soutache, and edged with thread lace or fringe. Ladies whp braid well cover their Dolmans with intricate soutache-work; in one instance a cashmere Dolinten was so elaborately braided that it cost the wearer SIOO, although she was her The long cloaks with a cape" in front, or else a sort of Chinese wrap with square sleeves, are exhibited at all the best houses, but will not be worn until midwinter. Fur borders, especially those of black marten, are used in such cloaks. Seal-skin sacques will rival these cloaks as midwinter wraps. New water-proof cloaks are of lighter blue English cloth, dark plum-color, navy blue, and black. They have long cords and tassels on thA hoods. A novelty this season -if:- %- long ciseular of checked black "aftd "HVhtte sßk, '*Mned throughout with vtery thin glazed indiarubber to make it water proof. The silk is not injured by water, and the whole garment is very light and almost inodorous.—Harper’s Bazar.

The argument of some who still use the check-rein is that it makes their horses hold together better *for show purposes. An English writer wants to know if they mean thereby that the horse would tumble to pieces if his nose was not tied to his t&Q.—Bottm Tranteript.