ILLUSTRATED FASHIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2454, 27 March 1901, Page 61

ILLUSTRATED FASHIONS.

LONDON, January 9. Dear Emmeline, — A visit to the sales during this montt provides the onlooker with an excellent opportunity for studying the peculiarities of human nature and more particularly feminine characteristics-. The shops are crowded to excess with innumerable women all anxious to secure bargains. Some of them can exercise sufficient control over their feelings not to invest recklessly in goods which, though cheap in themselves, can be of little or no use to the would-be purchaser, while to others the charm of securing a bargain, irrespective of actual requirements, is altogether irresistible. There undoubtedly is a charm in getting a really good article at a very low price, but the economy of so doing is quite a. mistaken one if we have no actual need for the garment in question, and have only secured it because it was cheap. The fascination of this achievement is unmistakable, and for this very reason I counsel the advisability of making a list beforehand of what is required, and of the amount of money at one's disposal. Sometimes the sight of a bargain is so powerful as to induce a girl to part with zeady money which was set aside and saved with much self-denial for real necessities, these ultimately having to be sacrificed because of the charms of some article which she ought well to have done without. Therefore, when trusting oneself to visit the scenes of the wintei sales allow a narrow margin — »ufc a small one only — for the purchase of a few extras such as short lengths of silk, velvet, net, or chiffon, to- re-appear later on in the form jq{ dainty fronts or blouse 3, or the purchase of some yards of ribbon or passementerie, which is always useful as a decorative

item. Here is a pretty blouse made out of sundry items picked up at the various sales. Four yards is a liberal allowance of 22in silk for the blouse, together with two yards of chiffon for the detachable yoke or front and under sleeves, while a quarter-of-a-yard of piece lace and four-and-a-half yards of passementerie braid, or beaded trimming, are all that is required for the revers and general embellishment. I suggest that the front be made in a manner to allow it to be easily removed, because such a blouse as this is equally suitable for afternoon or evening wear, and for full or demi-toilette. It would also be an advantage in the former instance if the iindersleeved were also detachable, and by so doing, and the addition of a lace frill, the dressy appearance would be greatly enhanced. A yellow silk with cream-coloured chiffon and gold braid for the front and vest respectively •would prove useful to a brightly-coloured brunette and a few fair women, as there are some of the latter who can appear to advantage in yellow, while for evening wear on the chiffon lay a cluster of crimson roses, or a lover' b knot of black velvet ribbon wired and secured by a brilliant buckle would make a pleasing variety. If the roses are worn in the corsage a black-velvet bow should be the finishing touch of the coiffure, but this ar-

rangemenfc could be reversed, as in some instances it would be found more becoming.

My second sketch sets forth the charms of a pretty frock for a little girl of fix years old, silk, lace, and some broad natin ribbon being employed in its construction. It is often easy to pick up remnants of all these at the sales, and siyds of silk, 3yds of wide lace, and 3yds of ribbon are all that is required. The same little dross could be made of cash-

mere or nun's veiling, and the style would suit even an older child. Many comfortable under or out-door garments appear ticketed very much under value, and are well worth scouring. Large numbers of dainty gloves and neck arrangements are also sold at reduced prices, but as in the caas of the gloves a great deal of rubbish is mixed up with really good articlea, it is as well to subject the articles to careful scrutiny before purchasing, as it is impossible to effect an exchange during the sales, however full of flaws or worthless we may find our investment to be. I always think that the sales are more or less ,_of a huge lucky bag into which you dip, sometimes securing a prize, at others the very reverse. Ribbons, however, are reliable, and so in my last sketch I have given various i pretty bowe and neck arrangements made of remnants of ribbon. Care should be taken

not to crush the ribbon in making it up, and in forming a bow the amateur dressmaker will find her work when completed present a much neater appearance if each part is made separately and thea tacked firmly into place at the last with a loop of ribbon crossing the centre and finishing at the back, thereby concealing the joining. These little trifles add very greatly to the smartness of a girl's toilette, and the plain swathed band of ribbon worn in the morning 1 should always be varied by a dainty arrangement of lace, ribbon, or chiffon, — Yours truly, COQUETTE.