LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9867, 25 March 1893, Page 4 (Supplement)

LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) London, February 4. There are few prettier floral decorations for a hat or bonnet than heather blossom, white or pink; and as it has been imitated so cleverly to nature, this year particularly, it has been a favourite flower for many of the smartest and prettiest hats this autumn. I have seen several very taking little hat-bonnets lately of flat oval shape, with a small upturned edge to brim, covered with black velvet, softened by a small frou-frou of black lace round the inner aide, the crown being composed entirely of white heather.

An upstanding broad frou-frou of the lace makes the requisite additional height at the back, and narrow black ribbon velvet strings complete the tasteful design, of which our first sketch is an illustration. Very dark green velvet may be pleasingly

substituted for the black, with pale pink for the white heather. The Watteau bow is not alone in favour for dress ornament; it is often in union with the pleat which is brought up from the skirt and hooked to place over the body. This arrangement is used when the bodice is a short one and has a deep corselet imitated with velvet ribbon bands, from which braces reach over the shoulder ; the sleeves are in harmony.

My second sketch shows a stylish compromise of the long sacque jacket, which is far more becoming than the actual thing itself. The fronts are loose, and fastened by mitred velvet straps and large flat buttons, A ‘ royal ’ collar is lined with velvet; the sleeves are full to a little below the elbow, and the back has a double Watteau pleat, caught down at the waist by a mitred strap and buttons. ’ The materials for this coat are very pale fawn-coloured tweed, with a brown plaid stripe running through, the trimmings being brown velvet with large flat coaching buttons. A natty hat of brown velvet, with brown passementerie brim, and trimmed with brown velvet bows and white berries or currants accompanies it. So much has been said about the two tartan dresses forming part of the trouseau of the Princess Marie of Edinburgh, that we'supposo we had better prepare ourselves for a rage of tartans ere long, though we trust it will have a butterfly existence. They are fearfully inartistic and unbecoming, of necessity, to all. I tremble to think how some would look in tartans, royal or otherwise ; though the youthful and pretty Princess Marie will probably suffer as little as possible from the contact as her small features and delicate complexion would tone down the daring pattern considerably and the velvet gown of Stuart Tartan may even look well on her. One of the new autumn coats forms the subject of my third illustration this week, and my readers will see it is of considerable length—within half a yard of the skirt hem in fact.

This example is of dark blue frieze cloth, the high collar and fronts being lined with black astrachan, so that it may bo worn either open or closed, according to the weather—a very good arrangement carried out in most of this autumn’s coats —the fastenings being handsome black cordings and barrel buttons. The Cossack jacket remains at present the most artistic novelty in such garments introduced for this autumn and winter’s wear, and it has a special advantage, too, in admitting of infinite variety. Lace trimmings are the idol of the

( moment. Old lace is the real thing, but I there are some beautiful web-like producI Rons which take the place of this to a great extent. A pretty ornament of lace for an evening bodice, consists of deep-frilled epaulets and pointed plastron. Roselle.