Page:Fancy dresses described, or, What to wear at fancy balls (1887).djvu/16

 A Husband and Wife might select Jack and Gill, Cock and Hen, any Kings and Queens, a Wizard and Witch, Night and Morning, or Night and Day.

Fancy Dresses are never more piquante and charming than when worn by children; the several characters in the Nursery Rhymes are admirably adapted for them, and we have given a special selection of dresses for boys and girls in the Appendix, children's fancy balls being on the increase.

For Calico Balls, among others the following are recommended:—Clairette, Fille de Madame Angot, Bo-peep, Mothers Hubbard, Bunch, Shipton, &c., all the several Fish-girls, the dress carried out in striped and plain cottons instead of woollen stuffs; Cabaretière, Five-o'clock-tea, Flower-girls, Flowers, Normandy, and most of the other Peasant Dresses; Polly-put-the-Kettle-on, My pretty Maid, Shepherdesses, Poudré and Watteau costumes, Alphabet, Miss Angel, Scott's and Shakespeare's heroines, Bertrade, Bonbonnière, Queen of Butterflies, Buy-a-Broom, Charity Girl, Chess, La Chocolatière Cinderella, Columbine, Coming-through-the-Rye, Dresden China, Dominoes, Friquette, Germaine, Harvest, Incroyable, Lady-Help, Magpie, Olivia and Sophia Primrose, Rainbow, and One of the Rising Generation.

But it must be borne in mind that the word "calico" is of elastic meaning at these balls, including cotton-backed satin and cotton velvet. Tinsel trimmings replace gold; ribbon is allowed; net takes the place of tulle; and very few people dream of adopting cotton gloves or mittens.

To be properly chaussé and ganté are difficulties at fancy balls. With short dresses the prettiest and most fashionable shoes are worn, either black with coloured heel and bows, or coloured shoes to match the dress, and embroidered, the stockings being of plain colour or stripes. With the Vivandière dress Wellington boots are best.

To avoid glaring inconsistencies, it is well to remember