Page:Fancy dresses described, or, What to wear at fancy balls (1887).djvu/293

 iron at the side and a piece of soap. Sometimes for the French laundress the dress is red and white striped print, with a cambric cap. A Normandy cap would be correct; also shoes to resemble sabots.

WASP. (See, , Coloured Plate VII.)

'''WATER. WATER NYMPHS: Undine, Naiad, Aquarium, Lorelei, Lurline, Mermaid, Sabrina, Siren, Peri of Ocean, Amphitrite, Water-Lily, Water-Witch, Sea Queen.''' All these are arranged much the same; viz., as a dress of frosted tulle, or silvered tulle over green, looped up with seaweed, coral, shells, crystal, and aquatic flowers, for the salt-water nymphs; water-lilies and grasses for those who rule over lakes and rivers, such as Undine and Lurline. A veil of tulle to match the dress hangs over the hair, which should be covered with frosting powder, and be allowed to float about the shoulders. A cuirass bodice of silver gauze, the tunic silver gauze, is a good rendering of the character. The bodice, whether a cuirass or made à la Vierge, should be trimmed with a fringe of the shells, &c., the same in the hair, a dragonfly on one side. The silver tulle that is used should be made as nearly as possible to resemble water, an effect produced by waved stripes. Diamonds, coral, and aquamarine with silver are the most appropriate ornaments, and silver fringe wherever it can be placed. Undine, the Nymph of the Rhine, has invariably water-liUes intermixed with the rest, and often lotus-flowers, and these should be dew-spangled. A Mermaid may be carried out as follows: Over the green and white and silver skirt the cuirass bodice should be made entirely of scales of mother-of-pearl, or of cloth imitating fish-scales, coming down well on to the hips. A girdle of seaweed, &c., is appropriate to all the characters, and many of them have pendent sleeves bordered with the same; but no seaweed must be used on Lurline's or Undine's costumes. For Aquarium, the dress should not only be trimmed with marine plants, but with fish. Water-lily is the same sort of dress, trimmed with water-lilies. Water-Witch: Short white satin skirt, completely covered with silver tissue and fringe; low body to match; scarf of sea-green satin tied tightly over the hips, and fastening on one side, powdered with silver cockle-shells and silver fish; silver cockle-shells in the hair.