Latest London Fashions.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 32, 7 February 1891, Page 4 (Supplement)

Latest London Fashions.

The? say—happy expression, which is always employed when there exists a difficulty in finding the author of the reportthat draped skirts are coming into fashion. At present, I have not seen much sign of them. There is no doubt bhab bhe very plain skirbs are exceedingly trying to mosb figures, bub bhey can always be modified b y folds or pleats from the waist.

My first sketch shows a charmingly simple yet stylish costume for promenade fete", or visiting purposes in brown and fawn-striped glace silk, which is very much worn for gowna of the kind. It 18 made with perfectly.plain skirt and bodice, the latter onening in front with dark bronze velvet revers (showing a white cambric shirt underneath), and fastening slightly on the lefb side with velvet bubtons. The sleeves are made gigob fashion, with velvet cuffs.and a small velvet toque (of same colour as that on dress), trimmed with fawn-tinted ostrich feather trimming and tips, completes the dainty design. Dress collar bands cut high and on the cross are edged with a narrow ribbon doubled in half, and two ends left over to tie in a bow where the collar closes. Similar ornamentation is used for tho wrist. Fina frillingsof tulle—tbethin wedge of the ruffle—are worn round the neck and wrists of the Henri 11. gowns ; tho latter are beginning also to quit their rigorous simplicity of style in favour of constraabing coloured slashings.

My second illustration is one of the prettiest frocks for a little girl's indoor wear I have seen for some time. The model fche sketch was taken from was made of deeD coral pink washing silk, drawn fully, pinafore fashion, into a plain yoke of the same. Rows of narrow guipure lace insertion form an over-yoke and collar, the sleeves also having the lace insertion sewn up them, showing the pink silk through as with the yoke and collar, and knots of coral pink ribbons aro fastened on either shoulder. This design admits of great variety, according to taste and requirement, as ib can be made up equally well for a "knock-about" dress in cachmere or serge, with braid substituted for the lace ; or a party frock in very pale shades of silk, with white lace yoke and sleeves. This can be worn without the endless pinafore which has now almost become as much a parb of a little girl's dress as her stockings.

Reseda cloth is the material the model which forms my third illustration is made in, and it is very prettily trimmed with narrow black silk braid. This makes a very elegant gown, and the same design makes up equally well in military blue (or for halfmourning) black thin cloth, with white braid.

In Vienna a charmingly new idea has been introduced, which, if it " takes," will be a very welcome innovation. This is merely wee bonnets to match the gowns worn ab theatres. Some are very dainty and pretty. Just a scrap of chiffon or silk ruching, the same that trims the bodice, and a few flowers. In all theatres one is exposed to terrible and unavoidable draughts ; wraps and hoods wofully disarrange the hair. Neuralgia might easily be avoided by the adoption of a fascinating theatre bonnet. Roselle.