Trimmings

TRIMMINGS.

Decorations of Greater or Less Elaboration.

The general form of gowns being simple in the extreme, ruuc-h depends upon originality and variety of trimming, and an immense choice is offered in decorations of all kinds. Passementerie is immensely used and ranges trom the narrowest silk gimp arrangements to elaborate motifs in which jewels, spangles, metal threads, lace and fur have a part. Fewer loose or floating ornaments are employed, close applications being preferred. Incrustations of white or yellow guipure are seen on skirts as well as on yokes and plastrons, and detached motifs are cut from the lace and used in the same way.

In some exceedingly elaborate embroidered applications the petals of the flowers are cut out separately and painted by

hand, but these are less costly embroideries which are practically quite as effective.

Fur, velvet, lace and mousseline de soie are now combined without hesitation, the old prejudice against putting together thin and thick goods having entirely disappeared. Flowers and gauze are as much worn in winter as in summer and no longer seem incongruous.

The picture shows a gown of Frenci blue bengaline. The edge of the skirt in cut in points, falling over a wide baiu of French blue velvet, and the points are heavily embroidered with blue velvet applications. The blue velvet bodice has a peplum basque, the bengaline revers being embroidered with velvet and opening over a fichu plastron of bengaline. Bows of plaited bengaline fasten the bodice. The close sleeves are of velvet, the belt of embroidered bengaline. The hat of gray felt is trimmed with gray plumes and with a bow of mandarin velvet.

JUDIC CHOLLET.