LONDON AND PARIS FASHIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 211, 11 September 1897, Page 1 (Supplement)

LONDON AND PARIS FASHIONS.

(From Our London Correspondent.)

REGENT-STREET, July 3

The theatres are full, the shops are busy, and although many are absent abroad in summer climes, tbe usual habitues of Bond-street are visible in goodly numbers, and endless neAv and pretty modes are visible throughout the length and breadth of the West End shoAv rooms and windoAvs. The millinery that shrinks for our notice on all sides is distinctly not of a sackcloth character. It Avas certainly not built to blush unseen or unnoticed, and seems to daily get more

daring and bizarre. 'It is strange ibuL though one always expects more daring in such things from Paris the hat.; and bonnets 1 have seen lately there were in many cases modestly retiring in comparison to those shown by the smart milliners of Re-gent-street and the Burlington. A Paris hat is the subject of Fig. 1. It is of yellow fancy straw, with a broad brim turning slightly up at the back. From the crown come loops of black mousseline de soie, which stand out. all round, star fashion. On either side a bouquet of cowslips nestles between the loops, Avhile yellow silk ribbon loops and four black wings fill up the vacant space behind the black loops; a cachepeigne of cowslips being placed under the. brim at the back.

The coloured straws promise to be a great feature of this season's hats. My readers will probably remember a feAV years back the felt plateau, which had a spell of popularity. The plateau was nipped up in the centre, Avhich caused if to undulate round the edge, and it Avas Avorn over a vel-

vet under-brim or bandeau. This season finds us A\-ith the plateau in coloured straAv, and it is usually made up over an under-brim of black chiffon or lace, Avith ostrich tips as the top trimming. Mousseline de soie is in immense request in Paris for millinery; goffered chiffon and lace too play an important part in all the lighter items of dress.

In Fig. 2 I shoAv one of the latest developments of the "sac" coat. This cannot by any stretch of courtesy be called a pretty gaz-ment or a becoming- one; but as one of the latest modes it must be duly chronicled. Hi the model fawn faced cloth is the material. The coat is cut, it A.ill be noticed, just above the AA'aist. Herein lies an advantage over other sacs, inasmuch as it reveals the welcome fact that the wearer has a AA'aist, Avhich in other varieties, of this severe species of garment is a matter of conjecture. It is stitched round Avith three i-oavs of AA'hite stitching, and is fastened on the left side by three AA'hite buttons. Another revelation in sac coats is a triple arrangement, one OA rer the other, reaching half-Avay to the knees Very exclusive this last variety is, and it requires a woman of immense style and dash in herself to look other than guyed in such a tryinggarb.

Apropos of coats, the tailor-made girl is reported to be on the Avane,

and on dit, the ultra-feminine, muchly befrilled, flounced.and fripperied, is to reign in, her stead. The mannish woman "is as the womanish man— a horror; but as there is not the slightest occasion for a girl to in-

dulge in an iron hat, an eye-glass, and short hair, because she Avears a neat plain cloth gown and coat, it is to be hoped these natty and thoroughly useful suits will not be taken from us altogether; as for every-day out-door Avear. they are in our prosaic days—Avhen Aye do not pass a perpetual poetical existence in gardens like Air Marcus Stone's graceful maidens in muslin and meditationfar and Avay more suitable and sensible than frills and fussiness, Avhich. are continually getting out of order and draggled looking. The blouse goes on its fanciful Avay rejoicing, and Aye all rejoice with it, and prize it the more, perhaps, for its continued existence - being threatened by the fashion poAvers that be more than once. Its infinite A-ariety is daily more fully developed, and there does not, so far, seem the slightest fear of its extremely accommodating career being cut short this season at least, judging by the enormous slioav at the leading West End houses.

In Fig. 3 a dainty blouse of delicate broche of pink and grew is sketched. The ruffles at throat "and Avrists and double frill on left side of bodice of grey chiffon over pink, and the shirred grey chiffon sleeves are over pink silk linings. This Avould Avear Avell Avith a . pale grey cloth skirt with an under frill (in hem) of pink silk with pinked edge. The silk under frills add greatly to the cachet of a nice skirt, looking so much prettier AAdien it lifted or Avhen the folds turn over Avhen seated than a revelation of plain lining. ROSELLE. -.