London and Paris Fashions.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 268, 9 November 1895, Page 1 (Supplement)

London and Paris Fashions.

/FROM OOR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.)

Regent-street, October 12. The sea-front ab Brighton will generall? furnish one's note book with a sketch or two of up-to-date hats and gowns, for in the season or out of ib, bhe Queen of Wabering Places is never entirely bereft of the smart elemenb. Ib is brue there is just now, as in other directions, an unusually severe outbreak of the sailor-hat-blouse necktie-tailor-made gown fever, which seems to have attacked nearly the whole of the feminine community of any age between five and fifty ; bub a minoriby is still let* who has sufficient individuality of mind to chooae a mode for themselvea instead of levelling bheir taste to a monotonous uniform, and these form an interesting relief to ourj walks of observation abroad. A tasteful and stylish chapeau I noticed, is illustrated in Fig. 1, worn 'by an exceedingly distinguished looking tall brunette. The shape waa ofjLeghorn or Tuscan straw, with the ,new.,high crown and broad brim. The latter, on either aide towards the back, waa cut. up, and the back portion, being thua independent of tho rest of the brim formed a pleated or flounce-like ' curtain ' over the hair. The whole of bhe edge of the brim waa bound by black velvet, and immense black ,yajyeb - loops - gron ped" with, aoarieii poppiesi formed tho trimming.

The second note, Fig. 2, waa a smarb gown of periwinkle clobh. The ekirb waa perfectly plain, of bhe godeb Bpecies, and vory full round bhe hem, which was bound by black braid. The bodice or coab.waß the special feature. It was bound entirely round with black braid, and faetened by black netted buttons and braid bound button holes. The neck waa opened in V chape and finished by a broad turn-down collar, and a full baaque joined to the waiab of bodice ab bhe back waa meb by bwo pointed pieces in front, the edge of both being decorated with nottod buttons and simulated button holes of braid. The neck was filled in by butter-coloured chiffon, and a picture hab of bucter-coloured straw, lined with periwinkle blue velvet, was brimmed with feathers and roeettea of the same shade and butter-coloured lace.

Alpaca, both grey and white, seems the mania of the momenb; many whibe alpaca suits are preparing for races, etc., lined wibh delicabe coloured silks, pink especially. Parasols are trimmed as much inside as out, the wires being entirely hidden by chiffon or lace. The übiquitous blouae has taken a freah lease of popularity in muslin both plain and figured, and it certainly makes an extremely pretty summer bodice in this soft fabric.

Navy blue serge ia the material employe* in bhe coatume which forms the subject of my third illustration in Fig 3. The skirt, ib will be seen, is built in full dimeneionß, and ie edged by one very broad white braid and bwo. narrow ones on eibher side. The bodice ia a quite plain one, fastening under the lefb arm and on the lefb shoulder wibh white netted- buttons. The cape is edged with braid as the skirt, is lined with white silk, and has a white silk-lined hood hanging over the shoulders. Throat and wrists aro finished by white braid ; while white etitohed gloves, a white silk parasol, and a navy blue straw sailor hab wibh white silk ribbon, complete the toilette. The Golf Jersey seems to have caught on immensely, and is, of course, superlatively comfortable for athletic purposes of all kinds. Tho fancy just now," is having these jerseya striped, with a Tarn o' Shanter cap to match. By-the-bye, we must, it seems, after all, if we wish to be considered at. fail, call it Gof, though no light aeema to ba forthcoming as to the reaaon thereof. At there haa of late been auch a leaning towards the phonetic, an explanation would be interesting of the ' 'cos why' and where* fore. ROSKLU.*