LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1180, 12 October 1894, Page 13

LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

From Our Own Correspondent. Eegekt street, August 18. The first novelty I have had the pleasure of sketching for my readers this week cun sists of the newest thing in bonnets for children. This shape is variously termed the poke, scuttle, and cottage, each variety being just slightly different, though in the main there is much of a muchness. It is really (as will be seen) simply a revival of the old coal-scuttle bonnet worn some sixty or seventy years back in the Prince Regent or George IV. days of fashion.

attempts that have been made to revive these shapes for their benefit, and with very good reason, but they seem likely to be received very favourably for children’s wear, being made in straw (chiefly), silk, {ace, and for the wee maids of tw T o or three —white satin. The model is of white crinoline straw, the brim lined with white lace, and trimmed with white satin ribbon and a few buttercups, fastened loosely with the bow on the top of crown ; white satin strings tying it on. Of ladies’ hats, the principal novelty to be seen just now is perhaps the large hats trimmed with a lace valance, hanging some two inches or so down from the brim. The large hats threaten to become colossal this summer. Some four years or so back, when the hats were piled up to fearful and wonderful heights, besides being fairly broad as well, the “ matinee hat “ was a terror known to all visitors to stage entertainments, which, though sufficiently maddening to the occupants of the upper seats in the house, drove those in the stalls, and especially the humbler pittites, almost beside themselves. It is much to be hoped, therefore, that ladies ■ will have the consideration to keep the ' coming enlarged edition for promenade or driving occasions. My second sketch is a pretty method of wearing a blouse. As these bodices bid fair to reign quite as triumphantly this summer as last, a little ingenuity is desirable to the end of making some

variety in the wearing of what appears to have become a national institution. The one in question is made of a pretty delaine of pale pink, with a small black outline flower, over which comes the quite short Zouave or Bolero jacket, in black velvet, edged by a narrow jetting, and caught across the bust by jetted buttons and cords. A black velvet waistband and jetted buckle finish the waist of this blouse, the sleeves of which are bishopshaped. This sketch also shows one of the new valanced hats referred to above. Our third illustration is a design for a stylish and thoroughly useful tailor-made gown in a brown and white tweed mixture with a check running through it and tufts. The skirt is perfectly plain, and the coat is worn over a smart little waistcoat of white drill, with a shirt collar and renat red tie.

Drill will be a very favourite material this summer, both in blue, white and fawn. Crepon, also, of endless variety, and lawns, will be much in demand. Shorter sleeves to dressy gowns, and delicate lace ruffles to the wrists will be moves in fashion this season, calling considerable attention to the hands. Though few can be so keenly sensitive as the

blind hero of Lover’s poem, who recognised his love after twenty years by feeling her hand, hands are extremely characteristic of their owners, almost as much so in fact as their faces. For Honeymoon Couples. A young girl’s travelling cloak of grey foulard dotted with black is fitted behind, and loose and double-breasted in front, with large smoked pearl buttons. Over this is a large fancifully-cut collar elongated on each side so that it falls in a long drapery over the sleeves. Gentlemen’s travelling dress, according to the latest French authority, is composed of grey trousers, black cutaway coat, white duck vest, white duck gaiters and satin folded tie. Roselle.