Latest London Fashions.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 143, 16 June 1894, Page 1 (Supplement)

Latest London Fashions.

(fkom our own correspondent.)

Regent-street, April 28. Lack of variety can certainly nob be laid to the charge of the millinery market) of late, for we have our choice of every dobsible shape, size, colour and trimming imaginable, innumerable periods and countries also being pressed into the service for ideas, so that we can ab least escape monotony in matters millinery, especially as we can now-a-days wear what we fancy without being aggressively stared at as something wild and uncanny; in fact, the most grotesque headgear is now worn and passed with undisturbed calmness. To young faces the hats with broad brims turned back from the forehead are nob unbecoming, and rather picturesque, bub they should always be tilled in by a bandeau or group of bows, knot of feathers, flowers, or whab nob to break the hardness of the line, My first sketch will illustrate my meaning uaoi;e clearly. The model from which it is taken is a delicate fawn coloured felb, under the brim in fronb is the bandeau of dark olive green velvet, terminating in two smart .upright ends, and further orna-

menfcod by a small humming bird. The strings are of olive velvet ribbon, and the crown is aleo trimmed with the velvet. By-and-byo the tables will be turnad, and topsy-turveydom reign triumphal; o, if the men dressmakers and milliners go on increasing in numbers as they are now doing, and, strange as ib seems, as women are successfully taking up the occupations hitherto considered the monopoly of men, the men are managing this feminine calling with quite equal—and in some individual cases greater—success ; the millinery shop in Oxford-street, where all the bonnets and hats are designed, made and Bold by men, being a case in point; the mosb stylish millinery being turned oub there, while the gowns designed by Worth, Gunning, Redfern and Fenwick are confections sought after by the world of wealth and fashion. An extremely pretty, though very simple, evening dress, is the subject of my second sketch. Daffodil coloured satinette (a favourite material for evening dresses this last winter), is the fabric composing the

elrirb, folded bodice, and balloon sleeves, and a pointed belt bodice of deep brown velvet is embroidered thickly over with gold thread. Tan gloves* to above the elbow (which all evening gloves should be now), and strings of gold filigree beads on the hair, complete this charming evening toilette. . Biscuit coloured tweed forms the material of the very stylish costume comprising my third design, with a tiny brown check running through it. The under bodice and lower sleeves are of dark brown velvety the fur edgings being narrow brown bear.

Apropos of fur, thibeb gained much in favour ; ifc makes vory elegant trimming, looks particularly pretty in white for evencloaka and children's wear, and has the great advantage to ladies of moderate means of being inexpensive. Corsage bouquets are boldly treated to be in keeping with the puffed sleeveß that rule for the nonce. The cluster of flowers has all the natural stalks left intact, and the boquet narrows a9 it nears the waist, that gives a tapering effect that is most becoming to all figures. A'dainty corsage decoration for a young lady is composed of two light bunches of lilies of the valley, connected by fine sprays of'smilax. The Empire style of hairdressing admits of the most charming conceits imaginable. When we compare bhe graceful, elegant

arrangements, the idealised garlands of the present'day; with the cumbersome wreaths of the long ago we are constrained to admit that artistic taste has made gianb strides since the commencement of our good Queen's reign. The beauby of the loveliest of Eve's daughters must needs be enhanced if she wear the bewitching aigrette of white rosebuds and lilies of the valley which connects the two light trails of foliage, with intermingling buds, encircling the well-dressed hair arranged rather high at the back of her head. Aigrettes alone, without the trails or semigarlands, have quite gone oub of fashion. The favourite little bells of the lily made lovely half circlets for the coiffure for young girls who wear only white flowers; for these white hyacinth blooms are often substituted, the latter being interspersed with foliage. » ■ When will women temper their love of display by common sense ? The wearing of jewellery in the streets is questionable taste at the best, added to.which is an amount of danger proved over and over again, yeb another instance , having occurred in the case of a Mdlle. Darantob being* almost strangled for her diamond earrings while leaving the Opera Comique after dusk. ; ' ** ROSELLE.