DRESSED IN HANDKERCHIEFS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 4, 5 January 1881, Page 4

DRESSED IN HANDKERCHIEFS

It is strange what a hold ugly fash= ions sometimes take on the public. "What, for instance, can be uglier or more inconsistent than a costume made of colored handkerchiefs, such as' snuffy old men are apt to use ! And yet how popular they became ! "We consoled ourselves*, however, with the thought that, as summer passed, handkerchief suits would also disappear. Alas ! they are coming out stronger than ever, only now they nre made of the woollen handkerchiefs that country women wear round their shoulders. Each handkerchief is about a yard, equare. 3. or the convenience of dreßfiniakers, they are not cut into separate squares, but are Bold by the piece, like aDy other material. The centre of each square is generally of one color chosen according to the fashion of .the day, and the favorite colors nbw are- bronze, dark blue, purple, arid ruby. • The border iB then of stripes or checks, in contrast to the centre. It is.ttlmost' impossible to describe the make of these dresses, which must be left entirely to the taste of the dressmaker. "Woe, then, if the dressmaker have a bad and common taste ; the drees will then look supremely common — ludicrous. If a first-rate dressmaker cannot be obtained, a first-rate illustrated pattern and plate must be procured to serve as a guide. Ifc is in the arrangement of fche corners that depends the whole effect of the dress. The body basque is generally edged with a border. The back of the skirt is formed of puffs and handkerchief points In the front are several aprons, each formed out of handkerchief points. But this does not tell you how to arrange these puffs and points; for this you must consult a good fashion-plate, or a first-class dressmaker. Instead of being mounted on a cotton lining, it is preferable to mount the handkerchief's on an old silk skirt, otherwise unfit to wear j this will allow the drees to hang more gracefully.-— Queen,