ROUND THE SHOPS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 290, 1 September 1908, Page 5

ROUND THE SHOPS.

• , - BLOUSES/ ' ' Tho lace blouses that; ore being shown this, year are prettier thau ever, and, oven more composite than they were, last year. ; Wo - were told that any sort of old lace bought at tho bargain sales could be turned to good account, but oven then these blouses are surprising. Not, chiffon, torchon, point, and malteso lace, Valenciennes or guipure may all be mixed in one blouse with a little satin to give variety. ,It is to bo noted that mimy of these blouses liavo full length or. three-quarter sleoves, ami somo of thoso with elbow sleeves are provided with long. cuffs, sometimes of a quito different lace. One,very pretty blouse was of filet lace and torchon, the yoke, and collar mado of tho filet not oh v.-hich a laco design was braided, while the rest ,of the blouse, was mauo of. alternate rows of this braided filet and of . torchon lace. The three-quarter sleeves w r ero , not too full at the top, but breadth was-given by the kimono arrangement of tho wide lace across the shoulder. Another that had the same kimono effect 'was of brussols and torchon net laco, with collar and front of tucked white not. Avery handsome model had a yoke and collar •of valoncionnes lace insertion, finished off with motifs of Irish crochet, tho bodice of oriental lace, and tho net sleoves finished off. with, valoncionnes edging -and draped from the shoulder with wide-oriental lace. This blouso was lined .' throughout with chiffon, which gives a filmy appearance to the laco. Tho wide shoulder effect appears in nearly all, sometimes achieved by a sort of bretelle, Bometimes by a cape of lace, and. sometimes by ea wide collar. One very smart laco blouse of cream net had a deep six or eightpointed collar, the points falling almost to tho waist in front. This was edged with deep rose satin, and bordered • witli narrow, valoncionnes laco. It was one of the least complex, and tho prettiest of■ all the blouses shown. 'Any pretty filmy things may, be combined. One blouse of lace and net had little puffed chiffon sleeves, draped with laco in a sort of cascado, and tho offccfc was very pretty.

PARASOLS. The borders which aro bo .popular in dress stuffs are to bo seen on the parasols,-many of which have borders of flowers or of many stripes. The floral chine parasols are very pretty, and a' quito now idea is to havo a littlo handbag of tho samo material mado to carry on tho handle. It will he remembered that this idea was introduced somo weeks ago at a picturesquo Wellington wedding. Tho handles arc nearly all curved, and tho smartest ,parasols aro vory deeply domed. It is liko putting one's head into a bell to usa one of them. Tho top of somo of them slopes sharply up in a way moro quaint than pretty, and while the material 'of which thoso stylish parasols are made is so bright and beautiful, tho older shallow shape is more likely to bo comfortable and useful. Tho light floral silks, though pretty, are not much protection against tho rays of a vory brilliant sun, and thoso who want to combine utility. with a look of up-to-dateness will do .well to got one of tho dark silk-covered parasols with a bright floral edging.