NOTES FOR THE LADIES. Fashions, Social Gossip, etc.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 16, 19 April 1884, Page 5

NOTES FOR THE LADIES. Fashions, Social Gossip, etc.

A great many ball toilettes are composed entirely of silk lace in some delicate tender shade on a foundation to match. The most fashionable combinations of colour are brown or prune velvet with a cream lace skirt, dark green with pale pink, bronze or dark blue with light blue. Feathers are most popular for trimming all evening dresses, whether as feather fringes, feathsr bands, or clusters of feathers, used, as flowers formerly were, for draping overskirts and tunics. A charming little coiffure for young married women, for evening wear, is a rosette of velvet in the centre of which is a little plume of feathers with an aigrette. This is placed on the top of the head, and corresponds in colour with the toilet or its ornaments. The redingote in dark colours, but particularly in bronze, is becoming very popular for indoor toilette, as it admits of a good deal of variety by changing the skirt. A bronze velvet redingote over a pink skirt is one of the prettiest costumes that can be worn. The Balmoral is a pretty, becoming costume for young ladies. It consists of a deep-kilted or box-pleated skirt, over which are a polonaise slightly gathered on the shoulder and waistcoat front ; the sleeve is high on the shoulder and full, but tight at the wrist ; a full waterfall sash finishes the back. A lady gave a dinner lately in New York, at which these various novelties — butter dishes, plates, salt-cellars, and olive trays — were all designed and painted by her own daughters. Skirts, that is to say, short skirts utterly without train, are made very narrow, not much more than two yards round. They are also cut straighter than usual, that is, the gores are less on the bias than formerly. A great novelty in ornaments are flowers, whether real or artificial, to which gold settings and mountings are adapted, and the hearts and dewdrops represented by precious stones, particularly diamonds. These flowers are worn on bonnets, on bodices, on skirts, and even on shoes. Roses, forget-me-nots, pansies, lilacs, &c, are arranged in this manner, and some are made specially r or fastening bonnet-strings. Lace stockim •* are the latest extravagance in hosiery. Thuse copy the most delicate and intricate patterns of point, duchese, and other laces, and are to be worn over a second pair of spun-like hose, tinted a pale flesh colour. With these stockings are worn very low-cut opera slippers, made of satin the same shade as the stockings, which can bo bought in pink, pale blue, heliotrope black, and fawn colour. The Langtry costume for winter wear is one of the most stylish for any winter material — velveteen is greatly in vogue this season. The skirt ie trimmed with two scalloped flounces about ten inches deep,; the overskirt forms a deep point on each side, and the back is full draped ; the bodice is cut with scalloped waistcoat front and pleated coat back ; the sleeve is rather tight, with a little fulness on the shoulder ; [ the cuff and collar are scalloped to match. Embroidered velvet capotes, shaped like an infant's christening cap, edged with a double rouche of gold lace or with chenille, and ornamented with a small plume of feathers in front, is the newest model that has been introduced, and is becoming when the wearer is youthful and pretty. Many capotes are made of gauged black velvet, the brim lined with coloured satin — pink, ruby, white," or daffodil coloured. A plume of feather tips, matching the satin lining, is fastened in on the left side by a straßS buckle, or one of the many ornamental clasps now so much employed in ornamenting chapeaux. Rosettes of narrow ribbon velvet are sometimes substituted for the feather tips. According to the Greeks, who are reckoned to have been the greatest judges of beauty, the high forehead never bore the palm. A certain conciseness carried it. A large, bare forehead gives a woman a masculine and defying Took. The word affronting comes from it. The hair should be brought over such a forehead as vines are trailed over a wall. — Leigh Hunt. Lace fichus, either black or white, are very becoming to elderly ladies, who well know also, though they may not acknowledge it, the excellent effect of a pretty, soft, white woollen or silk shawl draping their shoulders, and harmonising with the softened tones of hair and skin. In the choice of suitable mantles there is no difficulty. Most of the large mantles now made are admirably adapted for elderly ladies. Natural flowers are always more beautiful as dress ornaments than artificial ones, but they lack the enduring qualities of the latter. A wreath ot violets is pretty, but somewhat heavy ; it fades easily, and then it is ugly. There is no flower so fashionable in the States this winter as the rose, and no bloom improves more under a skilful florist's hands. The pink rose, ''Gloirede France," is a great favourite there ; the Nephetos, the new Bennet rose, the old but beautiful Bonseline, the Mermats are all affected for table and dress decorations and for hand bouquets. The tournure is now considered to be an indispensable accessory to the feminine toilette. Among those who dress elegantly its proportions "are not extremely voluminous, but the great art necessary to make it appear to advantage is to alter its sire according to the style of the toilette ; therefore, several tournures of different sizes and! shapes are indispensable to all ladies wh^ dress well, or rather fashionably.