PICTURESQUE FASHION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 532, 12 June 1909, Page 11

PICTURESQUE FASHION.

A lady, writing to an; Australian paper from London, says there is a feeling just now for medieval fashions. Tho French dub it Merovingian. It is a little'like tho princesses in fairy tales—sovero square cut bodice, the comture,-and tho mantle hanging from tho shoulders. Lady Brooke's wedding gown was of snow-white, tnous'seline do soie, over which was a tunic of Brussels lace, and a ilounco of the same at tho hem. The. dress was belted high, in medieval fashion, with a belt made ot pearls and strass. Tho mantle was curiously cut, copied from an old picture, tho top part coming in points .over the shoulder, fastened there with largo bosses made of pearls and strass. The lace bodice of .the gown was draped like a fichu over a chemisette of the mpusselino cut square at tho bust. It was a very striking bridal dress, petting away from tho directoire form which has been our portion for so long. The mantle was of richly raised brocade, very heavy; so much so that it was unlined, but it required-threo pages to carry it instead of two. The pages were dressed in the same period, w.eanng fifteen century tunics of cream satin girdled with silver, very pale grey silk stockings, and long pointed silver leather shoes. The bridesmaids were as pic-, turesque as the pages, : and wore long gowns of cream 6atin, with low-cut yokes, and belts of silver. They wore tiny silver caps arid slippers to match. ' : ; Tho tunic seems to havo become more and more essential;in the coming fashion. Lady Eden wore a dress of mauvo mousseline do soio, with bodice and tunic of satin to match with gold fringed cape, the'long close-fitting sleeves having white lace, embroidered in mauve. Fringes form an important, trimming for the/edges of tunics, scarfs, and nny place that requires something drooping. Long fringes of .pearls and b'ugleß are much used, and I havo lately seen some exquisite trimmings on ovening gowns of brilliants, flashing as if they were real gems. These'look beautiful on grey gowns if tho material is soft and light, and I find many, women .of mature ago wear either white dresses much trimmed with' lace, or pale grey gowns with white lace and pearl trimmings in preference to black. Younger women wear black dresses somotiraes with great success, hut on the whole I have seen fewer black evening gowns than usual.'