ILLUSTRATED FASHIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 63

ILLUSTRATED FASHIONS.

Dear Emmeline, — With ihe middle of February I think we may really consider the turn of the year "has come, and that soon we ehall see blue sky above beds of violets and primroses and all lovely spring things. I (have a fancy that we should dreps very much in tune with Nature and our surroundings. Green suits ray mood exactly, and a Avalking dress of soft green Pashmin cashmere would be in charming accordance with the tiny points of green that will soon appear on the brown •hedges. As exquisite fit and perfect plainness are undoubtedly the motto for a walking gown of to-day I have chosen the design you .see before you — the skirl bearing four deep pleats, two in front and two behind. These are stitched down very closely at the top, giving the flat .appearance of yesterday's gown, which is still a necessary feature in today's. The stitching, the sole decoration of this gown, outlines a simulated over-bodice, and this stitching continues down to the knee*, the edging" of the inner bodice to the feet. This is buttoned Avith small emerald- gla&s buttons, and inside- there is a finely-pleated vest of white silk iaffeta. , No dress is com■pleto nowadays without a whits vest of some sort, the freshest and prettiest 'of fashions, 'for I always think a-gov.n without som.3 white "about the throat is like a house without white •'curtains. But though vre may hopo for blue

skies .and sunny days we must yet cling closely -to cosy wraps -and furs. The fox "Doa and .muff are still fashionable, but the- premier choice is given to blue 'fcix, .not white. The reason is, I think, that, though the splash of pure white is beeoraiag to, very fresh sroung5 r oung faces, any but theso find it trying, the grey •shade of 'the blue -fox proving far laore-use--ful a- - 1 • nitable. * '£".• may come and sleeves may go, but the i :joes on for ever. I was thinking this w.msm 's talking to a smart little_ woman in simple clothes just now. Her pinlc and white stripped flannel shirt was made exactly like those of this yea?, last year, and five years ago — viz. , quite plainly, with a box-pleat down the centre, buttonad with small pearl buttons. A narrow hem-stitched lawn collar turned down over a soft, black satin stock; it was only the sleeves that varied from those of. the year before last! These, of course, were plain. Yes, the blouse is quite as much of a favourite as ever it was; it merely chaages with changing fashions. The only thir.g is

we cannot wear more Aan two or three skirts alternately with a blouse now, for the blouse must b© in p er fect harmony with the skirt if it is intended to- be smart. We cannot wear a green blouse with a red skirt, and so on. But there are some colours with which anything, or almost anything, may be worn — black ('tis easiest to count this a colour), fawn, navy blue, and I almost think I might add brown and violet, for there are, undoubtedly, many colours that can be worn with these. It is a useful thing to have two bodices to one skirt, one a tight-fitting corsage and the other a blouse bodice, either for day or even for evening wear. Suppose the skirt were of soft geianium pink cloth, long and flowing, as to-day's fashionable skirt must be. One pretty bodice for general wear might be like the one in_my sketch. This is pleated finely on the bias, and opens upon a waistcoat of white panne, which is cut out upon a plastron of lace. The bodice is edged with switchings of si^k, rthe waistcoat' with white % silk and tiny gold buttons. The evening ■ bodice is of geranium pink crepe-de-chine, - pleated and mounted on a guimpe of gui-

pure, and a corselet of the same. This guipure 1 is embroidered with tiny silver Sequins, and in the guimpe allows the skin to be Been through, its meshes. This embroidered lace is very fashionable, but as it is expensive "it Is only seen on very ornate frocks. This is a useful and very pretty style of evening blouse, and looks well in black crepe-de-chino i and white guipure, the guipure embroidered •with a tracing of black jet beads or black sequins over the design., Tj^J^^s for regular evening wear »rj

quite lovely, but the war has caused dinner dres&es to be in a greater ascendant t.Van ball dresses ; we have not much heart for balls. Even for dinners, and, in fact, for all ev>aing frocks, the airy fairy style has the greatest

favour. Soft chiffons, tullss, and gauzes are without doubt infinitely more becoming than hard satins and silks. V^ery novel and pretty -is the go'.vn. sketched hero, and emanating from Paris. This is of white pleated xnouspeline. On tho bodice and fckirc are trellises of white cheniLle, each /mesh camgat with a pearl or golden bead. These trellises are surrounded with garlands of tiny roses, and from these depend a fringe 'of chenille, pearls, and golden beads. Ihe idea is lovely, but I think the fringe on the hem would be too soon spoilt, and that a kilted frill of mousseline would be nearly as nice and far more durable. — Tours truly,

COQUETTE.