ILLUSTRATED FASHIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2410, 10 May 1900, Page 56

ILLUSTRATED FASHIONS.

Dear Emmeline, — Sales and influenza might almoft be termed birds of a feather, for the one never puts in an appearance ■nithout the other doing- ditto. I fancy it is worked on the gocd and bad angel system, (these, T likewise understand, beinc; feathered individuals). When in autumn "selling off" was the motio of the milliners and modistes, la s?rip.pe hovered in the background, and during the last few weeks its fell presence in our midst has been more self-evident than ever. The war and influenza, to a running accompaniment of bar pain -hunting experiences, have -formed the sole topics of conversation possible to us of late. Naturally, with so many invalids, just sufficiently convalescent to let their thoughts wander upwards from- the bottom-

less pit of depression, the abode of the influenza fiend, to such a mundane but interesting subject as clothes, the fascinations of tea and dressing gown's is pre-eminently in the ascendant. And here comes in the beneficent influence of the sales, as with the oddments picked up thereat one may achieve miracles in the manufacture of warm and equally fascinating garments. Sometimes, if ambition rises pufficiently high, and ways and means permit, one chances on a length ■ '■$ beautiful br^oa-de or velvet HipW Ei.tf*

the aid of a few yards of piece lace, can be ' transformed into a luxuriously lovely wrap, j Empire lines and softly-falling sashes trailing to the hem of the skirt are the modes most approved of by fashion for all such robes. The artistic dressing gowns I have sketched for you could be carried out in almost any material- — woollen, silken or accordeon-ple ( y ted chiffon over silk or satin — and could, if necessary, be rendered warmer by the insertion of a chemisette and collar band. In the present instance it consists of pale-blue Zenana material, with a fichu-like collar of soft white silk, frilled at the outer- edge, a deep sash of the same material encircling the figure under the arms, and falling in long ends to the hem, where it is embellished by a deep fringe of gold, a buckle of the same metal appearing at the waist. This fashion for flowing lines has certainly common-sense to back it up, as it is an undoubted relief to don the easy elegance of a wrapper such as this in preference to one which at all emulates the tight-fitting. Any girl could devise such a garment as this, as _it is merely a matter- of putting the material .together without the worry of fit being included, for to the amateur dressmaker nothing is so irritating as the inability to discover just exactly -where the misfit occurs and how to remedy the evil. The "other pretty mode illustrated here is less simple ha its construction, but likewise 'an altogether admirable garment. Panne of a soft-black, glistening aspect forms the material proper of the gown, and aecordeonpleated tulle the "softly-falling front. This tulle, by the way, is a new introduction and

justly termed " ideal," so soft and clouay is it, and yet, marvellous to relate, tough and endurable to a surprising extent. Hitherto " tulle has been included (tor ordinary mcli- ' viduals) under the heading oi the -iiaattain'able for nothing is more depressing than ,to contemplate by the* unkindly daylight of tlie "day after" the shocking ravages made by one evening's weai jh a gown veiled in this aggravatingly frail fabric, which almost seems to partake of the character of an egg — or a promise; which is io? — and be created only to be broken. To return, however, to the tea gown. This exqtiisite model is completed by a iouave oi Chantilly lace sprinkled with very fine steel beads, s knot of scented violets lying near the throat. The sleeves, by the waj, you will notice are rather picturesque in design, the fulness of the net being caught by bauds of lace matching that which forms the zouave.

To turn, however, to moro every-day matters, and putting quite en one side the claims of the sickroom, as having had full justice awarded them, let me call your attention to this most delightful gown worn as a "goinsraway" dress by a recant bride, whose bolter half only beheld its charms to desert them for the call to duty in South Africa. How many such there are ! This garment is formed of hearthstone grey, the yanier opening over an underskirt, tucks in intervals of lines, a of silver being introduced by aid of

a narrow cording. The short coat is similarly treated, v.'hile the deep-pointed revers are of oaraoul appliqued on to white patin, a broad sasli of white satin encircling the

waist. With this is ■worn a ruffled r.eeklet of while net finished with black chenille and a toque of white feathers, a jewelled buckle securing the osprey. A pretty front of tucked cbiffou shows at the throat, and as the bride aforementioned possessed a perfect complexion and reddish fair hair, the iesuU was charming. — Yours truly, COQUETTE.