PARIS FASHIONS FOR APRIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1440, 28 June 1879, Page 23

PARIS FASHIONS FOR APRIL.

There i 8 a play now being performed in Paris called the Rendezvous Bovrgeois, in which (the aotresHes are dressed exaotly as ia the days of the Directoire, with short scanty r ,skirts, trimmed with three little flounces at the edge, and only reaching to mid-leg. The bodies are short- waiated aa the skirts are shortlengthed. and little mantelets crowed like Bhawls in front, and tbonnets .tsblarge as cart-wheels. All Paris is talking of these dresses, and especially of the large bonnets, and of how pretty the face 1 looks under them. And it is most likely these; b'g bonnets and short skirts will become soon the height of modern Paris fashion. A wiell-knoWn fashion critic gives us jußt two years for skirts as short as mid-leg to become ia vogue. Already some ladies are beginning to show the ankles Not many, but that the fewest few do thiß is a sign of the tendency of the fashion towards shortening the skirts. Train dresses, however, will still be worn in society, arid on occasions of etiquette. As' for walking dressa*, nothing can be prettier than the new Pompadour costumes, made very short, and with panniers looped up aid, Trianon. They are young and: coquettish, and will be adopted by everyone who has a pretty foot ana figure. icl* am sorry to see, however, crinoline tourhures • returning into fashion; but they have become necessary in order to keep the new puffed skirts in their places. Rich bilks will n-.t need the aid of nnder-tournures to keep them out; they will form their panniers without any extra aid. But their materials must have an under-support, or they will droop in unmeaning folds round the figure. Jaokats are to be Baperßeded by little fichu cape's tVimmed with lace, jet, and fringe. Jet is to b« as fashionable as ever, especially in mourning. lam glad to see that .the coloured varieties are not now worn much. "Setting Sun" aud "Rising Moon," with" Rainbow" jets are luckily things of the pa«t as far as good society is concerned. < Bonnets are to be small, and the Duchess of Connaught has revived tfye fashion of hats With turned-up brims. They are very beooming. ' Embroidery is everywhere. Some of the enibroidered' stocking* are very pretty. Dark colours prevail in chausspres. Nothing is more becoming tban a black stocking and BJhoe, with toe embroidered in jet. They make a large foot look its best, aud show off a'small one to the greatest advantage. '■'Parasols are embroidered round the edges of; down- each wing. I lately saw a pretty one being operated on by fair fingers prepara-tory-to its being made up. It was of white satin, with blue forget-me-nots. Dreßses for fcvening wear are embroidered in various.' and brilliant colours. I saw a lovely dinner "dres3 of straw-coloured crepe de chine embroidered in chenille with panstes iv naturaljColours. Real panties were worn in the ( .h,air. Small wreaths of flowers are now worn on the top of the head for evening dress! ' '" '

S,ome adventurous spirits in Paris have belxttryihg to revive the terrible Cabriolet bdjst&t'6f the Restoration period. It may ba^een^in^pictures with an erect plume of feathers' at the side, a shape trying to even the loveliest and freshest face. Straw bonnets aie "in" again. Dnnstable miyrfjrtice. The ' " Olivia " bonnet is very fashionable, Of'thVeanie shape as the Olivia cap, as worn •by Miss E^en Jerry in Mr Wills's play. It is b>th simple and becoming. Bonnets consisting almost; entirely of real moss are worn. They are simply hideous.