THE ROYAL TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 129, 1 June 1901, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE ROYAL TOUR.

The Duchess of Cornwall and York, ■who has now arrived in Australia, made the very greatest point of hay-

ing her gowns designed and built by British workers of British fabrics. These are but three costumes taken from among many, many more, all beautiful, which are to be worn by her Royal Highness in her tour to the Southern Hemisphere. It will be noted that the Duchess, like every other woman, has one or /two little predilections which she has Lad carried out in each of her gowns. One is for a pointed belt; for basques she has not much liking, but her bodices are almost invariably made with a folded and pointed ceinture. Then she is very fond of a transparent neckband made of lace wired to fit the throat closely, and in many of her toilettes this was the sole tiny touch of white permitted to relieve the blackness of the gown. Some of the bodices were made with swathed effects, and in one the drapery was drawn upwards on the left side beneath loops of satin ribbon with almost the effect of a j bolero. For toques she has a great affection, i and almost always wears them, modified to suit the prevailing fashion, which at the present time runs on the lines of breadth and flatness, but much tilted up at one side. A stylish design, suitable for many fabrics, and may be high or point at the neck. The tight bodice is plain, with a fitted lining, and opens at the back. The front has a full chemisette

•et on the lining and a broad crush girdle, that goes in at the under-arm seams. A deep fichu passes over the •houlders and fastens at the side. A plain half-sleeve is used.

With a constant stream of gaieties to be encountered, the contents of our wardrobes are a matter of much importance, especially when ways and means havc^to be considered, and the

choice of a new evening frock is a matter of deep .consideration. Fortunately for most of us, Madame La Mode is kindly disposed even towards

1 the comparatively impecunious girl who has wasted her substance in the riotous purchase of gifts for her nearest and dearest, leaving herself with a very narrow margin for the replenishing of her evening toilettes. There is probably among these an old silk or satin dress rather the worse for wear. This must not be deemed worthless, but rather as a treasure, and if it is not very much stained'it may be possible with soap and water, or a little ammonia, to do all that is required at home, and so avoid the expense of a visit to the cleaner, but this must be a matter of due and careful consideration. If the owner of such a gown 1 has a slender and graceful figure, combined with a pleasing plumpness of neck and shoulders, I should advise her i to evolve a gown a l'Empire such as is i here depicted. Carefully unpick all trimming off the bodice of the \mder- | dress, and leave it as severely plain and tight-fitting as possible. Over this arrange a drapery of lace (for preference), embroidered net or any semitransparent material, allowing it to fall from the bust in soft folds to the feet. A sash of pale green chiffon is draped across the figure, and, after being loosely knotted, falls in ends finished -by a gold and green fringe. A small chemisette of embroidered net or lace is arranged above this, while long sleeves to match come well down over the hands.