LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1189, 14 December 1894, Page 14

LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

I From Our Own Corrervondent. j Regent-street, October 13. There is a decided dash of-the clerical about the latest shape for large hats, a slight inclination to turn up on the part of the brim being the only difference in form between it and the dignified “shovel" affected by the shining lights rnf the Church. ' V Many of these shapes are made in- fine straws, the basin shaped crown' being white, with black brims, or the order reversed, lut most have a straw crown with lace brim. ‘ ' The model illustrated*was composed of a white straw crown with a .black lace brim, the inside of which had a thread of gold at intervals of about-an inch, drawn from inside crown to edge of brim ■, giving rather the effect of a halo in rays. The hat rested on a wreath of pink roses, and was trimmed with black lace fan, bows, pink roses and black ostrich tips. The

combination of black feathers and coloured flowers, always appears a mistake to me, but,it is particularly popular just now, especially tips and roses. When indulged in both flowers and feathers must be of the best and freshest, or there is a disastrous suggestion of the fearful and wonderful chapeau of the Whitechapel “ Donah." Barely, if ever, have prettier bonnets been shown than this summer; they are far more rational in size, though still small and neat in shape, and very many are the perfection of taste; though the loud and startling element continues rampant in many smart milliner’s windows and \ showrooms, there is still a section free fyom such vulgarity, and that section is particularly happy in its confections this season.. Some sweet little fancy , straw shapes specially fascinate, us, which combine most successfully with a group- of roses and filmy lace bows, either black or white.

One of the pretty dresses in the play ‘‘ A Society Butterfly" is that of Miss Sheridan, who' wears some very elegant toilettes, and as verbal description generally leaves but a hazy impression on the minds, I sketched two out of the many gowns. My second Sketch represents an evening dress worn by Miss Sheridan, and composed of forget-me-not satin brocade, with a scroll design of yellow cowslips. . A Y-shaped vest of lovely lace is bordered by gold sequins, which also edge the waist of bodice* The epaulette sleeves of the brocade are dotted over with gold sequins, and from under them falls a thick fringe of- gold beads over the arms to the -elbow.' From either hip a tab of sequined passementerie, with a corresponding gold bead fringe, fall over a perfectly -plain demi trained skirt.' Another charming gown worn by the same lady was of buttercup yellow satin, with shoulder capes and berthe of handsome old lace.

Among some pretty evening gowns I selected the third illustration, it is handsome, simple and elegant. It is of mulberry silk, shot with faint pink, and real old lace on bodice and sleeves. ' I saw another of cream crepon, with a short frilled basque, headed by a band of yellow ribboin, and a festooned flounce of lace and ribbon round the skirt. The top of the bodice—it was a most becoming bodice—was trimmed with a frill of soft lace, and the front was composed of folds of crepon and yellow silk. I like these basque-bodices immensely on slender figures. Nets, tullbs and gauzes will be worn again for dance dresses. You will remember that last winter the majority of T ball gowns were made of satin. A charming dress in black spotted net was trimmed from waist to hem with frills, each of which was edged with pale green bebe ribbon. /The bodice had short puffed sleeves, and was finished off at the waist by a tasselled jet belt. Apparently, the demand for crepon is as great as ever. It makes effective dresses, and certainly it would be a difficult matter

to invent anything prettier to take its place. Of course, moire antique is the popular material for elaborate gowns. A new model, handsome and yet quite simple, was of black moire antique, with a bodice of vieux satin, partly veiled with black chiffon, and having long scarf ends of that material trailing down tli6 front. The garniture round the neck was formed of jet and a bunch of very natural sweet peas. It is counted rather frumpish to have a Y-shaped bodice. All the newest bodices are cut square or round.

Boselle.