LONDON FASHION NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13453, 1 June 1907, Page 6 (Supplement)

LONDON FASHION NOTES.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ' f! London, April 19. e A new use has been found for straw, 1 namely, it is used for waistbelts. Some of j s 'th© straw belts have plaited into them j stripes of colour; others are v of the true a\ straw.'shade, with ends and. buckles cov-; I s ered with tussore. Another use has been i: found for straw, in the formation of bucks' les and ornaments for hats. Large medal- j • ' lions of the softest straw obtainable, worked in floss silk or gold thread, in the e form of a tiny detached flower, and edged J frith a" narrow straw galon, are used in-j .'stead of buckles by many milliners, their .! purpose being to hold the large marabout or ostrich feathers in place, the. emi broidery giving a -certain relief -to I the one-colour scheme. Although the ; , majority of these are worked on <"! straw' the same colour as the hat, there I -are many examples of some pretty con- • i trasts. notably that of a pale blue straw f j medallion worked with pink and silver, -and used on a black" hat. Again, an- • jother example of the straw medallion is I Sj that worked out in coloured beads, the >i whole surface of the straw being covered! if with bead • buckles designed- in the same; 11 way, and bordered, with a fancy, edging, of I "'straw. It is pointed out that another relief 'afforded to the all-black hat is represented! I by a narrow edging of tapestry ribbon, designed in a soft, dull Gobelin blue,, with an M embossed pattern of flowers in faded shades. A charming effect is gained when the brim of the hat is caught to the ciown ! at one side with a little flat bow of this ' description, while in other instances a ' j mammoth bow of the ribbon is placed im■i mediately in front of the hat, stretching ' 1 across the brim from side to side. Chains ' | of gold roses are used to encircle some of • i the latest hats for summer wear, made of 'i point d'esprit net or silk fillet. Indeed, '! gossamer-like millinery is quite lairing the M place of the straws trimmed with velvet, 'j which appeal 10 people in the early days i of spring. i That very useful invention, hardly yet i two years old, v the blouse-suit, seems to ■ have become very popular, especially for i morning wear. It certainly is practical and economical. It consists of a fairly • plain skirt with an unlined, or partly un- ; lined, blouse of the same material. It "is i usually made of* thin fabrics, and as a ; rule is not at all elaborate. For morning [ wear and'for outdoor pursuits it is highly recommended for comfort. Checks and stripes are favoiued for these suits. The short skirt frequently has a deep hem, i headed with a group of three narrow . tucks; a square pelerine is simulated by a double line of narrow lace, which, start- , ing from either side of the waist, outlines the front panel to the knees and ■ there turns off sharply and surrounds the . skirt. There will be plenty of these . blouse-suits made in cotton materials a lit- [ tie later on, ,ind although the primary - idea of these is that they should be easily , washed or cleaned, a few will be worn in . silk, which, in the darker shades, is really , Very.-; useful for outdoor wear. : With re- ', ference to the shorter skirt-,'; information ' tomes■ from Paris that the French people , are emulating; the,, Americans having ; their afternoon tailor-made ;uiits with the!. shorter skirts, and they, are wearing these j : with blouses of elaborate lace, and with , the smartest description of millinery. The , train is losing its prestige, though the neat Parisian makes up for the graceful management of her train by the charm of her shoes, which are always dainty and -"well cut and well fitting. . There is a"] fancy \ just now for shoes of gray antelope, with . vamps of black patent-leather. These are , intended to be worn with the gray and '. black, or black and white striped tweeds . of the moment. • i • ~~

A SCARF PELERINE.

The scarf pelerine sketched and suggested for a frock of voile is rather a nice addition Ito a simply-made frock. . A wide lace insertion, if possible, should be used, with the I velvet border either matching or prettily ' contrasting with the frock that it accomI panics. Either ribbon or piece-velvet will do for the purpose. A black voile frock might have the scarf of black lace bordered with green velvet, or else velvet of the vivid solferiuo pink. Then the scarf might be of : coloured lace and velvet to -match, the whole j matching or contrasting 'with the frock I worn.

A SMART STYLE FOR SERGE. J The coat sketched is of dark blue serge, iof a very fine soft quality, and the em'broidery on the front is carried out ir ' fine strappings—barely a-quarter of an incl: 'wide — the same material. This embroidery demands much careful manipulation or •j the part of the worker, the strappings, aftei ' having traced the design, being pressed verj jat. The serge suggesting a waistcoat it 'front is decked with half a dozen fancy but 1 tons, and through a slit is drawn a tabn o: !old-rose velvet embroidered in dull gold anc ; (silver thread, matching the small collai |that peeps above the neck of the coat. Tin | turned-back cuffs to the sleeves are also o embroidered velvet, and the vest and collar band are of rucked Brussels net. At t'm back the coat is embroidered in harmoin j with, the •■>. . •