Social Gossip.

Free Lance, Volume XIV, Issue 707, 17 January 1914, Page 16

Social Gossip.

By Christabel.

fS i HE wedding of Miss Eleanor Shand, H daughter of Professor Shand, . C.M.G., and Mrs. Shand, of Dun■edin, to Mr. George McLean, of Dunedin, took place last week in Timaru. The bride wore white charmeuse and ninon and some lovely rose-point lac© with a wreath and veil. Miss Elizabeth Shand was bridesmaid, and wore pink charmeuse, veiled in cream lacu and ninon, and a long blue sash; her hat was of grey, trimmed with the same • colour and lace. Mr. H. Law, of Dun•edin, was the best man. Among the guests were Mrs. Walter Shand (Wellington), wearing black charmeuse with! lace and ninon and a picture hat, and ' JVlr. and Mrs. Prank McLean (Wellington> the latter wearing white silk with .a ;lace overdress and' a black hat, with touches of white and heliotrope. : * # * * Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Russell and their "family have taken the Day's Bay House . Annexe for the the summer. * * * * A propos of the coming new season, an English correspondent "writes interestingly on the aut- •> limn • fashions: -—"It is velvet, despite many rivals," she says, "that is carrying all before it here. Not necessarily always alone, being frequentliy allied with broche, moire charmeuse, and even cloth. But;it is the note of simplicity that impresses one. Little tailor-mades of velvet for the mornings, rather severe, but very chic, are most coveted just &ow. The coats to these either button right up to the neck at one side, finishing there with, a straight ■collar of fur, or else have the fronta cut away to show a straight long waist•coat of brocade, when there will probably be thrown across the back—low •down in truly barbaric manner, rather

reminiscent of a small hearth rug —a whole fox skin, two small paws meeting . in tentative embrace in front. There you have a thumb-nail sketch of the elegante of the moment in walking attire. # * »• * "For a reception gown there is a combination of brocade and velvet on petunia shades. The draped skirt of the latter is slightly lighter than the velvet, which forms _a loose fitting Russian blouse, the tunic being very full and ample, a contrast to the clinging draperies of the skirt. Notable details of the scheme are the long transparent sleeves, finished at the wrist with up and down vandyke frills of lace, and the sash draped round waist and hips is of brocade. Needless to say, shoes of brocade and silk hose are alike toned to the scheme: For this harmony of ensemble is the true insignia of the perfectly turned-out woman." « # tf « Shining examples to us as needlewomen are the ladies of the Royal Family. The Queen, for instance, is notably skilled in all sorts of plain and useful work, and many articles made by her own hands are to be seen at the sales of work in which she takes an interest. In this respect . she is closely followed by Princess Mary, who manages to find time for- an immense amount of plain needlework for the poor. The Duchess of is said to be & genius at artistic embroidery; N and Princess Henry of Batteriberg is a remarkably neat sempstress. Queen Alexandra does a little crochet work and knitting, in which respect she follows Queen Victoria, who, on more than one occasion, was photographed at work,. presumably by way of setting a good example. * » # * . Mr. Brodie has taken a house in Au-rora-terrace. His marriage to Miss May Moss will take place in April. * * * * A friend who has been visiting Paris drops me a line on the much discussed Tango: —"There are two camps in Paris." she writes, "those who dance the Tango and those who do not. The Tangoiats, from their point of "view, are those who are taking all the joy out of life, and they are genuinely sorry for those who do not share their pleasure in the dance. It must not be imagined that only young people indulge in this new drawing-room sport, for there are no more 'wall-flowers,' discontented or resigned elderly matrons who sit in gilded hired chairs into the small hours of the morning, looking forward to the happy relief of supper. These quondam

.'wall-flowers,' who have become slim and dress like young girls, have also been taking lessons m the Tango from one of the captivating professors, and, strange to say, they find partners too. * * # ♦ "The Tango professor has taken the place of the skating master in the once fashionable rinks, and if the _ costume worn by the former is not so elaborate, it attracts by the graceful cut of the black coat," "In England, too," adds my correspondent, "the Tango has replaced bridge as a pastime both in town and country, in so far as the younger members- of the community are concerned. London hostesses are clubbing together to hold little gatherings at each other's 'houses, at which the fascinating dance is practised. It is also no uncommon thing to find an instructress installed in a country house for a shooting oarty! the members of which devote the long evenings to learning tEe Tango, instead of playing bridge."

Hats are always a fascinating feature of attire, so, although, it is midsummer, everyone will he only too eager to view -the first autumn models, and should the day he at all cloudy, doubtless some of these same models will appear at Trentham. on Cup Day. The new hats are all small, a real Toreador shape seems" first favourite, and they must be worn pulled down on the head. Crowns are without stiffening, well lined with cotton, so that the head fits into the crown nowadays. The effect is decidedly chic, when properly placed. * # * * As for trimmings, these are, nearly all attenuated and straight. Ostrich leathers ijO longer fall gracefully, they are • uncurled, • stand straight up, and are tied tightly until near the tip, when a little tuft is allowed to escape. I noticed in, one of our leading emporiums a small velvet hat of the new colour. Tete-de-Negre,' which is really very dark seal brown, was of velvet, a narrow feather mount of brown shaded to cream surrounding the crown and two attenuated feathers standing well up in front. When this is worn in the correct way, so that the upturned brim nearly covers the ears, it is extremely French in style. Another new colour is called "Giroflee," which is really almost a tomato red, and a model m this colour of broche velvet was trimmed with bows of ribbon edged with skunk fur. ' . . , * • * * * Flowers are being made of suede, and also of metal; in fact, you seem to be able to make them of anything that comes handy, but one of the most delightful features of the new millinery are the beautiful floral ribbons, of heavy satin with, patterns raised in velvet and in all sorts of beautiful colours, while very heavy moire and Ottoman silk ribbons in plain colours are being used. Most of the hats are of velours, there is a new almost felt-like velours and velvet, but some pretty models are of crepe de chene. A pretty example was one of all grey and another in deep rose colour with a mount of dark blue ostrich feather. Another pretty hat was of mustard coloured. satin, with feather trimming to match, lined with black under the brim, where two yellow roses nestled against the wearer's hair. * ' # # * Mr. and Mrs. Hiley have taken Miss Richmond's house in Hobson-street for a term, and will shortly take possession. * % - ■* ■ * * The members of All Saints' Church, Kilbirnie, met on Tuesday evening at the Hataitai Bowling Club's pavilion to say farewell to the Rev. E. Whitehouse, who has had charge, of the parish during the absence of the Rev. H. G. Blackbur ne. • Mr. G.' T. Taplin, on behalf of the parishioners, presented Mr. Whitehouse with a pair of field glasses. Dur-

ing the evening the choir sang several glees, and in addition items were given by the Misses Easson and Brown, and Messrs. Gaby and Lynex. Presentations have also been made to Mr. Whitehouse by the Choir of All Saints, and by the Hataitai Bowling Club. * * * * The most recent engagement I have heard of is that of Mrs. Macarthy, widow of the late Mr. T. G. Macarthy, to Mr. Walter Reid, son of Mr. and, Mrs. Nicholas Reid, of this city. The wedding will take place almost immediately. * * # * The marriage took place; in Melbourne just before the last mail left of Mr. > Charles A. Wenman, the J. C. Williamson Ltd. producer, to Miss Flossie Dickinson, the bright young Australian who has appeared, with success in. Clarke and Meyneu and J. C. Williamson productions. Mr. Wenman and his wife were the recipients of good wishes, and congratulations from, members of the profession in all parts of Australia, with whom they are. exceedingly popular. -* * * * Sir John and Lady Findlay are spending a holiday at Mount Cook, where Mr. and Mrs. J. Salmond are also stayThe engagement ie announced of Mr. Stanley C. Hunt, of the Justice Department, Wellington, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Hunt,, of Grey Lynn, Auckland, to Miss Myrtle Hathaway, eldest daughter of Mr. C. Hathaway, of Wellington.

Mr. and Mrs. W.. Kennedy ■ have taken Mr. Horatio Nelson's house, in Portland Crescent 1 for a year. They

will have their little grandchildren, staying with them while Dr. and Mrs. Wilson (Wanganui) are in England. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson and their family ar6 at present staying at Rona Bay. ■ ■ '* * * "* Miss Seddon accompanies Dr. andlilrs. Morice to Auckland. Dr. Morice'is attending the Medical Conference whichi is being held there. * * * * Miss Dorothy Wall, a clever ybumgi ' Wellington lady, who has been associated with Miss Violet Nelson in their own art studio, is shaking the dust of Wellington off. her trilbies" for Sydney. \ She. is a writer of children's fairy stories, illustrated by herself, and is a clever designer. Some of the designs in art cushions and curtains you may have notice ed in local art; shops are her work, and it is said she has earned quite a tidy little remuneration for these. She goes .to Sydney attracted by the prospect of "a wider field for her talent.