LONDON AND PARIS FASHIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1354, 10 February 1898, Page 16

LONDON AND PARIS FASHIONS.

From Our London Correspondent. Regent streeet, November 2Q. The bright-faced asters are with us Again, indisputable evidence that summer is quite a thing of the past, and autumn very much of the present. With the autumn flowers too have come the felt hats which this year seem to have made their appearance much earlier than usual, or our fancy deceives us. As to shapes, these seem to consist mainly _ of bioad round brims with moderately high square edged, or «Cardinal * crowns, while their trimming in most cases is like Sam Weller’s knowledge of London —‘extensive and peculiar.’ In Fig 1 we have an example of this autumn’s millinery models, sketched at one of the leading Kegent street houses yesterday. This is a black felt cardinal shape, the crown trimmed entirely round with a wreath of pink roses, from underneath which come green velvet leaves, while on the left side rises a high aigrette of black ribbon velvet. Buches and

double box pleatings of ribbon, velvet, taffetas, and chiffon are very much en .evidence round the crowns of the hats, and it is likely to be another great season •for ostrich feathers. One would think an ostrich farm would mean a fortune aiow-a-days, so enormous is the demand ifor these graceful and becoming feather. Boas of them have been in great request lately, too. Quill feathers are being used a good deal. at the present moment, but they quickly lose any cachet, being so easily annexed by common class millinery.; Out of town and for travelling, too, the tam-o'-shanter is still much A •white cloth one accompanies the neat little cape which forms our design JEJg 2. This is cut in stone-grey cloth with a

nbvel double pleat down the centre, and a -very high collar, which, with the cape itself, is lined with white moire. The

strap fastening collar is held by white pearl buttons. Plaid linings of silk are first favourites for capes just now, though shot and striped silks are also much used. Moire makes a dainty and substantial lining for capes, setting them put well, too, having more stiffness than silk. An excellent example from one of our leading tailors is sketched as my subject in Fig 3. This is built of black and white check tweed, which will be one of the materials for this autumn; the skirt is perfectly plain and all the fulness in the top at the back is centered in two broad pleats, one on either side of the placket hole. - The zouave is fastened down the centre with three large steel buttons ot er a natty waistcoat of black cloth or tweed,

fastened by small steel buttons. Combined with a linnen collar and white tie, a black velvet toque, with ostrich tips and white gloves, this would make an extremely smart and becoming toilette. What I have seen of the incoming modes for the fall, capes will still be generally worn, though jackets seem likely to be most favoltred by the smart section; the latter will not be quite so short as last year, will be much. stitched and strapped, and the sleeves almost moderate. Both jackets and capes will almost all have very high picturesque collars, and strapß and buttons will bo favoured. . , . . - j ." One of the newest materials is a striped Venetian cloth in black and colours. Fancy check silks are being used for lining jackets, capes and wraps, and moirette is being used for lining skirts, which are still being cut very full round the hem. „ Eosellh.