Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1893 — THE FAIR SIX. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE FAIR SIX.

COSTUMES FOR LITTLE FOLKS. Dry Goods Economist. ■ - ' J : Until two years of age boys and girls are dressed alike, unless ths boy is very large when at eighteen months, and then he is put into clothes having a distinctively boyish air; At six months of age babies have on a muslin underwaist that has front and back -nnd on the sides double tabs to attach the undergarments to with safety pins. The same waist has buttons for the drawers that are worn at eighteen

months. Infants also wear a flannel petticoat and one of cambric, with waists of cambric, having shoulder straps. White hose come up over the knees, with tan, gray, black or buff kid shoes until eighteen months, when long or short black stockings and tan, black or brown kid shoes are adopted. Yoke dresses of colored pink or blue chambrey are sold for six months babies to wear io the morning. Dimity and Persian lawn dresses are also worn, but the nainsooks are considered to wash better. From 18 mouths to 2 -years of age boys*

waists are made longer, but girl’i dresses retain the Mother Hubbard shape if preferred, and the latte) now adopt guimps. Boys have cambric or dimity dress l es, with gathered skirts and boxpleated waists. One of dimity for s boy of two years is in side-pleats to the waist, back and front, with the fullness falling in pressed (but not sewed) plaits below; sleeves slightly full at the shoulders, with turn-ovet cuffs and collar edged with embroidery and a belt of insertion; the dress fastens in front.

Other designs for boys have round waists of pique, cambric, etc., have inch-wide insertion alternating with three box-plaits. The sleeves are shirt shaped, with turn-over cuffs, and the rolling collar opens back and front. The skirt is gathered, corded to the edge of the waist, and measures 2i yards; other skirts are laid in box-plaits 4-inches wide, with insertion between. Boys’ cambric, percale, gingham and chambrev dresses are in one piece style, with box or side-plaits to the waist line, and have a separate belt of material or a sash from the side seams tied in the back. Sailor collars are always liked for boys. Tam o’ Shanter straw hats are the prettiest of all beadgear for small boys. The first short dresses are in the Mother Hubbard fashion, and are of two widths of the English or French nainsook and 22 inches long. The yokes are square or round and of tucks and feather stitching, puffs and embroidery heading, etc. Tiny embroidery edges the neck and wrists, and the full-topped sleeves nave a narrow band or turn-over cuffs. Little empire dresses have a tiny oke above a ruffle of embroidery, uid another ruffle at the edge of the skirt. _ . . _