LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1182, 26 October 1894, Page 14

LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

From Our Own Correspondent. Regent-street, September 1. At one of the very many “private views" of the picture galleries which I attended, I made some sketches of the most artistic toilettes for your benefit this season.

These functions are always at least happy hunting grounds for smart and original toilettes, and this spring’s invitation gatherings have- been no exception to this general rule. • My first sketch is an'elegant and picturesque little bonnet- I noticed at the Academy, in shape on the lines of an “ Evangeline cap Isaw several of these pretty shapes, and in - each case they proved becoming. The one sketched had a black net crown covered by jet passementerie. The cap piece turned back from the face, over the crown, was a velvet in a delicate shade of turquoise blue bordered by a narrow jetting; the strings were of turquoise ribbon velvet, and the bonnet pinned on by large jetheaded pins. A-charming jacket forms the subject of the second note! This was composed of black satin, the bodice and basque portion having an overlaying of thick black lace outlined in gold. Robespierre revers and turn-down collar were of the satin, and also the very full bishop sleeves, which were completed by full ruffles of the black arid gold lace. With this coat was worn a large black hat of drawn black chiffon, with an edging of black and gold, and groups of tea-roses. Another stylish gown- was of pale grey bengaline made with a rather novel arrangement of full under bodice and over skirt. The very large collar revers, and

| lining to bolero jacket* and shaped waistband and underskirt were of pink and

grey striped silk. The over skirt was piped round with the pale pink, and fastened half-way down on the left side by a mother o’-pearl clasp. A most becom-

ing little bonnet of white guipure lace

[ accompanied this dress, consisting of a small Marie Stuart crown, with butterfly at back ; blush roses and pink strings completing it. The “gift that some would gie us" would be an inestimable boon to some of those weird, unkempt specimens of picture viewers, who, with wild dishevelled hair, the largest hat procurable adorned with the most forlorn feathers and soiled and tattered flowers, and a liberal display of throat (frequently neither too well covered with flesh or too fair of skin), are supposed to be under the delusion that they represent the artistic element. This mysterious galaxy as usual appeared, though not, perhaps, so strong in numbers as of yore. Taffeta foulard is made for dust cloaks. These should give the effect of being made not for themselves, but to serve as a temporary covering, and promise of something more delicate underneath, and. for this reason such cloaks are more artistic draped like a half neglige than when fitted into painstaking seams. Roselle.