FASHION NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 54, 1 September 1894, Page 1 (Supplement)

FASHION NOTES.

A present caprice of fashion (says a writer in a Home paper) shows a bodice in velvet with large full sleeves of the largest leg-o'-mutton shape, and a cape effect in silk forming points on the shoulders and very large box-pleats, while the centre of front shows still another pleat of the same kind between deep points reaching below the bust. The gown is in dark emerald green silk bengaline, with the waist in much darker velvet of the same tint, while the cape is in fawn-coloured satin surah, with a very delicate arabesque in black and gold. The shape of the skirt is close on the hips, and at the hem very flaring, with no trimming whatever except a stitching of black silk and five raws of fine black silk braid carried up to about three inches above a wide hem. All coats that are meant either for walking dresses or visiting are more or less long in the skirt portion, and more often decidedly long than half-long. Braiding is very much scon on vests and yokes of handsome suits, and in an all-over design quite frequently. Lace of all kinds, and tecently of net worked with gold thread, and as often white and ecru as black, is immensely used on all colours. Very wide lapels are fashionable, arranged either in fluted pleats or straight. The boat-shaped ruffle at the tops of coats is worn extremely wide, and is at present more seen reaching out and lined with canvas or crinoline than fluted, so far as concerns walking jackets and coats, and this effect is also seen on many handsome capes which are made distinctly, while others moderately, to show the same effect at the top. Velvet is much worn in capes, coats, and jackets, and feather as well as fur trimming. The late fancy for bodices of a different fabric and colour from that seen in the skirt necessitates a fow remarks as to tho shapes and materials most effective for the purpose. Where tho skirt is of woollen, the bodice may be partly of velvet or of silk, or again, of satin, if either velvet or silk be combined with this last material, or, if meant for evening wear, net or piece -lace. Silk bodices aro so universally worn that it is scarcely necessary to say that they are seen with skirts of woollen, silk, gingham, and grenadine, challio, and cashmere. All kinds of material, whether of woollen or cotton, aro worn as skirts with the surah silk bodices, and havo been seen throughout the summer with bodices in linon, in mull, nainsook, and tho ueat striped flannels which make a good top for a travelling suit. A vory neat effect is found in a perfectly plain bodice of silk, with a jacket of the Zouave, Bolero, or Kgaro shape, and such a top suits all fabrics, so that, in citing bodices, the choice of this style is again recommended as a good one, for, if you have your silk bodice, you can change the shape of your jacket, wearing sometimes a Bolero, sometimes a Zouave or Figaro, and this change, with the varying of a striped to a plain skirt, gives the idea of a more extensive wardrobe than may actually be the case. Evening dresses show anew material called crepeline, and also chiffon and crepe-de-chine, as well as the pretty taffetas in two colours which are so much liked at present. A great favourite just now is canarycoloured taffetas striped with solid black, this being trimmed with blaok lace and fine jet.