PARISIAN MODES

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9633, 23 January 1897, Page 3

PARISIAN MODES

A pretty simple dinner dress for a young chatelaine to wear at an unceremonious dinner in the country was of soft white muslin with narrow perpendicular stripes, and the interval worked with small spots. The skirt of moderate width, was cut quite round and straight, no gores at all, and hemmed at the foot, with two rows of narrow Mechlin lace laid on almost plain. At the top were several rows of gathers about three inches deep, drawn close together, but each row less close in order to form well on the hips. The gathered bodice v/as open, and had a pretty short fichu like a deep collar at the back, and forming wide revers in front, reposing on the fulness of the bodice. The wide draped waistband is of pihk r moire ribbon, •with a large bow at the side but no ends/ A bow of the same is pUced in front where the bodice closes at the bust and bretelles to match pass under the fichu and end in the waistband ; a large tuft of real roses in the hand. The muslin sleeves are made wjth two bouffants at the top, then an interval of about six or seven inches plain to the elbow, and finished there with two narrow frills of" muslin. This dress was copied from an old engraving, and is in the true Trianon style, md very becoming. The shoes to be worn with it were dove-coloured kid; the stockings grey silk with pink ■tripes.

A much more.dressy _03tume, but taken from an old portrait, was of blush pink satin, with mousseline de soie the same shade over it, and three little flounces or frills of the same at the foot. The bodice was pink satin, draped with the mousseline de soie round the bust, on. one shoulder confined with a diamond buckle, and on the other a large bouquet of roses, falling in a _pray down to the waist. A pink satin sash, with long ends, finished this elegant dress.

And now that all are turning their thoughts towards a well-earned repose or holiday at the sea, a. few words on bathing costumes may be acceptable. Dark blue or black serge are best as materials, and can be ornamented with white braid or white mohair. The best form is made with a long blouse and pantalon. Fancy costumes cut but a poor figure when onCe wet, if the bathing is serious.. For those who go paddling and shrimping I would advise a costume apart, that can. be made as ornamental as possible, as it never gets wet. This can have a white mohair belt and sailor collar, and be picked out with white braid and fancy galoh. I was much taken with some bathing caps at the Louvre : a vast improvement on the hideous oil-silk contrivances. Those I saw were made of gay-patterned surah br satinette, and were quite inexpensive. These are either waterproofed or lined with oil silk, and are certainly more becoming, and more pleasing to look at. In my seaside experiences I have also seen a covering for the old oil silk look well made of Turkey-red twill. As to the question of stockings arid sandals, much depends on the beach and sands, and those who go into the sea looking well come out but poor figures if their bathing has been seriously for health, and not for display and disporting a fancy costume.