LADIES' COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9142, 25 August 1888, Page 4 (Supplement)

LADIES' COLUMN.

SMART GOWNS.

Beaded nets and tulles are still much used for evening gowns ; their principal use is to form tabliers and front draperies. Some of the newest materials are delicious and delicately-coloured cr§pe de chinos. These sometimes form the entire gown, with the exception of the bodice, which may be of velvet, watered silk, striped brocades, or satin. This style of fabric has brought in an extensive and expensive style of artificial flower decoration, and they are brought to such a high pitch of perfection that they resemble nature to the highest degree. Large tropical flowers promise to be great favourites, especially when they are only worn on the skirt and a large long spray on the bodice. hen the bodice is edged with a garland, much smaller flowers have to be used, unless there is a large and small species of the same flower. Besides the above all the new superb brocades are to be employed for ball and dinner gowns, relieved with crepe de chine or tulle. Gold and silver also enters largely into evening dress decorations of more elaborate description. The cub given below shows an

BALL GOWN. evening gown made up in the latest style and of the newest, materials. It is composed of shot grey and pink watered silk. This forms the bodice and demi-train. The petticoat front is in the palest shade of pink satin draped with pink tulle. At the foot, between the silk and its diaphanous covering, is arranged a garland of pink roses, massed in a careless manner, as though they had fallen where they are placed. The bodice, which is simply finished with a point back and front, has a bertha of pink roses and buds. Sombre, quiet fabrics will be worn out of doors for some months to come, and browns, greys, fawns, blues, greens, &c., will be the chosen colours. On Festive occasions, no doubt, handsome gowns will be seen, in which silk and velvet will play an important part. Good ideas can, however, often be taken from such costumes to be worked up in plain woollen materials. One of the prettiest and most original gowns is given in the last sketch. It is

FAILLE AND CREPE GOWN. made of biscuit-coloured faille ; the skirt in front forms a double fan pleat, edged with grey marabout, or rather fringed-out ruched silk resembling marabout. Over these two pleats fall two breadths of material scarcely draped, and rolled under in front. The jacket is charming, showing a lovely chemisetee of white silk muslin restrained at the waist by a drapery of white silk tying in a knot drapery on the left side. The dog-collar and parements arg of pleated silk muslin. This jacket would look charming in velvet, which, in a neutral tint, could accompany many skirts of soft and delicate materials.—Australasian.

The following remarkable story is taken from the New York World — Some time ago Mrs. Langtry found, to her great regret, when she decided to take up her residence in America, that the climate was far more trying to the complexion than the even temperature and the moist atmosphere of England. Before long she was horrified and disgusted to discover that the smooth silkiness of her skin was becoming dry and shrivelling into slight wrinkles about the eyes and mouth. She sat down promptly and wept, and after the due and natural overflow of feminine distress, dried her eyes and began to search for some unguent, some mollifying cream which would help her to withstand the ravages of an unfriendly air. Nostrum after nostrum was tried and thrown aside in disgust. While she was half-heartedly experimenting with a certain emollient procured by grating cocoanut, twisting it tightly in a thin muslin cloth, and rubbing the face with a white cream obtained in this way, she suddenly discovered what was meant to end her woes. A wandering American who had lived many years in Persia, and had lately succumbed to the promptings of home-sickness, called, and drifted into talk of the manners and customs of that Eastern land. Incidentally he mentioned that the Persian women ward off wrinkles by applying uncooked veal to their faces, and no sooner had he shut the front door than one of the footmen was on his way to the nearest meat-shop. There he procured several broad, thin strips of veal, and Mrs. Langtry, giving orders for 'not at home' to everyone, retired to her chamber, disposing herself on the lounge, and, with her countenance entirely covered with veal, allowed herself to be read to sleep by her maid. Ever since then, she has, throughout all her travels, gone through this performance twice a week, and finds her skin unfurrowed by any new insignia of the passing years."