Ladies' Column.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 388, 15 October 1903, Page 2

Ladies' Column.

By MISS ADA MELLER

-FEMININE '-^

'"[All Eiguts Kkbbhvjbd. A SIMPLE DEMI-TOILETTE. SfjItfRESENT fashions adapt themselves ijfij£ admirably to the 'utility' dress, 'J&3\ which usually moans a dark or simple ekirt and a lacy-looking blouse—a style that is most convenient to the woman living in the suburbs who comes into town a good deal for evening concerts, theatres, and so forth. For eucb occasions a perishable skirt, made up of lacGß and chiffons, would have but a Bhort life, for travelling by rail or omnibus does not improve skirts, or bodices either for the matter of that. A suggestion for a concert dress is given in the accompanying ekefcV the skirt being quite Bimple, eo that it is not likely to be easily spoiled by occasional travolling, having no frills and furbelows at the hemj The material might be black or cieamj

coloured voile, inlet with three medallions of striEg-coloured guipure er Irish lace, euspended from meda'lions are framed. The saeque bodicßis"iof fine lace, ialet with guipure medallions to match the skirt, and the sleeves are en suite, all the medallions being framed in bebe velvet and suspended by strings of the same. A slight drapery of lace finishes the decolletage, and a high, pointed cointure is visible at the waist. The aacque, should have an under-bodice of chiffon. If preferred, the medallions might be of painted or embroidered mousseline instead of guipure, as in this" way many of the new blouses are trimmed. Another idea is to line the medallions, ifgfr of guipure, with coloured silk or satin.

A GIRL'S RED SERGE FROCK. Crocks for little girls and little boys wider six are made in much the same way, with the exception that a hoy's suit has the addition of a low belt. It is somewhat of a novelty for a girl's frock to be ao provided, and the little dress eketched is therefore rather striking from a feminine point of view. It is suitable \ for a girl of eight or nine, and looks very pretty in scarlet cashmere or serge, with a lace vest and collar. It is quite simply made with three boxpleats in front and three at the back, aHd a stiched belt of its own material is slipped through two

little strap 3 of cashmere stitched to the right and left side of the waist, low down. The frock fastens beneath the centre front boz-pleat, and the sleeves are drawn into cuffs of lace. ON BEING WELL-DRESSED. 'Bienchausse bien gaute" is almost a proverb with the Frenchwoman, and to be well-dressed, in her opinion and, of course, Bhe is a born authority on all matters pertaining to the'toilette— yonr feet must be perfectly shod and your hands encased in the daintiest of gloves that fit like a skin. It is not enough that your coat and skirt should be ien maculate cloth and build; all the little etceteras must play up to j the general scheme of costume and help to produce the grand tout ensemble. The Parisienno thinks as much of detail as of principal, and it U here that the Englishwoman often lamentably fails. She is prone to neglect thOße little points of dress which are really so important, and to bestow all her attention upon what is more prominently in view, forgetting that when she holds up her skirt and reveals a second-rate petticoat or a shoe that is worn down at heel, or puts forth a gloved hand showing kid that is very much soiled or split about the seams, and the charm of her whole toilette is affected. lam shocked to say that this sort of thing goes on even in the heart of the West End of London. Ia no less a 'creamy' quarter than Hyde Park, ! si in fact, during the week that ushered in the last of the recent March Courts, a lady in lifting her dainty taffeta skirt actually revealed a hole—just above the heel —in her stocking. Of course she was utterly oblivious to tbe deficiency, but it struck me at the time that although women are accused of devoting too much attention to dress—and:"tHe accusation.. may be only two well merited in scores of ...-; . cases, but'after all it is the tyranny of •' fashion that is at fault—a great many of . ..• them might very weil ponder a little more deeply over the affairs; of their wardrobes, at least in regard to neatness and the use of the clothes-brush.

' It's true,' said little Johnny, 4 Mother said so, and if mother says so it is so ( even if it isn't so I'