ILLUSTRATED FASHIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 68

ILLUSTRATED FASHIONS.

Dear Emmeline, — The Englishwoman is famed all the world_ over for her prowess in all matters pertaining to sport. The girl of the present day glories in the proficiency of pursuits which, in the middle of laat century, would have been considered exceedingly unfeminine and unladylike. -Cycling, golfing, hockey, cricket, swimming, and even skating were not, in our grandmothers' days, within the sphere of a woman's capabilities, and her attention was devoted only to working unnatural flowers in wool and silk on canvas, or to housewifely pursuits, and the brewing of herbs guaranteed to cure anything, from rheumatism to gout, which the old dameß of the village chose to lay claim to. The result of the gradual undermining of all suoh ideas is that the girls now-a-days display a much finer physique than their ancestors, and would scorn to consider a disposition towards hysterics a peculiarity

to be envied. And if the sporting Englishwoman ha 3 won a name for herself in the eyes of the public as a keen and oftentimes successful competitor in all matters relating to outdoor sport, she has also commanded the respect of her Continental sisters in regard to her costume and outfit generally, which is workmanlike, and yet fits both the requirements of the occasion and her figure to a nicety. This fact is more particularly noticeable when equipped for a scamper across country on horseback, or a spin on lier bike. In my sketch you will find depicted a smart costume for the first sport. The coat aud riding skirt are of navy blue waterproof cloth, and the former is well modelled to the lines of the figure, while the latter is cut to walking length, and hangs well and straight when in the saddle. Some girls do not realise the necessity of having a riding costume "built" by an experienced tailor, and content themselves with manufacturing a home-made ai'ticle, with the aid of the local dressmaker. To my mind, the girl who can afford to ride on horseback must be prepared to supply herself with a riding habit, hat, boots, gloves, etc., of the most approved style, otherwise she should remain content with something less ambitious.

To fill this requirement cycling will be found a welcome second, and eince the introduction of the free wheel, this pursuit has b«cqjne more than ever popular. It has the undoubted advantage over riding' on

horseback in that the cyclist. when weary, can alight from her iron steed, and rest when and where she will, whereas in the former case this is not by any means feasible. Owing to the fact that mourning was almost compulsory during the early part of this season, many black costumes have been seen on aluminium and silvermounted cycles on the routes the ladies love to frequent, but with the arrival of halfmourning the eye is gratified by. the many pretty toilettes which, "en wheel," are to be -Encountered every day, but more particularly at the week-ends, the riders happily seeking relief from the Bordidness of town in the seclusion of the suburbs. 1 saw a girl recently riding a cycle in such a pretty turnout that I cannot resist from demonstrating its charms to my readers with a view to . their acquiring the best points thereof, and adapting sucb to their own requirements. The gown, in this instance, was exceedingly simple in. design, but clad the rider who guided the silver-grey "bike" to perfection. It was designed of just that particular shade of grey tweed which, eomehow or other, doesn't show traces of dust, and was worn with soft, grey kid gloves, and gaiters en suite. The owner thereof was lull, with a graceful, well-modelled figure — a fact which conduced greatly to the success of the tout •asemble; The bodice was cut on easy lines

in front, and tucked crossways. while a rolling collar of white satin, finished in front by a black tie, arranged sailor-fashion, looked exceedingly chic, the general effect

being greatly added to by the black stitching. The whole was completed by a trim sailor hat of white straw, banded in black, such as is shown in the illustration. The only marked difference between this chapeau and its predecessors lie 3in the fact that it is 6anded neither with black silk ribbon nor tan leather, but with a double strap of black leather, secured at the side by two very business-like steel buckles. — Yours" tr " ly ' • COQUETTE.