LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2549, 29 June 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

LATEST LONDON FASHIONS.

From Our Owis Correspondent, Regent Street, May 18th. A picturesque and chic stylo of hat, which is rather popular amongst young ladies just now, forms the subject of Fig. 1. The brims of those chapeaux are of felt, and tho conical crowns of velvet. The model from which my sketch was

made was of black felt, with a crown of pale heliotrope velvet, round the base of which a full pleating of tho same velvet was placed, and from between which and the crown (on the left aide) a small group of black ostrich tips was arranged, with smart effect. These hats are suitable only to quite young ladies, and must be of tho best materials only for the result to prove satisfactory. Some of the toques now are made very prettily in velvet, cap fashion, fitting to the head, with folds brought round it, and tied in butterfly bows in front, with pasta buckle and osprey; but beyond this innovation on tho toque ns it has been, there are scarcely any new moves in millinery just now; and tho mammoth picture hat seems likely to loom large till the spring novelties are actually worn. Of these, of course, it is much too previous to send you any yet, but a rumour comes from Luton of a wonderful combination of straw and jot for hats and bonnets, which takes our fancy by storm this spring. In Fig. 2 there is a most stylish and elegant dinner or theatre gown of yellow and white shot silk, combined with black velvet and gold passementerie. The plain, full skirt, balloon sleeves, with full front and bows, are of the silk ; while the over bodice, with broad, square collar, is composed of the velvet, edged with the passementerie** This handsome toilet is completed by one of the new floral ruffs, of white violets, and lorfg black gloves.

These latter seem to have quite come into fashion again of late, possibly Yvette Guilbert and her strange attraction may have something to do with it, her long black gloves being apparently a part of herself at all her performances. They have certainly their advantages, a certain distinction is one, lessening the apparent size of tho hands is another; and last but not least, to the necessarily economical, they cost in tho end one half the amount of light ones, as with ordinary care they can well do duty for several evening functions, and come in for day wear afterwards.

millinery design, evening gown or necklet, without the “ modest ” flower being noticeable on that account only. A charming evening gown, introducing the inevitable purple floweret, is shown in Fig. 3. It consists of a skirt of iettucegreon silk, a fully drawn upper bodice, and very full sleeves of the same ; and a corsage of deep violet velvet. Over the sleeves is drawn a veil of lettuce green chiffon with violets sewn on at intervals. A knot of the flowers fastens the folded collar, and they also form a thick ruche along the top of the corsage, and bracelets to the violet sprinkled sleeves. This would make an admirable dress for those who fear tho chills of a low neck, or are too thin to look well in one, as it is, though high to the throat, extremely dressy-looking. The fancy, of which I think I spoke, of wadding skirts grows apace, and now it is the fashion to scent this lining. Indeed, the fashion of sweet odours flourishes exceedingly, and scent sachets are sewn inside all the bodices which emerge from the best ateliers. Personally tho notion does not please mo at nil, and I feel convinced that it will Farriccl to excess, while wo know how in Sardou’s “Diplomacy ” tl/O scent of the woman, successfully pursued, led to her destruction ; not that I would suggest that there are many Countess Ziekas amongst us. Rosedle.