Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1881 — FASHION FANCIES. [ARTICLE]

FASHION FANCIES.

The open sleeveis revived for house -Wear. " ■ • Gloves for the deepest mourning are of undressed kid. Roman sandals are the daintiest and prettiest low shoes now imported. “Alaska pug” is a popular stir trimming, w'hieh resembles India leopard skin. Soft, warm mittens are worn by fashionable ladies over their kid gloves. Breakfast cape, in the latest French style, me encircled by a wreath of shrimps. Silver jewelry Is very much al a mode, and shows very effective with the rich, dark dresses of the season. For table use all the old shapes in jugs are revived and copied in finest ware, with very costlv hand decorationSr Silk neck handkerchiefs have disappeared to the inside of dresses, instead of being worn three-cornered outside.. Upholsterers used to depend upon the caipet-makers for styles, but now the upholsterers dictate to the carpetmakers.

The taste for tiny ahimals in diamonds still continues in Paris; cats, spiders, owls and snails being worn in brilliants. The cold weather has brought out quite a number of comfortable, cosy, warm and picturesqe suits and garments for ladies. Prfetty hand-bags can be made of a straw cuff, embroidered with bright zephyrs, with cardboard bottom and shirred silk top. An importation of models to be copied for the early spriugshows wide collars and square cufls to be worn outside the sleeves. Sleeveless polonaises of figured materials over velvet skirts and sleeves, form not only very fashionable, but very convenient toilets. Brunettes are fashionable this season. The girl who is so recklessly unfortunate as to insist on remaining a blonde, might as well lie out of the world. I The most important element in parlor ornamentation nowadays is an open fire of wood or coal and a set of brass fire-irons, including fenders and andirons or coal scuttle. Plush collars are one of the gay fancies of the season, and these serve to revive the becoming colors that have been banished from the neck since all white became popular.

“The eagle’s-wing tunic” is the latest shape in overdresses. It has two long, sharp,sheath-like points in front and tw’o in the back, Y r ery little trimming is used upon these tunics. Many house dresses have the corsage cut pompadour or heart shdpe and filled in with a full shirring of brocaded Spanish net, and a high niching of the same lace about the neck. ' Ladies will lie glad to hear that “fluttered frog” is the name of the last new color, It is rather lighter than “frightened toad" or “angry mouse.” "Disturbed cockroach” ought to be a sweet color. Vin-de-ohampagne is an exquisite shade of palest pink, with a rich golden green. It is extremely beautiful in satin toilets, which are most effective when softened by lace, and pearl or amber garnitures," A new use for fine-wool Jersey cloth is to make opera mantles. A yard and a half of the material is needed, and it should be lined with quilted satin and furnished with a hood. The ends are drawn together, and one is finished with a bow and one with a tassel. London Trnlh complains that bonnets and hats are either too large or tod small just neftv. The ladies who wear furs select little bonnets, and those whe do not overload their heads with feathers. It seems as hard to And a bonnet that will suit an Englishman as it Is to discover one about which an American will condescend to keep silence.

The Bazar gives the Princess of Wales the credit of introducing teagowns. By the time she has been installed as‘a leader of fashion fora few years, she will find herself accused of as many sins US Bugenie. The New York dressmakers use handsome woolen stuff’ for the trains and fronts of these gowns, and surah or satin for the vest. The colors are either strongly contrasted or else faded tints faintly blended. New York brides rival royalty in the gorgeousness of their costumes. The latest gown prepared for one of these ladies is of white velvet embroidered in pearl and{silk. The train is nearly endless and the sleeves are caught up us with clusters of diamonds and pearls. A fope of pearls ending in large tassels is to i>e fastened about the waist, and tlffe veil is to be pearl-stud-ded and fastened by a cluster of diamonds, There Is a newly developed taste for fancy table drapery, and pretty tablecloths with serviettas to match are taking the places of fine white damask sets. For occasions where more than ordinary display is called for, strips of crimson, blue, dark green and old gold satiq a?e Heed. A strip is, laid down the cepter of the’ cloth, and a wide band borders the edges,which is appliqued upon the cloth in outline stitch.