Ladies' Column.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 66, 15 September 1894, Page 1 (Supplement)

Ladies ' Column.

«« [ Edited by " Clio." | The Editress will be glad to answer any questions pertaining to fashions or cookery. FASHION NOTES. Vests and blouses are prettier than ever, and the most charming combinations of colour are seen. The latest idea is to employ fine spotted muslin for full vests. White looks charmingly fresh and cool, especially when Heen under a grey coat, and the ecru - tinted muslin combines wonderfully well (says a writer in a Home paper) with greon and the various heliotrope tiut« which are still worn Another very pretty vest is made by drawing 1 piecelace perfectly flat over a tightly -fitting silk bodice. Ecru lace over white satin looks exceedingly nice, but is, of course, rather dressy. Similar lace over coloured silk looks delightful, as also does white lace over yellow euk. When the vest is composed of full folds of silk, fine black lace, from four to five inches deep, is gathered on just below the collar. Apricot silk looks better with this touch of black than when trimmed in any other way, and is more becoming to the wearer. Accordion-pleated silk vesta look very pretty. They are generally finished at the throat with a bow and two lace-edged ends of the same material. Good Surah silk makes nice vests ; it is generally arranged in pleats crossing slightly in front, and ending in a '•mall rosette to the left side of the waist., but placed sufficiently near the front not to interfere with the set of the coat. Black moire is still immensely popular, but already a whisper has gone forth that its successor in to bo black satin, very thick and supple in texture. However, there is no doubt that moire will hold its own for some very considerable time yet. Skirt trimmings are very varied, yet it is hardly possible to find anything "that is absolutely new. The ch.'ef point just now is that the trimming should be narrow, and it must be placed at the extreme edge. From two to three inches is the favourite width, and lace-insertion the favourite trimming. On light and bright-coloured gowns the lace is usually laid over the material ; on dark stuffs bright silk is laid under it— that is, when black lace is being used. If the lace be either cream or ecru, it is generally laid over light silk, the effect being very delicate, and, at a little distance, suggestive of embroidery. Lace and ribbon are the most popular trimmings. Deep yellow lace is very little seen, the light shades proving so much more harmonious. When lace is used on the bodice it is generally applied as a yoke, or drawn smoothly over the whole of the tightfitting bodice of material. Sashes for evening wear are frequently of chiffon, but on day-gowns they are almost invariably of moire. Ribbon about three inches wide is generally used, the two long ends starting from four short loops arranged lit the back in rosette fashion. When wide ribbon is used it is tied into two loops only, and those should be about six inches deep, while the ends themselves must reach to the he.n of the gonn. Rather a novel way of finishing off narrow sash - ends is to tie them each into a knot three or four inches from the edge, and catch them down to the skirt, so that when on they hang three or four iuches apart. In this case the ends of the ribbon should have a fringe of jet, or a frill of lace. A new variety of nock-band with bow and ends, which has had Bnch wonderful popularity this year, is made of very lightcoloured satin, covered with cream guipure lace. This tie can be worn alone, or with black capes trimmed with similar lace. Smart mantles for matrons are being made to reach well below the waist. Prom a yoke of cream guipure, or of black moire, is hung a deep flouuce of fine black lace. This should be gathered over the shoulder, set into back and front in three box-pleats, and allowed to hang at its own sweet will. The yoke is bordered by a box-pleated frill of narrow lace headed with jet, which makes a pretty, dressy looking finish to this comfortable garment. Orepon, which appears in such a variety of makes, that we might have a couple of frocks for every day in the week, and yet have no two alike, is decidedly first favourite for all dressy gowns. One of the prettiest makes is rough and rugged looking, for all the world like the bark of some ancient tree. This particular make is generally denominated copeaux. But in black, a still more orinkled make has just been brought out, and *Ms, at a very t-hort distance, looks almost like astraohan. although the surface is not really loose and fluffy. For a chillyday this is particular good, as the rough appearance gives the impression of warmth. On all the woollens of this style, black satin will be found the most effective trimming.