London and Paris Fashions.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 77, 3 April 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

London and Paris Fashions.

(FROM OUB LONDON CORRESPONDENT.)

Regent street, January 23. A capital hab for comforb when somebhing adapbable to the protection of a closefitting veil is desirable, and one of the newesb and mosb modish models withal, is shown in Fig. 1 as this week's millinery design. This iB a boab-ehapo in fawn felt, wibh a fairly high crown, which is enbirely enveloped in folds of olive-green velveb developed into a bow or group of loops* on the lol.b side, over which is perched a white, soa swallow. This shaped hat, more or less 6harp in the burning up ol fche brim and pointing and boight of the crown, is quite restored to favour thia autumn. Ib is becoming to mosb faces, and specially amenable to those past youth. Tho middleaged and elderly so often sigh for the greater convenience and protection of a hao in place of the inexorable bonnot, bub fear ill-Datured remarks aa to attempted juvenility. For some mysterious and undefined reason a moderate variety of this typo of hat sooms to give little or no offenco on these grounds, and with the hair nicely arranged and a neat veil iB often more becoming to a passe face bhaß a bonnet.

Tbe Parisiennes have embraced wifch fair enthusiasm the 'Poke' or ' Coal-scuttle ' bonnots which we have boon eyeing askance for bo long; and the boaubiful ' White T___ifc_a'—as she is often called for hor love of dressing entirely in whibe—having appeared several times in them will ddubt--1.088 enhance thoir more general adoption. The coal-scuttle bonnet ha. possibilities for picturesquoness, bub ib domandu a pretty, or at least a piquant, face. It is such .an insistent form of headgear, and calls so loudly for abbenfcion to fcho face ib framos wifch its hard and unmitigating brim, thab a plain or homely face wculd cerbainly suffer rabher than benefit by its contact.

We cannot complain of want of variety in the new models for this autumn and winter's wear, we may bo as severely tailor-made as wo like, or as ultra artistic or picturesque as we please, and sbill rank aa fashion's mosb rigid followers, so greab is the range of accepted modes just now. Afc bhe presenb moment, therefore, wo havo no oxcuse for nob looking our besb on bhe grounds of limited choico; for whatever our particular personality or style, we may find a mode to meat ib.

A dainby little coat appears in Fig. 2, which is picturasqae without sacrificing neatness or smarfcne. a. This ia composed of bronze-green • cloth. Ib is cub to .fit bighbly ab tha back wifch a Bmorb full barque, and loose in fronb with a plastron of bronze gre-n velveb, which, with, bho high collar, fastens on the left side ; both coat and collar wibh the nulla being bordered wibh chinchilla. In addition are four brighb cub gteel buttons, two on eifcher side above the bust.

Sealskin seems to ba particularly in favour again for those who can afford it: and those who cannob may woll be saved from breaking the Tenth Commandment in mortification by bhe electric sealskin, which ia _. most admirable imitation made from robbil. skin ; bhorn much closer and dres.ed differently to bhe usual method of utilising bho ever useful coat of Bunuio after ho has

j gone the way of all flesh, and not as ib has been horribly suggested wibh any cruelty to the poor little creature before its decease.

In our breathless interesb in all bhe new wraps and coabs for oubdoor Bubjugation of an admiring world, we musb nob forgeb indoor gowns, which require a good deal of attention ab bhis time of bhe year; for, though there be some adamantine women who are Bbill wearing tho thin ailk and

cotton blousea and ahirfea of summer days, the ordinary mortal is succumbing to the continual damp and easb winds and casting aboub for warmer attire.

In Fig. 3 a pretty autumn gown is Bhown of red and black Japanese ailk; with a pinafore, waietband, peplumß, and ele&ves of black velveb edged wibh red and black passementerie. The same design could well be carried oub in still warmer textures, such aa woollen crepon, basket cloth, or such fabrics. Roselle.