THE LADIES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4174, 6 December 1884, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE LADIES.

LADIES' GOSSIP

Children's dresses are now, as ever, a great problem to their mothers. Where the purse is a ljng one dressing little girls is an easy matter enough, but where.money is (as is too often the case) n consideration, then a few hints as to pretty, inexpensive frocks.that can be made up at home are sometimes very useful. Now that everyone is leaving town for the country or the seaside, children want plenty of fresh-looking costumes, easily washed and easily made. A picturesque style for little girls"from six to twelve years old is to get a pretty, simplo cotton or gingham (or zephyr as it is now called) —from fire to six yards will mako this dress ; cut it quite straight from tho neck to tho edge of the skirt, the width to bo one yard and threequarters ; put two running strings at the neck and waist, a broad sash of the same material, and a piece of deep lace turned down at the neck and at tho slecvos ; one yard and three-quarters of lace are necessary. If any-trimming is'-thought better, one broad or two or three narrow, rather scanty flounces is the best. This will be found a pretty and lasting dress—lasting because, if the length is somewhat exaggerated the first year, it will not be too short the next year ; and the much-enduring washerwoman .can wash this little frock well.

■ Made up in pink or peacock-blue gingham these dresses look, charming.

A straw hat trimmed with the same material, or a Tani o' Shanter to match, can easily be made up by clever fingers, and Mademoiselle will look as well : turned-out as many little girls far more expensively dressed. : ■: ' If more elaborate cottons are wished for, a white cambric is pretty, with a deep kilt, with cither washing laco or embroidery at the edge, and a little folded and draped tunic, with a,high gathered bodice, and a cream silk sash ; a -while sailor hat, trimmed with lace, and cream., marguerites in a bunch in front. Sailor dresses are also suitablefor little girls, but, although durable, arc .rather costly at first, as no one but a clever boys' tailor can cut the jumper well (ns the loose bodice is called) or the deep collar and undervest. The little plain skirt can be well made up at homo ; it takes two yards of serge.

The prettiest of these dresses aro made in white serge, with the deep collar and badge of deep blue. For colder mornings these costumes look well in dark-blue,-and for the garden or beach tho striped Galatea shirting in red and white, or blue and white, with a blue serge skirt, are appropriate, and wash capitally. With these dresses nothing but a sailorstraw hat or a knitted scarlet or blue Tarn b'Shanter is appropriate.

Eor a wrap a peajacket in white or blue scrgo with gilt naval buttons is most in character. Doctors recommend these dresses highly, as they allow for growth and for the free play of a girl's muscles at tonis, boating, &c. , ..,'.''*.

Eor afternoon costumes, the simple striped or silks that can bo got reasonably at tho summer sales are as pretty as anything. These take from six to. ten yards, and the most becoming and appropriate way of making them is with either two narrow flounces, or one deep kilt, and a simple drapery; a full bodice and sleeves with a large puff at the top, and-then tight down to tho wrists.-

-It goes without saying? that - ; good deep lace collars and cuffs will make almost any dress look well,

With growing children it-is never well to have too many dresses, ns theysoon outgrow them, and as fashions and colors change 'it will be found that a child is ■ better dressed with a few fresh fashionable frocks than ,with a great many.

Eor country and travelling wear, a light iNewmarket will'be found useful, and a fur cape,-as the evenings soon begin'to get chilly. A Newmarket can bo quite well made at home if a good'pattern be procured. A child of four will require two yards and a half of cloth to make one.

Ready-mado children's clothes, if well made, are a good investment, but then a long-price is charged for them as an article de luxe;' but with a clever workman to execute, and a mother who has tasto and ideas, the little people may be well and picturesquely dressed at a comparatively small cost.-- " ' ■ ■'••■■'

; All who can maga<-e it will find a black velvet a' great yfcee de resistance • but it is no good' unless-the velvet is of excellent quality, Fix-yards of' velvet at 12s 6d a yard, and"silk : linings may be more than some mothers would care to give. Made up as a plain Princess frock, nothing, however, looks so well, and with lace collar and cuffs and a broad sash, black silk stockings, and satin shoes with silver buckles, it is the most artistic oosUiirio'for a little girl possible, and looks well at ojl times of the year. It is not to costly as it geeriis, as, when getting somewhat short, the addition of a flounce and now cuffs to the sleeves will make it quite wearable again. Children's dress is now a study, like everything else, taste having much improved ; but it' need not be a costly affair if taste and good management arc brought' to bear on it.—Tho Queen; . ' ;: . ' ''