ILLUSTRATED FASHIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 61

ILLUSTRATED FASHIONS.

LONDON, January 16. Dear Emmeline, — It seems to me when I Teview the circle of my married friends and acquaintances, that too many of the feminine heads of the household neglect the question of dress so far as they themselves are concerned, and fail altogether to realise what an important factor it is in everyday life. Not that I would in any way advocate the idea that one's clothes should form the topic of conversation perpetually or even be ever present in our thoughts. What Ido mean to impress upon my readers is the fact that the masculine mind is particularly susceptible in regard to the smartness of a woman's appearance, and that half an hour spent in re-ad-justing and re-arranging the hair, and the slight amount of trouble incurred by replacing a morning blouse by a smart one of silk will often go a considerable way toward* promoting domestic harmony. When a husband or a father comes home wearied and possibly irritable after the many worries of

business during the day, it is not a pleasant sight for him to find that the toilettes of the feminine portion of the household have received little or no attention since he took his departure for town earlier in the day. the impression received by disordered hair, etc., acting as a further irntaant on his overstrained nerves. Many a woman wonders and grieves in private over the cessation of the little attentions which were lavished so freely oa her during the early stage of her married life, but fails to realise that this state of affairs is very much her own fault, as she has allowed the demands of the charge of children and home to so encroach on her time as to leave no margin for the needful attention to her own personal appearance. A wellcooked and served dinner is undoubtedly a good thing to be aimed at by all good housewives, but an untidy vis-a-vis spoils the flavour of it to many a man. In consideration of the anxieties of anyone as to what sort of blouse to adopt' for ordinary evening wear I ha^e given a %cry pretty mode in my illustration. The colour of the silk should be selected ac-

ftarclinK to is most becoming, but I would suggest that it should not be too pale a colour as it will not soil so quickly. *or b brunette possessed of a good colour I should advise bright yellow, or red relieved with black, a border of gold naseementene finishing the fronts, cuffs and collar, the underrtwves and centre front being of white silk. j£ llonde woman should wear eajerald greea

or turquoise blue trimmed in the same manner. There are throe stitched tucks from the shoulder scam which give a full appearance, and a black velvet band cla-ped by a gold buckle confines the waist in this illustration I ha\e confined my attention to simple styles, and ha\c depicted a very chic little blouse for e\enmtr wear when something more dre'sy is necfs'aiy. It is made of black accordcon-pleated chiffon, very much pouched and -therefore only suited to a slender figure, while a full-lace flounce forms the berthc, the wai'-t being finished by a broad black satin swathed band fastened by jewelled buckler. A pretty idea, should it be worn with a black skirt, is to substitute a geranium or turquoise velvet band for the satin one, and to farther emphasise the note of colour by a bow or rosette to match, worn in the coiffure. Another charming idea which might be kept in Mew is to make the lace berthe detachable, and occasionally to vary it by a broad collar of white satin worked in jewelled beads. This latter can be easily dono at home, as one can get a tranpferable pattern and stamp it into the satin by means of a warm flat iron, or else draw some original designs lightly on in pencil, while a box of coloured beads only costs a few pence. Here is a sketch of a smart walking- touette made of a bright reddish brown frieze trimmed with lines of gold braid and fastened across the bust -by a strap of blatfk vehet finished by a buckle. The skirt is made with a few very narrow tucks at either snde, and finished at the hem with lines ot gold braid. Tha picture hat of felt to match the gown is trimmed with several handsome ostrich tips and a swathing of vchet of a darter

tone caught here and th-er© by plain gold buckles. Buckles as a decorative touch are visible on all articles of attire, ajid never was there a greater variety to be seen. Aery long ones of gilt steel or silver are used on hats and girdles, while the tiny oval ones hold the straps or bunches of velvet which are a feature of many of the roost fashionable garments. Buttons, too, jewelled and enamelled, are much in evidence, while even those of clear crystal hold their place in popular favour-Tour. truly fc