VISITING DRESSES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 160, 8 July 1899, Page 6 (Supplement)

VISITING DRESSES.

The model sketched on the left is a Parma violet cloth Princess' gown, with braided shoulder straps, mauve straw 'hat, with violet velvet rosettes, and an erect black ostrich plume. The gown shown in the other figure is of dark green cloth. The slightly pouched

•.-■«'.•■ bodice is scalloped down the front and bound .with velvet, each scallop held with a velvet button. The hat that goes witih this costume is of velvet, matching the dress in colouring, with eoque feathers.-

Stitching is the ornamentation of the moment in self colours as well'as in contrasting, and as it necessitates much time and labour on the part of the workwoman it is not likely that its adoption by the belles of the East End will incur the frowns of West End dames just yet. An elegant costume, and one which fashion smiles upon just now, is a fine,.black-faced cloth,, "the. skirt, .plain,,., trimmed fqiin.d,/ ,.,the( hem with several rows of cream' silk stitching, fastening on the left side with small silver buttons. The coat is 'worn open, but caught together at the waist with silver chains and buttons, very short in the basque, wifb. revers of white satin, lightly powdered with embroidered violets, and opening over a blouse of cream satin, with old lace, cravat and paste buckle. It must be remembered that a smart black dress is an essential in a wardrobe of even the most moderate pretensions. It is nevfer out of season, never old-fashion-ed, and always comme il faut.

This illustration indicates the prevailing mode in walking costumes, the : glorified tailor, to borrow our Freiu> a neighbour's term.: It isTin fine beie^ cloth, the skirt plain, but full towards,' the feet, the similitude of a flounce in. dicated by rows of white silk stitching The bodice is a full, soft front in white' mousseline de soie, over which is,_: natty "little bolero, ornamented wittC cloth applique, and gold braiding " round the edge and on the sleeves, attdyinner revers of white suede, with rows': of tiny gold buttons. An Jncroyable," old lace cravatte finishes off a charm-,;! ing toilette.

To return to the bolero for a mo.-, ment. It promises to-be much worn, and yet it is not the slipshod garment enshrined in our affections Of old. The revived bolero must be admirably cut, ending at the waist; rounded off from. the front, with much ornamehted'large■ revers, and high Medici collar.' It is "a garment to be cultivated as a useful' finish during the next month to the blouse and skirt costume. Pale blhe and pale pink are two colours which will be much used in conjunction with each other, but the correct: shades i must be neutral, not vbyante, otherwise they savour somewhat of vulgarity. Blue and mauve is another com.binatioii which has received the approbation of fashion, a combination, urged by M. Worth years and years ago, urged ih vain till now, when La Mode has set her seal upon it.," •'■.'; .'. ■'■'

The favourite waist this season shows the gimp effect, and a more graceful or generally becoming style 1

has seldom appealed to the popular taste. . Our illustration 'represents aluminium-gray poplin made over yellow ... taffeta, the yoke and: plastron, front that simulates the gimp and the sleeves being .'of .finely'tucked

sheer "white, organdy. Gray, black, . and yellow silk embroidered passe- - menterie is used to decorate ithis hand- , some gown, and the:waist is" encircled by a French giltl jewelled 1 belt. The body lining, fitted with double darts and other usual seams," closing:; . in centre front, is the,foundation over which the round yoke facing in back and plastron front that simulate the gimp is applied. The, plastron is sewed to the right front lining and m closes at the left shoulder and under blouse front. A standing, collar of the tucked organdy finishes the,neck, closing with front at^eft shoulder. M Styf^h'p ) oiuted r reve j rs,rpli softly .over .> from the rounded tops of the blouse | fronts, and rounded epaulets r stand . out over the top's of., they two.seamed sleeves. The fitted linings may be omitted from the sleeves if a transparent effect is desired.