LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1141, 12 January 1894, Page 14

LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

From Our London Correspondent. Regent Street, November 18. The boat-shaped hats, which came into favour so conspicuously since their introduction as items of the Duchess of York’s trousseau, are decidedly becoming to most faces; more so where the hair is worn on the forehead a little, than when quite plain, which applies to many other hats, for that matter, though more especially, perhaps, to those with turned up or very bi-oad brims. A mass of hair, ala Whitechapel, is of course, the worst possible style now, even for quite young girls; but a few short curls (not too thick) are the greatest improvement both to face and head gear, whether hat or bonnet. For travelling, seaside, or country wear, these hats are extremely suitable, as there is nothing about them to go out of order, the trimming of these purpose being of the simplest description, and with the assistance of one of the many pretty net veils to be had now, so easily worn with this shaped hat—you may return from all-dav expeditions as neat and respectable looking as when you started out, which advantage is no inconsiderable one, for all women who care for their appearance know the extreme annoyance of returning from long outings conscious of being a dismal wreck of the morning’s festive sallying forth.

The simple example of a boat-shaped hat forming the subject of my first fashion note this week is a fine dark blue straw, the trimming consisting only of a scarf of blue and white striped silk, twisted round and brought up in three smart ends towards the left side. Gold braid is immensely to the fore just now, especially yachting and seaside gowns, though it does not, on the face of it, appear a suitable trimming for the purpose. A very stylish costume, sketched as our second illustration, consists of navy blue serge oloche skirt, jacket to waist, with a full skirt attached (as clearly shown), trimmed with three rows of gold braid, and worn over a fine white serge waistcoat, with flat pearl buttons. With this gown is worn one of the broad brimmed sailor hats, trimmed with a band, with loops and ends of broad navy blue ribbon velvet. The third design shows a handsome and original empire tea gown, in black and pale pink satins, with jet passementerie trimming. The yoke, lower sleeves, bust, and quite plain under-robe, are of the pale pink, the whole of the rest of the gown being of the black satin.

At the seaside, bathing suits are easily made and it is much nicer for the children to have their own. Needless alarm however is often felt for those hired. Salt air and salt water are excellent disinfectants and one runs little risk. An old-time bather tells me that she finds alpaca nre-? ferable to the orthodox flannel, It does not cling and is lighter to wear. The historical sea-serpent appears to be at a disoount, and in his ever-obliging place we are having a series of more or less absurd scares. The first of these alarms is that we are to have a revival of the fashion of white

stockings, one which will meet with desperate protest from all women who pride themselves at all on pretty feet and .ankles : for the daintiest of shoes cannot compensate for the extremely unbecoming •effect of whito stockings.

The second scare is a persistent rumour that “mutton chop" whiskers are to be revived by the opposite sex; and with fear and trembling, each particular Tom, Dick, or Harry of our own is pictured as a victim to this hideous hirsute fashion. Having, after much fluttering and fright, however, escaped the crinoline bogey, we shall, probably. be equally safe from these fresh threats of revivals. One cannot help noting that fashion has to a great extent abolished the landmarks between youth and age. A woman —no matter what her appearance—ought to be clad in conformity with her years. Yet, of course, the answer will be that if a woman verging on forty happens to look so well in a large hat with flowers on it that she would pass for thirty, there can be n 9 just cause for her to make herself hideous and fifty in a middle-aged bonnet. Roselle.