Home Fashions.

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 17 August 1888, Page 34

Home Fashions.

Greys of every shade— blue grey, grey grey, a whitish grey, and other tones of these innumerable — are conspicuous by reason of numbers rather than notable for being generally becoming, for unless the wearer have plenty of distinctive colouring herself she is apt' to present but a washed-out appearance at best. Yefc how many women of colourless type select grey costumes, and look more " washed out " than ever ? Not that I advise florid women to choose light grey costumes, for they tend by force of contrast to deepen the wearer's colour. Many women with high colour fancy a black dress tones it down a little. This is a grievous mistake, for again the contrast serves not to tone, but to heighten the colour of the skin. A black dress also assists in increasing pallor. The only people who can wear black with j good effect are those with fair complexions and wild-rose tinted cheeks, but these fortunate individuals can wear almost every colour becomingly. When possible, however, a careful admixture of white will always relieve becomingly the sornbreness of black, and even in deepest mourning white lisse or muslin collars and tuckers are admissible. Not long since I had to wear black gowns, and found white linen collars and turnedback cuffs of jthe same an agreeable relief. Being exceedingly pale, the effect of unjrelieved black was most trying. Large lace scarfs are to be much worn this summer. Some are long enough toreach the lowest portion of the dress skirt. Black lace ruffles will also be seen. Massive bracelets have gone out of fashion, but jewelled bangles and unobtrusive bracelets are worn. For necklaces, a string of pearls with a pendant of diamonds is most favoured. Barrings are also neglected. Jewellery is plentifully worn about the bodices of dresses. At the last drawing room held at Buckingham Palace a lady's dross was nearly covered with trails of mignonette and humming birds. Petals of flowers overlapping each other are used for panels and fronts of ball dresses. It has a pretty and novel appearance. Ball dresses here are almost invariably of silk mixed with tulle. The petticoat is of the richer textile, sometimes veiled tulle, but the back of the gown is almost invariably composed of tulle. It hangs straight from the waist, and is exceedingly full. The angel sleeve is trying to make its way, but is too eccentric, I think, to become general. It is less a sleeve than a drapery, for the sleeve proper is peifectly tight-fitting, and the over so-called sleeve, though set in round the armhole, is cut away so much that it scarcely shows at all in front of the figure. Lengthening precipitately, it reaches, however, to the edge of the gown, falling from the back of the arm like a folded wing ; hence the name " angel sleeve." Hair is still dressed high on the head. Indeed at. the State ball it was observed that if possible altitude had visibly increased, and that a good time for the hairdressers is prospectively at hand, when probably complete wigs, pomatum, and other and less

cleanly mean 3of fixing the tonsoiial structure will be required at their hands. But I trust we are now too far civilised to suffer such abominations as made it necessary" to submit the head dress occasionally to the barber for a course of baking to destroy parasites. At a State ball given at Buckingham Palace by order of the Queen the Princess of Wales, who was hostess, wore a dress of blue and white silk and gauze, and on her head the tiara of diamonds which was one of the silver wedding gifts. The ornament is doubtless a most valuable one, but in this case it is a misnomer to call it an ornament, the shape being most unbecoming to the royal wearer. It is certainly hard that her Royal Highness, who is such an adept at choosing the becoming, should have to wear what her own good taste must tell her is absolutely disfiguring ; yet, I presume, it would be impossible to suggest different setting, because that would certainly reflect on the taste of the givers, or rather upon the committee who chose the offering. — South Australian Chronicle's Home Correspondent.