Ladies' Column.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 370, 11 June 1903, Page 2

Ladies' Column.

, , ♦ FASHION AND THINGS FEMININE. Bt MISS ADA MELLEB (Aid. BienTS Reserved.) THE NEW INLET SKIET. „ a new idea with regard to W&W- cloth, serge and frieze skirts is to W&lb inlet a conple of circular bunds $£ spotted panne or velvet, or even satin foulard, over or just below the hips and towards the hem, The idea is illustrated in the full-length ©oafcune sketched in this column. The original gown is composed of nut-brown frieze, inlet with panne of a brighter shade of brown, spotted with white, the EWwk being Btrapped across with frieze ana bordered with stitched bands of the same. The cuffs and the triple collar to the 'coat harmonise with the skirt, the upper part of the sleeves are tucked, and the coat is trimmed all over with stitched "traps of its own material, studded at the tips with tiny gold buttons—three buttons to e%ch tip. The fastening occurs beneath*tbe

centre strap, and two crossed straps of frieze are arranged at the neck? 1 :, A costume of navy-blue oatmeal cloth with panels of blue foulard, panne or'velvet, spotted with white, is also very smart. Occasionally on these new costumes the straps crossing the panels are of bebe velvet instead of being cut from the dress material, and are fastened down with tiny buttons. The straps, I should add, are in any case unattached, save at the ends, and are not stitched down to the 'paftels. The new design suggests to the economical a capital means of lengthening a skirt that is too short. The, two tower shoulder-capes might, if preferred, fie of the dress material, the upper one alone being of fancy material. • ~» SILK BLOUSE FOE XMAS VISITS. A smart silk blouse is a practically indispensable pirt of a woman's wardrobe, and a pretty model is always, therefore, of special interest, and worth holding over for for a fitting occasion. The blouse illustrated looks beautiful in pale blue taffeta finely tucked, and arranged >riCh a guipure collar threaded with a soari of accordion-pleated pa'e blue chiffon, ruched at the ends. The sleeveß Have tucked cap?, fin Bhed with battels of guipure''threaded with chiffon the. taffeta falling free below the bands until clasped at the wrists with cuffs *A unlined guipure

insertion. The ends of the chiffon scarf as they escape from the lace collar *re caught with a couple of small paste brooches; and the blouse,, it will be observed, is moihted at tne Beck into a few leaves of guipure attached to an unlined: collar-band j of- guipure insertion. This is a charming blouse for Christmas visits or for home 1 wear-on Christmas Day and dpring the , holiday season. The opening should either be at the left centre or at the back, which is tucked all oresr ,after'the style of the front: of the blouse. In' the event of the fastening' being I arranged at the hack it will be necessary to leajve one side of the collar free and pin it down after the blouse is fastened. The design is quite simple but very , striking. 'TotmaM the) blouse, 4$ yardi <p22-inoh 'silk will be required The fulness at the waist' shculd be! mounted into! a short, straight'basque of silk, .which is slipped inside the skirt.

■ ; * CUFFS A;ND 6614JJ1A, ; ; Variety in cuff 3 and collars pas neves been greater than at the present, and by these! adjuncts the simplest Bkirt can be rendered smart and dressy-looking. A tuciedishirt of apricot-coloured oasnmere Is charmingly finished with neat little turned-back, cuffs and, necktie of black glace] silk, or with' a fringed soarlj of blaok crepe) de Chime, the waist being belted with iblack'feilk elastic studdud with out steel.! Stiort blaisk stoles of velvet, with tasselled buttons,' of black cord M each point] greatly improve a lighfrcwjoured shirt.! A great many, of the, new;collars and cpffs are double, silk being ljaid- upon cloth,'or lace upon velvet,' 'aridO ad on. Portifr collars of f stitched silk are smart for shirts, and tulip collars are somewhat of a novelty, the silk or ; lace which composes; tbe collari being slit up' into petals'. . !'' •'; ) i '"-