Paris Fashions.

Otago Witness, Volume 26, Issue 1705, 26 July 1884, Page 26

Paris Fashions.

(Correspondent of the Queen). — Hats are exceedingly high in the orowa, but with narrow and flat brims. They are lavishly trimmed with feathers, flowers, and bows. The popular colours are red, mosagreen, and yellow used moderately. Greenbearded wheat is fashionable.

—Bonnets are still small-shaped, but higher in the crowns than before. Open-work, strawplaited braids, and gilded and ailvered string are all much used for the crowns of fashionable bonnets ; while gold-embroidered canvas, jetted and silk-worked net, and terry outlined with beads, are as widely and equally favoured.

—A tea gown of blue satin had several puflings of the same at the edge, and looped over it were the most graceful draperies of cream nun's cloth, covered with satin pea spots. Of this the bodice waß made. The sleeves were quite original ; they had three puffs to below the elbow, then came to the wrist, and were slashed, showing the blue satin. Beneath the nun's cloth, whether in the bodice or skirt, .the blue satin was always discernable, and the skirt w»s mo3t skilfully draped. —There is still a furore for black lace skirts over Bilk of bright colouring, such aB poppyred,. Same-red, and orange. Black brocaded • jackets, trimmed with a bordering of curled ,• feathers, are worn with veiling and dark batiste skirts.

—What shall we say of the velvet lizards, toads, and other reptiles now to be seen in our shops, and intended to decorate our bonnets and to loop up the lace of our ball gowns? Very cleverly made, no doubt, but too fearfully ; real to be pleasant when first we descry them, all unprepared, crouched in clusters, of blossoms, or wandering mid folds of lace. We have also seen aquatic weeds, Nature's own self in appearance, among which are disporting the fißhes of the river, with velvet and metal-washed scales.

—At the Duchess de la Rochefoucauld Bisaccia's la3t ball, the Marquise de Gallifet appeared iv a beautiful toilette of white satin and gold gauze, with epaulettes of gold lace. Mdlle de Lagrene* was in a short dress of pale blue satin, the Bkirt mounted in four double box-plaits at the back, and covered with white gauze striped with silver ; pointed satin bodice, with gauze' folds ; silver aigrette in the hair. — Oomtesse Garets de Ne'tumieres was in red tulle, bouillonne", as wo say, en brouillard, so cloud-like was the effect; dark ruby velvet bodice, with red tulle tucker, a fringe of diamonds round the top of the bodice, and forming epaulettea ; a pouf of red feathers in the hair; Suede gloves reaching above the elbow, and diamond bracelets over them.

— I noted the following toilettes at various gay weddings and afternoon teas at which I have recently been present. As a guest at a marriage the Oomtes^se Rose d'Avaray wore a large redingote of slate- Blue e}lk over an e"oru silk skirt covered with flounces of embroidered ' white muslin j a.n embroidered e"oru parasol, - with lapis handle ; aa eccentric bonnet in the. • form of a reversed basket, composed of gold wire, gold tulle, and gold lace, and trimmed with five beautiful red roses hanging loosely from their long flexible stems, narrow strings of gold lace ; white tulle veil.' " 7Tr -S •