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Observer, Volume 1, Issue 12, 4 December 1880, Page 101

Black jet is the new material for mantles. The handkerchief cap when made in pompadour silk is very elegant."

The most elegant way in which ladies' hair can now be done up is coiled rather low at the back.

Rink hats, with gathered silk brims and lace qrowns, are amongst the latest out.

Giel blue is one of the new colours just out, and should enjoy a good run.

It is a good idea to have the reverses of dark coloured dresses lined with bright colours.

Plaids have had a good spell, and are now likely to get a show again.

Pompadour straw hats can now be obtained They are just out.

Handkerchiefs with pompadour borders are a novelty.

Short dresses, with shoes and pompadour stockings, are becoming fashionable.

Linen collars are out of date, and have been re-placed by black minings.

Dolmans comprised entirely of lace are now very fashionable.

Langtry hoods, for evening wear, are made entirely of lace.

For general purposes, the two laces which are most generally chosen are Spanish and Languedoc.

Poppies of the heliotrope shades, when worn in caps of lace, look first-rate.

. Black sateen, with trimmings of pompadour, will tie much worn this season.

■In gloves this season, black will be more frequently worn than light colours. Sleeves of dresses are at present made with but one seam.

The puffs on sleeves have been replaced by bows of ribbon.

The hows on pompadour dresses are now made in all the colours of the rainbow, and a good many more.

Miss K wears a Zulu helmet, with Indian silk scarf round it, which is most becoming, and evidences considerable taste.

Hoods are creeping into favour again. They seem to be, for the most part, lined with bright-coloured silks.

Double-breasted bodices are now worn in place of the old single-breasted one 3. This is an improvement.

The new style of fichu has a handsome handpainting in each corner, and is edged with Languedoc lace.

It is much nicer to have the pleatings made of coloured ribbon than of braid, especially when worn on the bottom of dresses. Braid pleatings are " out."

A dress of black cashmere, trimmed with heliotrope silk, and collars, cuffs, and revors of the same material, may now be seen any fine Sunday afternoon.

One of the prettiest dresses visible in the neighbourhood of Ponsonby is of black grenadine, trimmed with black and white check silk.

I would advise those ladies who intend wearing the Tain o' Shanter hat this season to secure dark colours. They are certainly preferable, both as regards appearance and cost.

A young lady, whose excellent dressing I have noticed before, now appears to advantage in a dark green sateen, with pompadour trimmings, and liat to match.

Ladies are now going in heavily for lace. We have it on bonnets, hats, dresse3, parasols, pockethandkerchiefs, cax^s — in fact, almost everything turned out in the shape of dress is set off with lace. The most choice shades in the millinery line now are cream and old gold and pale blue, but I have seen a bonnet of heliotrope and old. gold, of the coronet shape, which it would be difficult to surpass for elegance.

A very stylish and becoming dress, which calls for notice, is a light grey Irish poplin, made with skirt and polonaise, and trimmed with bands of crimson velvet. A bonnet to match is also worn, and serves to set off the costume.

Mrs. B ■ — now wears a very nice dress of grey carmelite and black velvet, made on the basque bodice pattern, with a deep band of velvet round the basque and sleeves, also of velvet. You can't help noticing it; it's really splendid.

Miss B , of the North Shore, looks charming in a dress of wive cashmere, trimmed with velvet of the same shade, deep kilting round the bottom, and bauds of velvet and velvet yoke, on the princess pattern.

The custom of wearing ribbons around the neck has given way, like everything else now, to a handkerchief to match the costume. I can't say that it is a great improvement, hut has the recommendation of being cheaper.

A young lady, belonging to St. Matthew's congregation, wears a light grey lustre dress, which is a miracle of neatness, made with narrow kiltings round the skirt and polonaise, with puffs at back. It is no ordinary costume, and exhibits great skill in design.

To look well, Indian silks require to be got up very stylishly.and with the greatest possible amount of trimming. One or two dresses of this material, which have come under our notice, are wanting in this respect, and consequently failures.

For a child, one of the prettiest dresses I have yet seen is a cream lustre adorned with cardinal silk, on the princess robe style, and gathered front of cardinal, with pockets of the same material. This costume is not complete without a white hat, with cardinal bow and. ostrich feather.