FASHIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 149, 24 June 1908, Page 11

FASHIONS.

The vexed question as to the correct sleeve length has been answered at last with no uncertain voice. Sleeves are to Dβ long, so long that not only are the elbows covered, and eke the wrists, but the points must fall right over the knuckles.

The wealth of careful stitchery that is bestowed upon a dress, almost entirely wrought by hand, by elaborate embroidery, by deftly introduced pipings, tassels, exquisite buttons, and so forth, is not to be comprehended until a close examination of the gown is made. It is really quite a craze, this refinement of splendour, while all the time there is a plethora of elaboration only waiting to be looked for.

A distinctively French rittle dress is tflis evening frock for a girl. While it might be worn at informal evening affairs, it would be quite as suitable for afternoon. It is made of marquisette m Fekin blue with bands and bows of Liberty satin in a deeper shade. A guimpe effect of white silk mull relieves

GIRL'S EVENING FROCK. it at the top. This might be evolved in silk muslin or other thin materials, using lace insertions instead of Liberty silk on the skirt and on the bands of the waist. The little bows on the sleeves and the wide corsage bow.could be of satin or silk as desired.

This is a charming frock in checked Shantung, carried out in Nattier blue and white. DESIGNS FOR CHILDREN. Half the allegiance of children authorities this season seems to have been given to Shantung and cashmere. These two materials provide ideal wear, and can be subjected to the wash-tub without any misgivings, and long before cotton frocks are considered permissible they can be worn with impunity. Striped Shantungs in white and cinnamon, white and blue, and white and scarlet provide charming wear for the little people, while checks and plaids of the same description are equally valuable from the point of view of utility. The new material, resilda, has, besides, claimed a great deal of attention from the nursing authorities, and will prove a very valuable asset throughout the summer.

._,But-it is chiefly in the realm of head-1 gear that the small nursery tots aa "well as the younger-faction in the schoolroom have secured .the most novel features. Charlotte Cordays ar« looked upon as providing a charming frame to children's faces, the soft, frilly border being, far better adapted to the little folk than it is to their elders. The; prettiest of the "Charlottes" for children are designed with very soft mob-cap ' crowns of the most amenable straw bleached a pure white, with a double frill of snowy lawn edged with lace to take the place of a brim. These hats are trimed in the simplest manner possible with little market-bunches of tiny flowi ers' such as pimpernels, forget-me-nots, and crimson-tipped daisy-buds, and a rope of soft white satin ribbon, the bunches of flowers being dotted round the crown. ■ Another delightful innovation in the matter of children's headgear is the introduction of wild wood-strawberries as ! trimming. These are specially charming j in conjunction with the little mushroom hats of burnt or rustic straw, the strawberries forming a thick ruche round the hat, while a soft cap of lace is the in- i variable accompaniment. Strings tied ; under the chin are once again high in ' favour, and are usually carried out in very wide, soft ribbon or in chiffon or ninon, the strings passing right over the i crown of the hat instead of merely start- j ing from either side. i As regards the length of children's j dresses, by common consent the very; short frocks, curtailed considerably above the knees, have been tabooed, and any exaggeration in this respect is as much i out of date as is the long Greenaway ■ jupe, which touches the ground all round, j and which was such a distinct annoy- j ance iri play-hours to the little folk some i ten years or so ago. Frocks are, in fact, j of moderate length, while, instead of the i invariable rule of tan stockings and ■ shoes, a great fancy will be shown this season for little coloured chaussures to match the frocks, the stockings being carried out en suite. Among the colours which are accepted for children's wear ' as enthusiastically as they are for their elders are various degrees of the soft Nattier tints, as well »s the lovely "faience" blue.