LONDON FASHION NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15748, 24 October 1914, Page 3 (Supplement)

LONDON FASHION NOTES.

The always fascinating topic of blouses rrerits more than ordinary discussion at the beginning of a new season, and just now blouses are seen in so many new and attractive editions that it is worth while ] spending a little time over the contemplation of the latest models. All sorts of novel ideas, in fact, mark the new blousefashions, which may be charmingly simple or as elaborate as you please. The Magyar sleeve still flourishes on the daintier blouses, whi'.o the plainer ones usually possess ordinary shirt sleeves, drawn into more or less decoratively shaped cuffs; though these plain blouses also are made with Magyar sleeves. Tailored Blouses. The blouse for wearing with tailormades is no longer confined strictly to the plainer styles and made only of such materials as French flannel, delaine, and Jap. silk, but it is also rendered in chiffon, net and lace, and is as interesting as the dress-blouse itself. For the morning tailor-made, the correct accompaniment is a simple, well-cut shirtblouse of lawn, delaine, cotton crepon, or some such unpretentious material, but the afternoon costume is allied to a dainty blouse of ephemeral substance, presenting a dressy air. The blouse adapts itself to the occasion and practically unlimited are its possibilities. As usual, cream is the favourite colour for tailored blouses of flannel and delaine, and these are made with box-pleat fronts set with coloured buttons, much appreciation being shown for oval-shaped, coralcoloured buttons, that play a decorative part only or serve the purpose of actual fastenings. Large ball-buttons of pearl are also very fashionable. The new shirt-blouses, with small sailor collars and breast pockets, and sleeves cut in one with the blouses themselves, are typical of one of the most popular fashions, and are even developed in crepe de chine, in cream colour and in delicate pinks and blues, and also in a rich shade of cherry red. 'This latter colour strikes a splendid note in blouse fashions, and looks remarkably well against a coat and skirt of daTk blue serge. The cherry-red sailor blouse finds expression in crepon as well as crepe de chine. When made of narrow material, seams are introduced, on the shoulders, which are long and combine with them the tops of the sleeves, to w-hich the lower parts are joined with a tuck effect. Or the shoulder seams may continue the length of the sleeves and be outlined with tiny buttons. , Fashionable Tints. Printed crepon is generously employed in the sen-ices of the blouse, and tints that are fashionable for the same are biscuit, grey, and tan. Plain crepon in the hard-white tone of chalk, is also much in evidence in the interest of blouses, and when this is affected, the note of white may be repeated in the form of a hem-stitched lawn collar overlaying the neck of the costume coat. A white collar does wonders in giving a springlike air of freshness to a tailor-made coat. Jap. silk blouses of a tMSk, heavy quality, and white or cream-coloured, are useful fashions that are worn in change with crepon shirt-blouses, but these latter are newer and are seen in greater numbers this season. For shirt-blouses, , striped twill silk is also fashionable.

For the Tweed Suit.

Printed delaines, cottons and muslins, or voiles are used with dainty effect for blouses to complete coat and skirt costumes of tweed and serge, the special fancy just now being for rosebud designs. Scattered over with little rosebuds is a white-ground voile blouse with a frill of the same at the neck, and continuing down the front, and this is a style that is repeated in main- other pretty floral -fabrics. Where a frill at the neck is omitted, a turned-down collar of the blouse material will take its place, unless one of the fashionable Medici collars be affected. These, made of wired lace, or net, and mounted to a y,oke or vest, are detachable trifles that give a very dignified touch to a costume. They are slipped inside the necks of coats, and at once give an air of smartness.

A blouse that ' represents a prevailing fashion is made with the right front slightly overlapping the left and fastened with three large pearl buttons, after which it slants off towards the centre-front and joins the waist in a level line from tie neck- _ Another blouse, denoting the latest idea, is cut with a step-cojlar and revere, after the fashion of a man's coat.

A graceful tea, gown, with deep fichu of fine white muslin, caught at the waist with a buDCh of flowers.

One of the newest sports coats, which, could be made up in ratting tussore, or any light coating material*