Latest London Fashions.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 247, 17 October 1891, Page 4 (Supplement)

Latest London Fashions.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

London, August 24. There will be no want of variety in the shapes and trimming for seasonable millinery from which to make your selection of a spring or summer hab. The only requisibe is that it-must be flab. If the extreme want of elevation doe 3 not suit you, a concession to your particular style of beauty can be granted in the arrangement of the trimming. The sketch show svery clearly how this can be managed, and the idea of flatness still preserved.

It- is a pretty dove-grey hat of fine straw, large in brim and flab in crown, round which curls grey ostrich feather trimming, from which springs a group of grey surah bows and ends in front, and at back ostrich tips and bows of silk of fche same shade. A novelty for hat brimming is a wreath of black velvet cyclamen. The effecb is original, and good ab bhe same time. Black Leghorn'hats are seen, covered with poppies and other field flowers. Jackets with very long basques are fast taking tho place of the übiquitous cape, and show off the figure instead of concealing it.

The second illustration is a de ign of this nabure in grey cloth, bhe garmen. being one of bhe half-length tightly-fitting jackets now in vogue.

These are joined ab bhe hips as shown. In bhis model the revers and pockets are of thick corded silk, the same shade of grey as the fine cloth of which the jackeb is made, edged with silver passementerie and fastened by small silver or steel bubbons.

Girls over twelve are wearing fche fashionable basques with open fronts and long added basques. These are worn with ornamental chemisette or waistcoat with long basques and with plain or pleated skirts.

A new colour is pinetfci, a yellowishgreen. Though somewhat daring, ib has been adopted by those who dress well. This makes up beautifully for evening wear. I saw bwo lovely dresses in this shade ab a court dressmaker's the obher day. One was of fche new broch- interlaced ribbons on a ground of shot silk. The ribbons are exquisitely shaded where bhey pleat and fold around each other.

The third illustration is the other of the two dresses mentioned. This was also an evening gown, the skirt and bodice composed of pale pimrose silk, edged round with falling chiffon to match. The bodice was rather long, and had a double frill of chiffon, interspersed every here and there wibh pale green grasses. The same grass mixed with the chiffon round the skirt. The tout ensemble had a very charming effect.

Seals are quibe in vogue again. I saw a very elegant design ab a well-known house, in silver, hung upon an old-fashioned fob— a hearb pierced by an arrow, and, underneath, the words "N'Oublier." Another rather enigmatical design was a crescent and a star, with "To have and to hold" inscribed beneath. The sailor hat is again making its appearance, and in its newest shape is just something too fearful for words. With its wide brim, and a crown which is only an inch high, it looks as if bhe wearer was balancing a dinner plate on her head. It cannot be boo widely known that by steeping ib in a solution of borax the most delicate fabric may be rendered completely fire-resisting without injuring it in bhe slighbest degree. Loosely-fibbing gloves are now considered to be more distingue than tightly-fitting gloves. This is comfortable for, summer wear. Printed organdi muslins, on plain or spotted grounds, are the favourite materials this season for young ladies' garden parfcyand counbrv dresses.

Cambric and linen materials are seen in all colours and designs, and are also trimmed with the new fashionable Venetian point !ace or Bruges guipure. Lamp shades seem to be getting more exquisite every day. A lovely one was a large red tulip, with the stalk sticking oub ab "bhe bop, as bhough ib had jusb been plucked and pub over the light. This was made in thin red silk. The increasing size of ladies' headgear calls to mind a good story of Mr Spurgeon. At one of his services he began his address by saying, "I have boon requested to rebuke the' bonnets of the day." Immediately all faces were turned in lively anticipation towards,him, when ho added, with a withering glance, " but really I see none." That was in the day when close-fitting shapes wero in vogue. He might speak differently now. Roselle.