Latest London Fashions.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 156, 2 July 1892, Page 12

Latest London Fashions.

(From Qua Special Correspondent.)

London, April 25. Some of the prettiest hats now worn are those such as illustrated by my first sketch this week. The shape is felt, a large round brim, and very low crown; the brim i 8 edged with narrow ostrich trimming, and over the cro^vn, tastefully arranged in folds, ia a ■ qnare of fine cloth, the same colour as the felt, edged with the same feather trimming, and fastened at the back by three ostrich tips.

The colour of our example is grenat red felt and cloth, with black ostrich trimming and tips. One of the ugliest designs in millinery introduced for many a day is now being shown, and, worse still, worn, xhis offending article is a hat, and has a rather large oval brim and low, hard crown ; it boasts scarcely any trimming, with the exception of two upright sprouts of ostrich tips on the back and front of the brim, requiring no vivid imagination to suggest, on looking at a side view, a hearse, with the dreadful feather decorations standing up, which are luckily being gradually relinquished; by lovers of the horribly ludicrous funeral displays. Another atrocity in hats I have not yefe seen worn by any rashly confiding fair, and trust may not do, is a species of gentleman a top, «ilk box, stove, or whatever may be the right name for the historical head-covering worn on select occasions in the present century, cut down, and also decorated with a sprout of upright feathers on the back of the brim. ; . , Sketch number two is a stylish and comfortable coat'of thick, fawn tweed, threaded with a brown check. It. is tight-fitting and has a quilting of brown silk throughout the cape and high collar, which is fastened by a strap and buttons. A brown felt Tyrolese hat wears suitably with this useful coat, which comes in well for shopping or marketing. This is an occupation, most sensible and practical housewives consider desirable rather than infra dig. to perform themselves. , '~ For a young girl I noticed a pretty iacket of Havannah-brown clofch, trimmed with black passementerie and a plastron of black velvet. Passementerie patterns are placed on each side of the plastron. High Medici collar, lined with black velvet;

with black passementerie.. The jacket is lined throughout with iris-coloured silk. .'■•.-.-.• ■ .- "i

A long mantle for a young lady is of banana-coloured cloth, lined with adderskin silk, and trimmed with a small plastron and pockets of rich passementerie. The back and side pieces of the mantle are cut redingote fashion, and continued into hollow pleats. " The fronts are creased over from right to left, with a pinch to mark the front side piece. The right side front-piece which is crossed over, and the top of the left side frdnb, are folded back into revers, showing the lining. A few pkats fasten the drapery at the waist; pockets of passementerie are added on over the hips. High puffed sleeves, with silk facings on the wrists.

Many ladies possess handsome pieces of rich black lace which they would gladly use up did they know how. The third sketch shows a very pretty and stylish way of combining laceand black velvet. This will need little explanation beyond the sketch, unless I mention the details of the Medici collar being edged with jetting which continues down ibe .edge of the bodice, tho sleeves and waisb being tied by velveb ribbons, and a jet butterfly in the hair. A very pretty hab for a young girl is made of black felt, lined with black satin. Bows of ribbon of black and tan and black satin. A puff of black ostrich feathers. A cloak which is very well suited for town wear is^formed with a half long pelisse of Labrador blue cloth, brimmed with passementerie of hlack and black Thibet goat. The pelerine full, high shouldered, mounted ab the bottom with a rounded inseb, trimmed with black passementerie. The front closed at the centre, mounted without fulness; bhe back with plait round at the middle, over the arm very high shouldered. A high collar covered with goat, the same fur surrounding the cloak. A high passementerie forms a soutache ornamenting bhe bottom. A dress ot brochee silk, trimmed with a cut-oub volant. A hat of grey felt with the brim undulating and trimmed with shaded feathers. In the way of a town toileb there is one made with the skirt with long square train of black velvet, mounted behind by a big Watteau plait ; the front richly ornamented with an embroidery of jet on a foundation of pink faille, forming the angle of the tablier. The corsage round and adjusted in front wibh several little pleats of black velvet, opening over a bouffant of black lace and embroidered wibh jeb over a transparency of pink faille. The sleeves of black velvet, and trimmed wibh double and full jockeys, and embroidered with jeb at the wrist 3. A sash tied ab the aide of black satin. Capote of pink faille, trimmed wibh a bordering of job, and ornamented with black ribbons and pink feathers. Roselle.