London Fashions.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 994, 20 March 1891, Page 5

London Fashions.

{from our special correspondent.) London, January 22. Though very little jewellery is worn in the streets, yet the jewellers’ shops abound with Cleopatra trinkets, belts, buckles, bracelets, oollars, brooches, and medallions formed after the Egyptian ; the lotus, the iris and the lily entering into the general design. Amulets abound and soli better than anything else, with the single exception of the bracelet. The world seems to be snake mad, and the coiling serpent in braided silver and scaly gold made for the arms is ample for the neck. Of course this is a very transient fashion, owing its popularity solely to the play of ‘Anthony and Cleopatra,’ which has been soch a success. Another pretty autumn bonnet has taken my fancy, and I send yon a sketch of it herewith. The bands resting on the hair are of a peculiar shade of light eleotric blue silk, whilst the velvet is ol much darker electric blue, the narrow ribbon velvet strings being of the latter oolour. Some very exquisite forget menota give a finishing touch to this charming bonnet. An electric blue silk dress with steel bead passementerie is worn with this chapeau, and a wrap in military cloth, faced with electric blue velvet, in the new cape shape, completes the toilette.

Tea gowns are as much worn as ever. It is auoh a useful fashion that I hope we may long retain the custom. I saw such a pretty OBe the other afternoon. It was of olivegreen cashmere, the full front was of coral pink liberty silk, pleated at the neck and falling to the feet, merely confined at the waist by a girdle of embroidered gold. By the by, I have not yet told you of this artistic and elegant novelty, have I ? They are worn for tea or evening gowns and are made of gold or silver tinsel, the ends reaching to the hem of the skirt. These as yet are expensive for limited pocket money, but the clever and industrious with their needles can easily make a substitute which would look equally well, if not better; namely, to cover stiff white muslin with silk, the colour of the dress,- about two inches wide, and embroider a design down the centre in tinsel, gold, or silver, or flowers or leaves in coloured silks, according to the requirements of the dress, of course. A design would look more the original of the two.

My seoond Bketch shows a stylish walking costume in one of the much-worn light Cheviot checks. The skirt is plain and straight as usual ; the small jaoket has straight loose fronts (fastened by a ‘fly’ fastening on left side), and dark green velvet sleeves, medici collar, and tie of ribbon velvet at throat. A dark green velvet toque, with marguerite daisies, goes well with this pretty toilette. I was present at a gay wedding the other day, and will give you a description of the dresses which may be useful to you. The bride who looked simply superb in her wedding gown, wore the orthodox white duohesse satin, was plainly made, with a long court train edged with fur. The only other relief was a sash.of white silk fringed with silver, and some exquisite old Brussels lace, which is a treasured family heirloom, and serves for each bride of the house in turn. The eight bridesmaids, five of whom are sisters of the bride, wore dresses of soft white silk, with folded bodices and ribbon sashes, fastening at the Bide. Quaint little fiohus of white *hifon t and large Rembandt hats of white felt with long white plumes and rose velvet bows and strings completed these charming gowns. The Duches of St Albans, the bride’s mother, wore an exquisite gown of pale heliotrope satin, brocaded all over with a design

of flowers in dull gold, and with a dainty little bonnet of dull gold orftpe de Chine, A lovely dress of gray cashcashmere, very plainly made, the only decoration being panels and full sleovea of rich brocado was made by Viscountess Malden, and another dress very much admired was that worn by Lady William Nevill, of pale green corded silk, trimmed with black and gold, and a sweet little black and gold bonnet, and a long cook’s feather boa. The bride’s going away cos turns was of darkgreen velvet, trimmed with gold passementerie and a oravat of point de gaze. Tie hat of green velvet to match.

My last sketch is a natty costume, useful for every day wear. Prune coloured habit cloth is the material chosen for this gown, braided with black as to Bkirt and overjacket, and having a prune coloured silk blouse and black velvet collar and Swiss waist belt. This i 3 a becoming colour to most people, as well as being the shade de rigueur just now, but care must be taken in choosing a nice deep tint ; some shown are so very ugly and inartistic. Cocks’ plume boas are the latest novelty In throat wraps, and they have a very full and handsome appearance. For evening wear peacocks’ feathers are often mixed with the cock’s dark green ones. A simple and useful little invention I noticed the other day called the * Chic ’ dress suspender, for lifting the skirts sufficiently (no v they are all worn quite on the ground at the baok), to prevent soiling when it is wet or dusty, without the inconvenience of holding up with the hands. I describe it as likely to prove useful to my readers. It consists of three small flat steels sewn under the top of skirt, eaoh being provided with brass hooka and loops ; these latter being lifted on to the companion hooks above, raise the skirt gracefully and securely. It is a good idea, being quite unobservable, and worth the investment to savo the skirts being stained with mud and dust, than which few things look worse, or spoil a dress more, to say nothing of the natty shoes and stockings beneath that suffer with the skirt. —: Roselle.