LONDON AND PARIS FASHIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1291, 26 November 1896, Page 15

LONDON AND PARIS FASHIONS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Regent-street, September 5.

For fashion pur et simple (in the early days of the season), let as hie to Church Parade, the Park—week days, morning or afternoon —or our beloved Regent and Bond streets : but, for the dress of the hour in all its- mooda and tenses, our likeliest hunting grounds are the private views of the picture galleries, wb.o3e doors we most of us anticipate the opening of with so much pleasure. Hera we may ' mark and learn' to our heart's content the ultra fashionable handiwork of the most exclusive modistes, worn by the

Ax Up-to-date Bonnet. mo3t modish women of the day ; the picturesque and artistic ; the eccentric a lar«e percentage of th s last certainly, and likely to get on the nerves of those who are not well prepared to receive a series of shocks to their well brought-up and conventional minds. Mild or ordinary toilettes are in the decided minority as the mildest of private viewers seems to think she must lash herself up to do or dare something out of the common way hi the matter of dreso on three occasions ; though why, histoiy recordeth not; but there is evidently a desperate desire to be (or try to be) l in it ' if possible with her mure assertive sisters for some undefined reas<ui at thi3 particular gathering m.jre than others.

As <<"_i-vrds tiici millinery, most of the ladies to.*: priv-.i. . e>vs entirely to themselves ; a nr v-in ~.• they obtained by simply wttttiug the largest and most fearfully and wonderfully trimmed hats as yet seen this season, which most succesfidly prevented anyone but themselves getting the most minute glimpse of the pictures on the line before which they had stationed themselves. Much has been 3aid of the sorrows on this score of the suffering matinee-goer some attention now might be given to the distracted picture viewer. In Fig. 1 one of the up-to-date bonnets seenis the subject, which shows the latest feather craze, namely, Bird of Paradise plumes. These, of course, are only attainable by those opulent in dress allowance, being expensive, and rapidly becoming more so, as the poor birds, it is said, will soon become extinct if this heartless mania continues. The bonnet shape itself was

quite fiat, of purple fancy straw, and trimmed with folds of tulle round the brim, in which purple and green strove for mastery. These were caught here and there with paste ornaments. On eitherside, to great breadth, spread choux of purple and green shot velvet ribbon, from the back of which sprung the paradise plumes : further dec'ration consisting of purple silk poppies. This bonnet, like the main millinery confections, was evidently not built to blush unseen.

A Grey Alpaca Toilette. Lace is one of the most marked features of this summer's dre3s, a very charming item, and one likely to bring about, it is hoped, a long desired revival of a once proiitable home industry. This was employed on a gown sketched in figure 2, which consisted of a dove grey broche alpaca, with trimmings of velvet the same shade, insertions and R.yal collar cape of white rose point, while from the insertion across the bust fell a fringe of steel sequins. The hat was of bright yellow basket straw, trimmed with immense bows of yellow and white pompadour ribbon, and big clusters of pansies under the brim at the back.

Lace again forms the trimming of the gown depicted in Fig. 3, a leaf green chene silk, with a pattern of pale mauve lilac. The lace, it will bo seen, forms the collar and yoke, which branches out and continues down the centre of the sleeve to the wrist, the sleeve being of the most recent cut. A basque and two pointed panels on the skirt are also formed of the lace (cream Irish point), and the dress was finished by tiny rosettes of leaf green velvet. The last material formed the crown of the hat, the brim was of accordioned leaf green chiffon, while showers ef pale pink roses, both on and under the brim, and a long cream ostrich feather, completed the headgear.

Gown of Chene Silk.

It was noticed that green and blue seemed the favourite combination of colour at the private views i-f the Nt\v and Grafton Ga'h-rit'.s ; hut, ,-itthf more recent Academy, there wii scarcely he said to have been any special favourite—every colour and every shade being done fuii justice to, presenting a scene of kaleido-scope-like variety, so many and so brilliant were the hues". RoSELIiB. A pretty wedding took place on Tuesday at the residence of Mr Hicks, Arthur street, the contracting- parties being- Mr Frank Bishop, well known in football circles (late captain of the Wellington football team), and now stationed at Palmerston as detective, and Miss Lillie Hieks, youngest daughter of Mr J. Hicks. The Rev Mr Redstone was the officiating clergyman. The bride wore a very pretty dress of grey silk lustre trimmed with, white silk, and had the usual veil and orange blossoms. The bridesmaids were Misses Murphy, Skinner and Williams (the last two being nieces of the bride), and they were dressed in sea-green nun's The present from the bridegroom to the bride was a very handsome gold watch and chain, and to the bridesmaids gold tangles and brooch. The presents were numerous and handsome. The happy couple left by the midday train for the North. '

Visiting cards tastefully printed at 5s per hundred, post free, at the New Zealand Mail office.