FOUR GOWNS OF GREAT DISTINCTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 63, 13 March 1912, Page 8

FOUR GOWNS OF GREAT DISTINCTION.

HIEROGLYPHIC VEILS AOAIIf. FASHION NOTES FROM LONDON. (From Our Lady Correspondent.) LONDON, February 2. Pictures of some very beautiful black and white gowns have been cent mc from France this week. One of tbeae is of fine white soft satin, made a little ehort waisted and with a slanting panel of creamy guipire lace from the left shoulder to the waist, and down the centre of the skirt, and slightly draped round to the right aide of the hem. The V shaped neck is absolutely plain, and so «re the elbow sleeves—in fact, the severity of this creation is its greatest distinction—'but, at the right of the decoHetage at the waist, ar.d spreading its petals wide is a tiger lily of blade velvet with each petal outlined with pe&rle and with, a centre of pearls. The skirt-has a slight and Iwaiitifnliy-draped train, Whit* eatin ehaes are shown with it, and pearl ornamente only.

£X OUTDOOR GRBAUSOK. An imnsaal gown for the- street is of Mack chiffon taffetas, the coat made in Russian style, fastened invisibly slightly towards the left, and a good deal longer at the 'back than in the front, where it reaches about half-way to the knees. A very narrow band of black patent leather, fastening at the left with a. fiat leather buckle, gives. & high ■w.iieted effect, and tbe sleeves, long and tight, are finished with narrow; turn-back <uffj of soft ivory net. A small vest of ivory i:e±, an <t a round collar of soft net lace, lefld the only other touches of white. Just below the coat, and eet slantingly on- tbe skirt, is a broad -band of black fox for, that gives a singularly original touch to an otherwise simple costume. With this is worn a high toque of black taffetae with a black aigrette at the back. Yet two other unusually effective gowns illustrated may bear description. as suggestions. Both are of white liberty satin underneath • one was d«stinei> for afternoon and the other for evening wear.

SHORT WAISTS, A beauty specialist grumbled, recently, it will be found at their demise, have encouraged -people to allow themselves to grow fat, after the rigoroue demands of directoire days. The high waist-line, and straight skirt, undoubtedly help to conceal stoutness and make a woman realise that she may indulge in 'broad hipawithout quarrelling with her dressmaker. In what an age of tyraany do we exiett ..

BLACK avnx ON WHITE.

The first could only be worn by a slender, full-citoted woman, as its simplicity would accentuate either a tendency to embonipcint or scraggishness. It lias no collar, and the sleeves are long and tight -with about six white satis "buttons on the outside of each arm. Round the neck, and in a pretty cascade down the, front of a draped bodice, 5e a frill of Mechlin laoe, and down the centre of the skirt and slightly draping it are six more buttons of white eatin. A high-swnihed black satin belt stretches from th« normal waist line to the 'bust, and the whole of the back of the skirt, over a panel of white satin, is of black satin, with a looped loose bow, just below the waist at the back. There is no train. With this ie worn a black velvet picture hat with white feathers.

BLACK NINON AND WHITE SATIN. The second —the dinner gown —is of white satin, -with a V-shaped decollet* age. It is made Maygar style, and is quite plainly draped with black ninon, the edges of the s.hort plain sleeves being faggotted with black over white ninon. The bottom of the belt is on the normal waist-line, coming up to a peak at the decolletage in front, and is of thick black lace mounted on black. At each side of the skirt is a loose panel of black ninon, edged ■with a .wide band of the black lace, and below that again, -with a band of black silk velvet, so that it reaches below the Jcnees. 'A long sash of black ninon finishe3 -the gown at the back and falls over- a ,train of white eatin.

TAPESTRY EMBROIDERIES. Are still so much in favour that any girl who earea for :mbroidnring should experiment and see how elaborate an evening coat or evening gown she can make for herself, with very little expense and yet beautiful result. Cretonne flowcra may be used, but the richest •method is to cut out reuses or conven tional flowers in tinsel brocade, and applique them upon revers, sewing them with a heavy button-hole stitch in coloured silk. On a gawn or coat of velvet or silk this looka very effective, a.ni cabochons could be made the same way for the simple, Alpine hats that are now worn, turned up in front.

A SERVICEABLE RATH-ROBE. And one at the same tune bright and pretty, that will stand any amount of washing, can be easily fashioned, kimono sty-le, of Turkish toweUing. It shouM have a wide collar, revers and sleeves edged with pale blue, pink, or any colour lined, and be fastened with large buttons.

SHRiINKABLE HATS. For some Teason or none one finds, in trying on hate, that if one is not very much txjpuiTed or bepadded as to coiffure nearly all the models are too large in the 'head, and a new odea, therefore, that will make the most obstinate and tempting creation fit every head that desires it, will be welcomed. This is a ihat that will exipand or contract hy means of ribbon lacing that pulls out or draws in at will. In bonnets the plan is carried out in tie strings.

OOCRADES Of various descriptions look as if tncy're to 1x- the most popular millinery embellishment for the spring, and arc of irf.thers, dowTi, wool, c*.h<3nille, etc. A. sm;»rt, hat of this week was of sofe white velvet felt 'with, as its only trimming, a drooping cockade of Wack chenille.

VERY TTTOAVY VEILS, Foolishly called coquettish, with the object of luring women to don eurh sijrht--Aveakeners. >ire, it is prophesied, to be the fashion, and many are already seen. Some, have sprawling scrolls arranged in a bewildering maze of turns on a thick ground of Russian not; others scroll patterns interspersed with groups of heavy dots. The mosaic veil is a great favourite. This consists of thick and thin threads arranged in a small uneven pattern after the fashion of mosrue work. Sprays of heavy velvet leaves and flowers worked on tulle form other designs. -•Some of tho newest veils are actually emroidered in coloured hieroglyphics with an effect, on what can be seen of the face beneath, that is too horrible to call forth admiration, surely, from an3 - one.

THE MID-DAY REST. Three good reasons why every homowoman should try and manage a midday rest, given last week, are good enough to repeat:—l. Instead of saving up her tiredness till her husband came home she would got it ovor. 2. Her nerves would be rested and sho would ■be strong to meet tho trivialities which are so fretting in fatigue. 3. She would preserve her good looks, for rest is one of the essentials, and it is not always possible to be "earJy.to bed." .

THE BELTED RUSSIAN iBLOUSE For outdoor wear is expected to be much seen during the coming spring months. A SIMPLE MUTHOD. Of hemstitching which is specially useful when making children's underwear is the followi-njr, and it can be quickly I done on a machine by drawing the dej sired number of threads in the material, folding the hem over, and naeting -with the edge in the centre of the drawn threads. laoosen tension of the machine, and stitch it as neariy on the edge of the hem as possible. Remove basting, ] and taking the goods in one hand and the hciii in the other, pull the edge of I the hem to the bottom of the drawn I threads and the work is complete.

TO PATCH WINDOW BLINDS. IVluch 'better than the old idea of mending window blinds, by striving to sew a patch on a material made 'brittle by sun and smoke is this:—Take a piece of the material, dip it in boiling starch, lay it over the rent or hole, and press with a hot iron.