ILLUSTRATED FASHIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2336, 8 December 1898, Page 44

ILLUSTRATED FASHIONS.

Dear Emmeline, — We haA-e reached that period of the year Avhen simplicity is alloAved to rest paramount in inspiring the arrangement of our headgear. We are tired of fussies and furbeloAvs, and Aye long to get rid of the chiffons and ostrich leathers of our everyday life. A smart, simple, and withal becoming hat is one of the most difficult things to discover, but a pretty maiden who Avas sitting merrily chatting at the end of a Avell-knoAvn pier the other day seemed to me to have been a second Onristopher Columbus in this respect. I must tell you what her costume was like first, before you can. realise the exact suitability of her hat. It Avas a blue duck striped Avith Avhite lines, and a Avhole series of mitred straps of white lmen formed the lapels doAvn the front and trimmed the sleeves. The hat itself was a Ariiite chip— a good one, be it understood, for no one can hope to give even a moderate straw hard wear at the seaside. It Avas turned back from her pretty fluffy curls ia front, and on the inside of the brim were seAvn four or five toavs of narrow, Avavy blue braid ; a knot of Avhite glace silk in the centre Avas transfixed by a single black cock's feather. At the back blue and white striped $ilk was tied into tAvo big outstanding loops, and that Avas its only trimming. It looked so fresh, and Avith its blue and Avhite touches fo completely a reflection of the seaside, that

I straightway made up my miad to remember its details, inspire our artist and reproduce it here for you to see. Children are wearing particularly pretty costumes in the country and at the seaside this season, and the tiny tots have then? necks left bare in a high square, which is a very delightful style and much safer than the really low neck ; their little arms are also left bare, which is, of course, a great joy to them in the hot weather, as it allows them to dabble in water in comfort without

the sleeves continually slipping down over their wrists. I have a great feeling for children Avho are doomed to wear long sleeves in hot weather ; there is really no need for this, and the short puff which the little maiden Avears in my illustration is quite long enough. Her frock, though it is quite simple to make, is remarkably dainty and hanga straight doAvn from the shoulder without any waistband at all. The front is of whit©

embroidery, and the back of the finest muslin ; very soft pale blue silk is tAvisted across the front of the neck into two small bows on either side. The shoulder piece and little epaulets are of cambric run round with pale blue bebe ribbon, and the little leghorn hat is turned back from the face Avith loops of a

very rich pale blue ribbon to match the silk used on the dress. Blue kid shoes are worn Avith Avhite socks Avhich reach half Avay up the legs. Really, trimmings of all kinds are used so much at the moment that I cannot refrain from mentioning a few of the mot popular, i'or evening dresses twisted bullion is used, like that which is- put on uniforms, only conventional designs in colour are employed, and flo Avers worked according to natural tones give a greater brilliancy to the Avhole. Colours are most profusely used ; heliotrope, pink, bronze, golden brown, violet, and blue are all seen, but in such subdued shades that the effect is not in the least staring. A simpler fashion is carried out in braid, not laid on flat, but set on edge and the interstices filled up with crochet stitches in coloured silk, or lace stitches used in Horn-: ton point braid lace. Anyone possessing patterns of point lace can turn them, to flood

Serges, of course, are nice, but when one has been through the iva.sht.ub what does it look like? I give here what I consider a very good design for the making of these linen costumes. The little coat is fastened with hooks and eyes to the top of the belt all the way round, which keeps it close fitting and neat in its effect. The gown sketched was made of pervenche coloured linen with the palest of blue batiste shirts, and a black tie, pissed underneath the small lapels and collar, Mas tied loosely in the front. The lapels a\ ere of white sateen braided with line lines of black. Veils are still worn long and fasten under the chin. A great many -women mlio got tiiecl of twisting them up" and tucking them under have invested in the tiniest of black safety pins that can be bought, and running these through, keep the veil neatly under the chin. They make the dainty and very expensive fabric of which the veils are composed last much longer than when the twisting method is followed.- -Yours truly,

COQUETTE,