Spring Fashion Talk

Sewing Diaries

Spring Fashion Talk

Here's an article from the March, 1912 issue of 'The Modern Priscilla.' I've excluded some of the more extraneous information, but most of the article is here. The accompanying picture was included with the article. Note that a naughty young 'artist' embellished the lady on the left with squiggles.

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The spring fashion world is teeming with ideas and suggestions for the woman who makes her own garments. So many fancies and fabrics are presented, such as a bewilderment of styles and decorations, that one hardly knows which design to follow or which material to choose.

The Kimono Sleeve

First, the spring fashion designers are showing no radical departures from forgoing styles....Indeed the modified kimono waist seems to be steadily gaining favor. ...Fashion designers are looking to the new fabrics and colors to assist them in creating the charming new spring ideas. Apropos of colors, one would think the ingenuity on this regard was exhausted long ago. Not so, however, although the seven prismatic colors were seasons past extended to more then seventy times seven.

New Colors

There is an elusive, cool looking green that is a shade between an emerald and a pale green without inclining to either. It is so springlike and charming that its very tone suggests new blown leaves and budding trees. It is going to make a big hit, especially figuring in evening gowns and wraps. Then there is a striking new shade of lavender. It hints of delicate tons of blue veiled with the filmiest rose pink. Of course it favors neither, ands therein lies the subtle charm.

Spring Foulards

Among the most popular fabrics are the new foulard silks. I say new because, while we have always had foulard...we have never had foulard like that which we are given this season.

The patterns, designs and shades are wonderful. Some suggest china blue or rose silk with overdraping of delicate white lace or black Chantilly. Soft moleskin shades have borders of dull, rich Persian colors, or glowing tints, like the hues of an autumn sunset. Some patterns are almost completely covered with a filet or a macramé design that is so clever that at a distance one would not hesitate for a moment to pronounce the lace real. Quaint little old fashioned designs are seen, such as tiny sprigged muslin patterns on white foulard that is very dainty and pretty for a ball or a party dress. Indeed, the woman who chooses foulard this season, can rest assured that she has a gown that fulfils the latest dictates of Fashion.

Other New Materials

Then there is a new fancy woven silk stripe voile with a handsome fancy self color stripe that comes in a charming range of delicate evening colors, staple shades and black. Printed woven stripe cotton mousseline is a most charming soft tissue like fabric, white grounds with woven cluster stripes, over which is printed in delicate colors beautiful floral and spray designs.

For the making of evening dresses, satin Faille will be much used. This is a rich, soft, plain colored satin with a very slightly raised cord, which gives it distinction.

Silk-and-cotton wash goods are show in a bewilderment of colors and designs. Voile celest, one of the finest of cotton voiles, comes with deep borders like spun gold, black-and-gold, white-and-gold, and the other light and dark colors with gold application. Egyptian globular designs are favorites. This exquisite fabric is so inexpensive that the cost of making a robe of the material is not to be considered. Other inexpensive wash goods materials include lovely Irish linette with Van Dyke point borders, "Ruff Weave" silk warp pongee and printed floral bordered French voiles.

Embroidery as a Feature

The spring waists are marvels of cleverness and charm. Many of them are exquisitely hand-embroidered, and embroider is used to a great extend on frocks, particularly those of linen. Suits also, weather they be silk, wool or linen, come in for their share of hard decoration in the way of embroidery and braiding. The two models show on this page are suitable for silk, wool or cotton materials.

When the suits are made from Ramie line, however, as is quite usual, the collar and cuffs are lovely made of the same material embroidered in self color. Silk suits are a great favorite this spring and almost without exception have elaborate collar effects of lace or embroidery or both. Soutache braid is a favorite trimming and may be had in all the leading colors.