Page:Fancy dresses described, or, What to wear at fancy balls (1887).djvu/217

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WHAT TO WEAR AT FANCY BALLS.
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are handed down from generation to generation. Two shapes prevail for Fancy Balls, one such as "Evangeline" wears, resembling the Foundling cap, made in thick muslin, with a high crown, low at the back, a shaped piece fitting the head in front, and lappets at the side, like a hound's ears, bordered with lace, a bow at the top, and fastened on with gold pins; the other, a full-dress cap, stands up above the forehead some 12 inches, terminating in a point of 3 inches broad. This upstanding crown is covered with rows of lace and bows of ribbon, and to the top at the back a voluminous lace-edged veil is attached. Large gold earrings and cross, coloured striped stockings, and black shoes with coloured bows and heels, complete the costume. It can be carried out in silks, woollens, and cotton. (See Coloured Illustration, No. XII.) A Normandy Fishwife, in addition, carries a basket of fish at her back, and has a net round her waist. A Normandy Bride would wear a white muslin skirt, trimmed with white satin, the apron bordered with swansdown; a blue silk bodice and tunic; a muslin fichu, and high cap, with white flowers.

NORNAS. The two Scandmavian Sisters who sat round the Ygdrasdil tree; one in a robe of pale green Indian silk, high bodice, full long sleeves; the hem worked in silver, with Runic characters; belt of silver; hair floating on shoulders, mistletoe wreath. The other sister in the same, of diflerent colouring, mixed with gold.

NORTHERN STAR. (See Star.)

NORWEGIAN PEASANTS, NORWEGIAN FISH-GIRL, NORWEGIAN BRIDE. The peasant woman wears red stockings and black shoes; a short black skirt, striped with red and green; the sleeveless jacket bodice, made of scarlet cloth, terminates in a silver belt, trimmed with green and silver; it has a low red cloth stomacher one mass of silver and beads; a long-sleeved white linen chemisette high to the throat, with all-round collar, is worn under it, fastened with a silver brooch, and festooned with silver. A large white linen apron reaches almost to the hem of the skirt, and has a band across it of red and green embroidery. The head-dress is of white linen, hiding the hair in front like a fez, and has a pendent point and tassel. The hair hangs down the back in long plaits. Norwegian silver ornaments. The Norwegian