Page:Fancy dresses described, or, What to wear at fancy balls (1887).djvu/132

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FANCY DRESSES DESCRIBED; OR,

came in. George IV., 1820-30. During this reign short waists and plain short skirts prevailed, together with huge flap hats.

GERMAINE (Les Cloches de Corneville). Brown stockings, high-heeled black shoes; short skirt, with two box-plaited flounces of cerise and white silk; plastron waistcoat of the same; white scarf tunic, brown velvet low square jacket-bodice with striped pockets; transparent sleeves from shoulders; cerise silk cap. Second dress: Short skirt, tunic, and low square bodice of brown, bordered with yellow; muslin fichu inside; brown cap and tassel. Blue and white, and pink and cardinal, sometimes substituted.

GERMAN HOUSEWIFE, XVIIth CENTURY. Stiff skirt touching the ground, lined half a yard up with velvet, a wide band of the same above; long white apron worked in cross-stitch; low square velvet bodice, high white chemisette, sleeves tight but puffed and slashed at shoulders and elbows; satchel bag and keys at side. This is a very favourite style for XVIth century. German costume. Sometimes a large linen cap and veil are added; and a stiff ruff like a collar, of the same material as bodice. In the upper classes much profuse embroidery was introduced on front of bodice and throat band.

GERMAN PEASANT. Short skirt, green or red, plaited to waist, bordered with gold; large square apron, white chemisette, and long sleeves; low velvet bodice, laced across with silver; round velvet cap and streamers, worn at the back of head. This is the ordinary German peasant dress. German Peasant Brides appear in gorgeous raiment. A Mecklenberg bride, for example, has a high tapering silver coronet, rows of beads round the neck, a red sash round the waist, a skirt of brocaded silk, the stockings red, and rosettes on the shoes. At Starnberg the brides wear large white embroidered aprons, almost covering the dress, and a fichu of the same tucked into the laced velvet bodice, a wreath replacing the usual fur-shaped busby. (See Starnberg.) At Fancy Balls becoming dresses are more studied than the correctness of the national costume. (See Bavarian, Black Forest, and Austrian Peasants.)

GILLE. White silk short skirt, trimmed with box-plaited flounces; blue silk tunic; coat bodice cut as low square; vest of blue silk; revers, cuffs, and collar of the same; short