A VISTA OF FASHION AT RANDWICK.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11217, 6 May 1899, Page 5

A VISTA OF FASHION AT RANDWICK.

By ' Thalia,' in Sydney Mail.

Fashion is a series of surprises. We do not guess to-day the mood, the pleasure, the power of to-morrow when we are building onr clothes. With all the ,<i^pnthpsiaem of a wonld-be expert I journeyed to Rand wick on Easter Monday to discern what novelties were in the lead

for onr autumn and winter wear. And < .-, even-tbqugh I.had to fight the elements, '-** so-to'-jfeßk™ for -trained and showered from early morn until after, the last race

— I discovered muoh that was charming

and throughout a luxurious, tendeDoy G\ that, boded ill for; the economical dresser. Certainly simplicity ,- dashed its bell through all, bnt with such a variety of eccentricities that it beoame almost diffi j-CUlt tounderstand Its original, intention. To be the happy ' possessor of a tailormade gown is one thing,* but to have it made as the oraole demands is a rose of

quite another color. So let me at once beg of all yon. womankind to dispose 4 „,.o£yq*_r^e.o*A_anjtßkirt,\ at least if any of yon wonld olaim an up-to-date appearance. Madame la Mode's ediot went forth on Monday that the tailor gown was undoubtedly her premiere choix, but fashioned and braided and decorated

with styles so novel that I could at once , r ßeer; its. jeucceßg could only be assured 'ft if; left to the hands of expert tailorr, ijTwo perfeot examples of this picture (..were claimed by' two reoent travellers, 13 the Misses Moses (Ejde), eaoh in them* (4 selves models of what a Bond Street $ tailor can achieve. The elder's ohoice i 'exhibited its charm- npon an indigo bine • "■ciotbjHfinely edged with white braid, or g rather oording, the stirt, cut In narrow falling over the favorite Clad of of the hour, ' the cloth flounce.' Th« coat bodice wbb short, very short, and fashioned with a narraw basqoe

fitted into the figure like a glove, and with no decoration hut a few rounded buttons. this was "a fogue'ol ; i_rqubise-bTue grebe, a daßh ' of dark blue velvet, and one blue quill. Bliss Elite Moses's taste was. equally prominent in a ooßtume. of tan . smooth- , faced cloth, also boasting of a olioging skirt and coatee of tbe same, completed br a hat ., of,, brilliant ..cornflower.- blue Btraw, severely .trimmed with a' wide oabbage bow of the same shade. Another dress authority, also a reoent traveller, Mrs'Lassetter, jattraotedjmuoh admiration io her blaok gown of broad tail the Bkirt muohly appliqued with Its own material, while the croat opened over a lace vest which pleaded for superiority by IU chic roll-over collar lined with a lavender braiding of chenille. ■ And I am sure yonr envy would bave equalled mine had you se.in the toque that completed this connection—made solely of lavender grebe and a few wings— a novelty that, although absolutely new to us, is already in London slowly fading from the patronage of the smart set. Tbe sudden cold and wet made almost everyone present don blaok attire, brightened by the best hat and tbe wisp of lac. so nbiqultioue this sear-on. The general glance of "The Stand" during a shower of rain Boon let me discover that '• mixed meltons and Venetians were in high favour for what is .known as a severe costume, that one or two Princesß gownß were iv strong evidence, while the imported oosinme bodices, almost one and all, were out at tbe neok in a rounded manner— like our baby frocks of Borne 25 years ago— Bhowing either vests or yokes of pleated, tncked glace silk or softly-folded lace, the latter, perhaps, being the prettier. Only one red coatee did my fanoy feast on — with a, dark-red plaid skirt, and a hat all red —worn by one of onr prettiest society girls, who boro its brilhaney with distinct success.