THE LADIES

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 10, 20 November 1880, Page 81

THE LADIES

Yoke bodices are still much worn. Pompadour velvets are trimmings of the past* In stockings, snowflake is the greatest novelty.

A tinsel fringe for neck wear has just been introduced.

Unmounted roses are likely to be fashionable for hat trimming.

In hat and bonnet trimmings, flowers should be placed at the back. This is the most recent style.

Handkerchiefs to match the prevailing costumes can now be obtained, and will be very fashionable,

Bridles of net and lace have superseded the strings on bonnets.

When bonnets are worn with strings, it is usual to fix them with, some ornament in the shape of a brooch.

Fawn-coloured dresses are becoming very popular.

Black grenadine dresses are likely to be fashionable this season.

The latest trimming on hats is a small flower garden.

Sleeveless jackets to match the costumes are now very much worn.

Hats trimmed with lace and net are the most becoming, and least expensive now obtainable.

The sham coral earrings have dissappeared since last week in a great many cases. Strange, is it not?

Polka-dock, a spotted satin, is the newest trimming for bonnets. It is sure to take 1

Miss F ought often to wear the " Marie Stuart " hat. It becomes her admirably.

The next best thing for ladies to go for in hats is the " Tarn O' Shantcr," the very newest out.

The North Shore ladies are coming out in "Zulu "hats. I see Miss B now wears one.

Two young ladies (sisters), Avho attended the Show on the 9th looked particularly nice in dresses of sage green.

The reason why those straw- wreath hats do not go off quickly is simply because they are marked at too low a figure.

I see the Misses C s have assumed the fawn-colour costume. Their dresses are miracles of neatness.

Black and dead gold have been chosen by Miss H as suitable colours for a summer costume. It is very choice and becoming.

Sunday offered rare opportunities for the exhibition of summer costumes, and the streets presented quite a festive appearance.

If you wish to secure a really nice holiday hat, invest in a " Duchess of Devonshire." They are going to be very fashionable this summer.

The latest in Zulu hats are the "Gainsboro"' and rink-shape. The former will prove the most acceptable, as it affords a shade from the sun.

The favourite colours in dresses now are cream and cardinal, cream and pale blue, and black and old gold. The latter still proves the leading style.

A young lady, who is noted for tasteful dressing, appeared to great advantage at the theatre on the evening of the 9th, in ajdress of black and cardinal. I even heard some gentlemen remarking on her graceful appearance.

The shell-pattern is the newest in dresa trimming. It is of silk material. I have only seen one of these costumes yet, and that was worn by a Ponsonby young lady.

It looks bad to see a young lady leave her seat in church on hearing a peculiar whistle from the outside of the building.

I believe some young lady fancies she has been successful in discovering who the lady referred to as Miss F in last week's Observer is, and, on the strength of my recommendation, has ordered a similar dress.

The dance which is announced as a part of the entertainment to be given by the members of St. James's Class, in the Temperance Hall, will not be a dress affair ; but ladies can appear as bewitchingly got up as they like for all that.

A dress of cream lustre and black velvet lias recently made its appearance amongst the other gay colours worn. For a brunette it proves a very handsome costume indeed.

Ladies desirous of finding out the latest styles in bonnets should pay St. Paul's a visit on a fine Sunday morning. The ladies of that church lead the fashions in head gear.

Passing a dressmaking establishment, in Queen-street, last week, I heard coming from an upstairs window in excited tones, " Now, Miss Blank, look sharp, or I'll knock your head against the wall." How do the lady <mstom.ers like this sort of thing.

The North Shore wedding, which was an* nounced for the 9th inst . , by some unaccountable fortuity, came off just a week previously. It is said the happy pair wished to go on the principle, " No cake 3, no cards, and nobody's business."

The young lady, who, in company -with her sweetheart, went to the North Shore on the 9th inst., found, to her great {inconvenience, that she could not step from one rook to another because of the "pull back " on her dress. The consequence was a pleasant ramble had to bo missed. I hear the young lady in* creased the width immediately on getting home.

Elderly lady (looking at a " decolletee " American lady, who is fastening a twelve-button glove): " Don't you think it would be better if there were fewer buttons on the glove and more on the dress 1" American lady, quietly : "If I were old and fat and vulgar, I should say that lady was right ; but not being so, I prefer to remain as I am."

Ladies who are curious on such subjects can, by calling at the Observer office, see scraps of the materials out of which the dresses of the bride and bride's mother were made at a recent fashionable wedding in England. The bride was the daughter of a Liverpool merchant and the bridegroom the nephew of a Scotch duke, who is one of the greatest territorial magnates in Great Britain.

Caps nowadays are so simple that they may bo made of almost any material, at a minimum expenditure of time and money. The simplest aro those made from embroidered handkerchiefs. The first thing to ba done is to make a shape of a crinoline, or rather stiff muslin, and run ribbon wire inside, to make it keep in shape, and fit well to the head. The handkerchief is very easily made up over the shape. One corner is placed at the back, and the two sides brought round the side of the cap as far as they will go towards the front. The rest of the handkerchief must lay in lose folds over the crown, and the other two corners form a trimming in the front. Here and there it may be found difficult to completely hide the foundation, but such little inequalities are easily concealed with a few loops of ribbon to match the embroidery of the handkerchief. The look of the cap is greatly improved by a frill of lace, or lisse frilling, tacked inside, so that it rests against the hair, and saves the cap itself from getting dirty. It is easily renewed, and the cap wears much longer with it than without it. These caps are likely to be in fashion for a long time to come, as they are so easily made, and wash and do xm again with so little trouble, *