LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1202, 15 March 1895, Page 14

LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

From, Our Own Correspondent.. . Regent Street, January 19. Rosettes have been much in the ascendant the last year, and their services for decoration' have - not. been claimed for gowns and frocks v more than hats and bonnets. They are not a really pretty brimming, being stiff and unamenable, m -every way, but their popularity of late .has '.been nevertheless considerable. Fig. 1 is & chic little hat of a shape tiiat $b yearly always trimmed with the prim Jittle ribbon' roses which claim ancestors tas far back as the time of Charles I. or even James*

The brims of -these hats are turned up, and form a sort of coronet of four points, on eaoh of which'a small rosette is placed,

the low crown being trimmed by four small mercury wings pointing back and

front. The model was a grass-green straw, the rosettes being of black velvet bebe ribbon, and the wings black also. As the bird and wing craze has set in severely again, it is comforting to know we can be & la mode now without doing so with a conscience guilty of cruelty : as the manufacturers are making admirable imitation birds to supply the demand, using feathers for the purpose plucked from birds used for the cables of the well-to-do, such as ptarmigan, grouse, partridge pheasant and pigeon. The mania for white veils in Paris continues raging, and has culminated, I hear from those recently in the gay city, in a species of net or lace bag, gathered very fully round the brim of the hat; it is again drawn in by a narrow silk string at the bottom, under the chin, and tied at the back of the neck. These veils are much affected by smart lady cyclists, and for wheel women who are not without sense or purpose, being a good protection for the face and hair from the clouds of dust they frequently encounter. Fig. 2 shows a very stylish costume for a tourist, and is composed of black and white check tweed. The bodice is cut to cross over, fastening on the left side, and is worn over a white corded silk vest and collar. The large shoulder collar is of black .velvet with an underlying piece of

the corded silk, which has the appearance of one collar over another. A black velvet bow finishes the bodice, and a becoming Tam-o’-Shanter cap of the tweed completes the costume. _ Tan gloves and shoes would go we]l with the black and white and should be a bright tan, not brown.

In Fig. 8 a charming early autumn costume is shown of cornflower blue cloth. The skirt aud bodice are quite plain, the bodice has Eo'bespierre rovers, fastens on the left side and is cut to waist only, and with the skirt is strap seamed. The enormous sleeves we are still to be -victimised by will entail much wearing of capes, as the prolonged struggles of getting in and out of a jacket where the dress sleeves are composed of a couple of yards

of material prove too much for the sunniest tempera, and the Tandem capes seem to be first favourites. The one worn as part of this pretty costume is a Tandem, and is fastened at the throat with a strap of the cloth, and two large mother o pearl buttons. A felt hat of cornflower blue is trimmed with a band of ribbon the same shade and two white wings. As to further autumn modes, many ot the striped fabrics are made for the stripes

At Messrs W. Barber and Co. a Dyeing Establishment in Cuba street will be found every facility for Cleaning, Dyeing and. Finishing all kinds of goods in a manner most suited to the various materials. ine machinery used is the most improved and perfect in the trade, the best dyes are used, and goods are carefully treated by experienced workmen. Particulars as o prices, etc., will be sent post free on application.

to go across the skirt and bodice instead of perpendicularly as usual. There is a decided tendency towards shorter sleeves, particularly!!! tea gowns and tea jackets. The new fur for this fur season is called Caracule, and I can only describe it as like a flat, wavy astrachan. It is used much for entire coats and capes as well as trimmings. Sable also is to the fore again, black fox and thibet.

It seems rather previous to talk.about furs to you as yet, perhaps, but to those to whom economy is an object it is a boon to know what is to be worn aseaily as possible, as it allows them time to get what they may have by well over hauled and furbished up ready for use or the purchase of new ones before the additional winter prices are put on. Eoselle.