LADIES' COLUMN.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 137, 11 June 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

LADIES' COLUMN.

SPRING FASHIONS IN THE OLD COUNTRY. Tho Spring gowns (writes ' A Lady ' in tlie Staudard) aro chiefly made with simulated ttouuoea— not tlouuooa iv the old uoueptution of the term, as they are not net on separately, but aro a part of tho skirt itself, widening out at the feet beneath a shaped piece ot material which lira quite closely u> the hips. Other skirta are arranged with ouo, iwo, or three volants, as our neighbours on 11 them, the edges of which are d' tin- d with narrow silk cord or galou. A pretty gown is of (loop poriwiuitlo blue, witn four volauts, each edged with blue und bluclc braid ; the bv.diee t'asteuH on one Hide with a sore of double rovers, which button;* ovc.l" closely with good eil'eot, yliowmg a small portion of tho finely aiuked silk and lace voat abovo tho rover*, the tight sleeves boiug epiiuletted ; dark blue velvet is used for the throat and waist bunds and the toque, whicii is lightoned with silk, and trimmed with wings 1 both black and blue. A Parma violet cloth — still a favourite — has an apparently seamless skirt, with n foot f rdl ; the bodico, which is tucked wilh jet galon between tho tucks, fastening on one side with an odgiug- of frilled silk, which is used for the large iluoat bow, and deeper- toned velvot for tho high collar and waist belt. Tho bkirt of a grey cloth gown is so cut on the cross that it ioriuH tapering folds at tho waist, whiah widen out towards tho feet. Thid is a better walking skirt, as far as comiorc is concerned, than those with flounces. A Bilver grey alpaca, with tho sheen ot silk on jt, has a well-cut skirt, shaped to the figuio round the hips, with a strap of stitclied jslpaca forming a heading to tho fulutss of tho simulated flounce below. Tho bodice of this gown is loose, and cut open each side to thow » pleating of creamcoloured niousseline-de-soie, wilh cream silk cords laoed over it to black velvot buttons ; the neck npeuiug, filled in with the pleating, having small black velvet revers, beneath which is lied a lace cravat ; tho uleevea are tight-fitting, with a few small putfs at tho top beueath the epaulettes the bodice forms ; the flare cuffs are edged with velvet, with lace ruffles falling over the hands. A lovely ball dress for a debutante is of penrl satin DuchesHe, made quite simply, and trimmed with lace and pearl embroidery. The front of the bodice, which it» full, is of ohitt'ou, with frills of pearlembroidered lace, that narrow in from epaulette form on the shoulders to the waist, and are continued beneath tho satin waist-folda down tho frout of the skirt, widening out into three flounces, which are raised at the back and caught boneath a shaped tablier of the satiu. Pearl ornaments are worn in the hair, und v pearl neokiace, a spray of white roses being fastened in front of the decolletage. A Muiple but very stylish evening gown is of soft white spotted &ilk, • its only trimming being black Ohantiliy lace iusertion, which is in a double row round the foot of the skirt and in double* rows one above the other on the upper portion of the skirt, starting from the front below the waist, but leaving an opening of silk showing. The bodico, which is full, bus tho lace arranged iv rows across it, with a drapery of silk on tho right side, endiug in a largo pouf by way of a sloeve. A similar pouf on tho other shoulder is attached to the baud of lace whioh expresses tho docolletage. Mack and white is a combination of which one never tires, it ia open to bucli endless variety in material and ornamentation, and, whether for day or evening wear, i«j always in iuod tiiste. A black net dress trimmed wirh hand»omo white luce and jet passementerie ia very pleasing, the lace used on tho front of the skirt for the frills on tho left fide of tho bodioe, epaulettes, and uri«t rufnV-t, ,the ruckod sleeves being of ciiiii'on and the passemonterie outlining the too of the bodico. Just a touch of colour is givpn by a bunch of lovely Halmaison • su nations I'lacfd below the left, shonlder — which is at present tho place fashion avails to flowers.