London Fashions.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 993, 13 March 1891, Page 5

London Fashions.

(moil ora SPECIAL COP-RESPONDENT.) London, January 16. I have been trying to calculate when this letter will reach New Zealand, and what sort of weather yon are probably having. But as it is quite impossible for me to decide whether you are enjoying an Indian summer, or whether chill autumn evenings have overtaken you, I must just chance the costumes I send being appropriate or the reverse.

The first sketch is one of the prettiest little bonnets for autumn wear I have seen. It is a fawn-coloured felt shape, the crown being something the shape of a Greek cap, or Turkish * Fez,’ though lower, being about three inches deep. The brim is made of two rows of fawn-coloured velvet pleating, on the top of which is a bordering or heading of bronze passementerie. Three fawncolonred * tips’ are placed gracefully towards the back of the crown, and narrow, bronzecoloured velvet strings are crossed under the curia of hair at the back as we have before described, and brought round to tie under the left cheek. Pale fawn colour is still popular, and where the wearer has moderately good colouring of hair and complexion, it is very becoming j but it is not a judioious tone to ohooße for very pale or indefinite looking wearers unless some richer and deeper hue Is oombined with it, such as the bronze In this model, a deep grenat red, or rich green, Gold embroidery or passemea-

terie is also a relief to the flatness of the tint where the natural colouring requires assistance in the garments chosen.

A very stylish little jacket is shown in sketch No. 52, for promenade or afternoon wear, of pale sage green French cloth, with loose fronts. It Is piped all round, has a high medloi collar, and at the top is fastened by tabs out out of the doth, fastened by Bmokod pearl buttons. With this is also sketched one of the pretty tußcan white Btraw hats, now so fashionable, trimmed with red and green autumn leaves and berries.

The three quarter length jaokets should be avoided as far as possible by short, stout figures, as they appear to detract from the height. I thought them very unbecoming when I first saw them, but I am getting used to them now, though I cannot say I like the style. 1 promised you another evening dress. Here it is, and I hope you will agree with me that it is a very pretty one. It is also remarkably suitable for the extremely cold weather we still have, when it has been very difficult to prevent uncovered arms from looking blue. Short, puffed sleeves, or merely the frou-frou ruche could be substituted foi the long ones.

The dress in question is in pale amber silk or beDgaline as to bodice and plain skirt, the sleeves, back drapery, froufrou ruche round skirt, and loose chiffon of throat and front bodice being of cream coloured Indian muslin. Filigee gold ornaments would look well worn with this stylish dress, should the wearer be possessed of Buch. An advantage many would find in the design of this gown would be the high neck and long sleeves, for where there is susceptibility in chest and lungs to cold, indiscretion is a mild term to apply to Buch a proceeding as wearing low and sleeveless dresses, though many madly do it, and often pay the penalty with dangerons illnesses, or their lives. My fourth sketch may be of use to brides, as it represents the travelling dress of a yonng lady just about to set forth on her honeymoon.

Tills very ohio oostume is made of porcelain blue cloth, trimmed with steel bead embroidery on the bodice and round the hem of the skirt. Beading is still a good deal worn. The dainty little toque is composed of blue velvet, with bird’s wings. Roselle.