LONDON FASHIONS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3480, 1 September 1882, Page 4

LONDON FASHIONS.

A walk through Hyde Park just now gives one the impression that ' Princess' bonnets are the only article of headdress that can be bought in London. Every lady wears a ' Princess.' Certainly the bonnet is very pretty, so we have not much to grumble about, save the lack of variety. As now worn the ' Princess' has an open front, and is very small. JKibbon is not used for trimming, the preference being given entirely to flowers and feathers. The fastening is, of course, by means of elastic, but to the outward eye this service seems to be performed by prettily made lace strings, which droop behind and pretend to have been loosely tied together, though in reality, the little velvet knot at the junction hides a deftlyinserted pin. One very striking bonnet that I noticed had the edges covered with terracotta or golden-brown coloured velvet, whilst the body of the bonnet was a mass of ostrich feathers spread out in the form of a rose, and delicately tinted in pink. Again I saw a neat black bonnet edged with dried real moss, of which the tiny leaflets stood out in fern-like shape ; an origette of roses ornamented the left side. The ' Langtry , hat is going out rather, the lady who gave it a name and being having discarded it. Still one sees a great many ' Langtrys.' The shape is almost circular, but a piece is taken out of the back so as to make room for the hair comfortably. A mass of lace dependent is a chief feature. Perhaps the 'Patience' hat is the only rival of the ' Princess' bonnet. The shape is oldfashioned, with crown prominent : a favourite trimming is a long spray of bright laburnum, the inside lining being of velvet. Coming to dresses, the crinolette is much worn ; it is fastened at the waist, and causes a considerable protuberance, which is usually surmounted by an enormous bow of gaily coloured ribbon. For young ladies, flowered rijuslins, prettily trimmed with lace, are very fashionable. Flounces and panier are all lace-bound, and rows of lace ornament the centre of the skirt downwards. Brown cashmere dresses are much worn at tennis parties, as also are steel-grey fabrics. The trimming is usually gold or silver lace. From Paris I hear that pluids in twilled silk are very fashionable. Dark-blue and straw-colour with a dash of red are pretty, with very large pleats. Blue-grey material is also much in favour. Bodices are pointed ; hats are so trimmed as to look simply a mass of flowers.

Stockings with toes have always been used more or less in treating foot troubles, but in England they have lately come into more general use, and are considered a sure preventive of many diseases which make a walker's life wretched. The London Lancet favours such stockings as likely to be comfortable and spare serious trouble to persons who suffer from soft corns between the toes. The Lancet says : They will, moreover, give the foot better play, allowing its phalanges greater freedom of action • and lastly, a well-fitted, digitated sock or stocking will remove a mass of material from the too of the boot, and, at the same time, secure increased breadth and space for expansion across the base of thft toes. The new stockings, supposing them to be well cut and fitted, possess many advantages. Even if the toed stocking should have no other effect than to expel the ugly and miphysiological 'French-toed' boot, it would prove a public benefit.

Embroideries on the material are the rage of the season, and it is ono of the modern marvels that the work can be executed to such a depth and in such exquisite patterns at the price. Embroidered bands, or ruffling, accompanies all kinds of dresses and materials from the richest silk and satin to the thinnest wool, and always the best patterns and workmanship are used in conjunction with tho best materials, and the fine chuddah, or Indian clothes, the lovely soft llamas, the rich satin Rhadames, the nun's veiling, fine and transparent yet strong, or the lino whito fabrics, plain and tinted. The rage for embroidery has brought back tho taste for embroidered muslin which makes such pretty and durable dresses for young girls, and is easily arranged by itself or over colour. Over pink, with pale pink nioiro sash, it is charming. Open embroidery affords such opportunities for effects that we do not wonder dressmakors are anxious to avail themselves of thorn ; and thus tints and colors, softened by the overlaying of embroidered lace or lace embroidery, are the rage of the hour.