LADIES' COLUMN

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 107, 6 May 1916, Page 11

LADIES' COLUMN

FASHION NOTES

Some interesting notes on blouses and hats are taken from exchanges as follow - —

As yet there appears to be no indication of -the return of the costume dress, and the blouse bodice still reigns supreme. By "costume" I mean a boned affair which flourished exceedingly some years back, and which was considered the acme of smartness. Whalebones are things of the past, so far as dresses are concerned,' and the loose,. semi-fitting blouse is still designed as a suitable accompaniment to skirts of all kinds. No .matter what material is used, whether it be velveteen or chiffon, it is still correct to fashion either into blouses. Among the latest little novel touches is the lacing of black ribbon velvet, which is a feature. The touch of black velvet is always becoming, and as a decorative finish it is never out of date.

There is no doubt that blouses are always fascinating. For winter wear the shirt blouses will be once more seen, these carried out in a soft make of glace silk. One style is cut on rather straight lines, the fullness of' the fronts set into fine tucks from the shoulders downwards. The fronts are double-breasted, and the fastening is accomplished by means of a row of buttons and buttonholes, reaching from the neck midway to the waist; A high neckband with two points standing out beneath each ear gives the 'finishing touch. These little points are considered very now. They lighten a dark blouse most effectively. The prettiest perhaps are those which are carried out in the finest •of lawn, and hemstitched with a narrow hem.

Castles in the air' defines the height of some of the liats. At the same time, there is a controversy about height of crowns and width of brims. Each idea, it is learned, is finding much favour. Width .of brim means little or no crown, while height of crown means next to no brim. ' For some unexplained reason mistletoe has obtained a firm hold as a trimming. It is applied as a touch, and, as one witty milliner outs it, "instead of clinging to the oak, it clings to the toque." Happily, no liberties have been taken with its colouring, and, although its place is untraditional, its beautiful green is maintained. The texture hat and toque are the first thought, as 'there is little or no straw. The mingling of navy-blue and grey is universal. Watteau hats and bonnets are termed bewitching styles, and a large round hat not unlike a big sailor shape is of Chinese suggestion, on account of its crossbar design in golden-yellow and china-blue. The veil is worn in three ways, just past the mouth, to the' point of the chin, and hanging all round the face to rest on the shoulders and chest. The fashion of drawing the veil firmly round the neck, to be eventually pinned securely to the back of the hair, is not known with the new fashions.

As far as can be gauged, the jacket that is to follow the present style of full-skirted coat is that belonging to the 18.30 period, for they are short and fit slightlv, and have. the wide sleeves of that 'time. These jackets are, generally speaking, made of plaid taffeta, outlined with a narrow pleating of plain taffeta, in the gronnd colour of the plaid.