EVENING CLOAKS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 178, 22 April 1908, Page 3

EVENING CLOAKS.

. The evening cloak. is; now finding a place ■in our wardrobes which'it'never, occupied before (says a woman , writer in the Melbourne ArgusA glance at the women as they take their places; in,the theatre or at a con-; cert assures iis of that, for' they como in . .with wraps of the -roost: elaborate description./ According to the, fashions of.the hour, such cloaks can hardly be- regarded as' -practical •••garments,--.for'• -'some''of. them are composed; of nothing'more: substantial than'lace lined chiffon, or metal tissue, ' while others • are chiffon . only. Of course, in 'a city like , Melbourne,■ where a great propor- \ . pleasure-seekers are travellers by trains and trams,"these costly wraps are: of little , real /use, -for /ihe 'sligiitesfc;- touch - of. dampness in • the.:air. is v quite ' sufficient. to ruin the. ephemera] beauty of such delicate •toxtures; and;there is. absolutely'no warmth' in. them. But even those of us who cannot afford wraps': that are masterpieces of- the dressmaker's art feel!that' the-dull, 'uninteresting affairs which would have been considered suiucient a few, years ago, do not supply, our present-needs.' ,Tho newest shape -for eveniiig ; "cloaks..aims,at'itho : pointed . snawl-like effects. , ; The,, draperies fall into. ■ jjjf. foldsj -and there'.is/.no; decided. outline.' . This style is borrowed' from many sources. The' Japanese kimona, -the Dalmatian bur-' • and the early Victorian shawl have, all helped ,to perfect. this' garment, ' which • does. not for. one /moment suggest. the.; ordinary batji. gown.. For ; the coat, which gets' conimual 'hard -.wear, soft-faced, cloth, cashmere, and thick dull/silk are used, and there is . little outside trimming ; except touches of handsomo •ombr'oidery,-.preferablv of the Chinese . variety. All. the. elaboration is', , found m'the lining,: whiph; is costly and :ele-1 gant. Deep and; brilliant -.coloured' satins 1 aro much -liewer than pale- tints,' and among ; ; the more expensive models the long-lianginc '.' eleeyes aroUined with , flounce on -flounce of soft chiuon, .which shows with every movenient of: the arm. Of course,'; these wonderful - garments are. fascinating in their' cx- . trayagauce, but it is a comfort to remember that, there are hundreds, of girls who manage to look smart and charming in. wraps of inexpensive serge, on which a hdnd-embroi-aered collar is-the only trimming, and the .lining is of the ever-useful Roman satin