TME LADIES COLUMN EDITED BY "EVA"

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 16, 25 December 1880, Page 137

TME LADIES COLUMN EDITED BY "EVA"

— Surali silk is but seldom worn. — Poke bonnets are lined with lace. — Galateas have given way to sateens. — Jet is likely to be " out " for a time. — Green is a favourite colour just now. — Two more church weddings next week ! — Pouffs for the sleeves are no longer worn. — The Duchess of Devonshire.? are getting a show. — Shot velvet for the fronts of bonnets is a novelty. . — Polka-clock velvets are much used for dress trimmings. — For the princess robe the handkerchief sash is the latest adornment. — Wine-coloured trimmings are now even more worn than during the winter. — Silver jewellery still continues absurdly popular, but is less distingue than gold. — A novelty in hat trimming is tiger-plush, an imitation of tiger-skin. # — Only those who are blessed with piquant little faces ought to wear poke bonnets. — After the rage for big bonnets has subsided the medium sizes Avill probabty be most worn. —An indignant young lady would "just like to know what sort of dresses 'Eva' wears?"

— The Largest and most imposing hat of the New York season, takes the name of Sara Bernharclt. — Feathers, birds, flowers, laces, bows of ribbon and bonnet ornaments trim the new plush muffs. — Bonnets, muffs and costumes match when worn by the most fastidiously fashionable women. — The " Vera" is a new hat, named after the heroine of Ouicla's last and wickedest novel, "Moths." — Feathers and flowers are at present equally popular for bonnets, but the feathers will certainly be in a majority ere long. — Children's hats are now trimmed entirely with rosettes of ribbon. They look both simple and pretty. — In the neAvest laces an attempt has been made to introduce the greatest quantity of gold and glitter possible, and with signal success. Miss N. now encloses her fair form in a black dress of cashmere, on the jersey principle, with a sash of cream pompadour. — To prevent cotton gloves from cracking the hands, place them in salt_ water before wearing. This also prevents fading. Miss McL. wears a neat and pretty costume of navy blue lustre, with trimmings of satin to match, on the basque bodice style. For a really artistic costume, commend me to a certain young lady who dresses in a fawn-coloured sateen cloth trimmed with pompadour. Thedressismadewithadouble-breasted basque bodice, and tastefully ornamented with a kilted skirt and draped sash.

— For a rich and handsome dress, try a silk carmelite, trimmed with silk of the same shade on the habit bodice style. It has a fine effect. — Miss N. now looks really captivatingenwrapped in a navy blue print trimmed with cream pompadour, and must be complimented on her choice. — A wonderful costume of cream sateen, trimmed with pale blue and beautified with a long polonaise, has excited flutters of envy and jealousy in many female breasts. — Very young ladies now go in for large bonnets, whilst the more ancient fair ones rush to the other extreme and wear things like dolls' hats. — After gazing for a lon« - time at the bust of Mrs. Langtry, in Longuevs window, a younglady was heard to remark spitefully, " Why ! look here Juliar, I b'lieve she paints ! " — A favourite material for reception dresses, is velvet jrappe, i.e., .adorned with large flowers in the coral pattern, &c. It may be obtained either in black or dark brown. — One of the acknowledged leaders of fashion in Auckland, wears a fawn-coloured sateen with wine trimmings. The front and sides are laced with wine-coloured cord, and a Langtiy hood sets off a really faultless "get up." — During my walks abroad I have observed a very pretty hat, with a brim of black velvet, the crown being covered entirely Avith white feathers and all set off with a knot of white silk. — A new hat, known to Auckland ladies as "the postman," may now be seen any fine afternoon in the vicinity of Queen-street ; I should not, however, advise anybody to get one.

— Ted li., on being scolded by a lady, said, " I have heard of tartar and brimstone. Yo\i, my dear, are tlie cream of one and the flower of the other." — Faithful to promise, on Saturday evening last I went the rounds of the Queen-street show windows, noting more particularly those interesting to my lady friends. Sad mistakes occur year after year in dressing Christmas windows Indeed, it is plain that but few assistants understand the real secret of making the best and most attractive display of the goods at their disposal. Par exemjjle, I noticed that one window Avas set oft" with nothing but fawn, coloured drapery, while another looked flat and uninteresting, with naught but white-coloured goods. In both cases a few lively colours thrown in would have been a great improvement. Another defect seems to be the want of uniformity. One corner establishment has disregarded its observance altogether, and hence, the window looks in an awful muddle. Again, there is a lack of anything in the shape of originality. I see the same goods pitchforked in after the same manner time after time, till things look quite monotonous, and the show windows become almost an eye-sore to those who understand such things. How>ever, were I a judge and had to award a prize to the owner of the best dressed and most artistically done up slioav window, Messrs. Garlick and CranwelTs would certainly have it Their window is really a picture and reflects great credit on the artiste who made it up. For the next best it would be difficult to choose between the respective shows made by Mr, Rattray, and Milne and Choyce, but if there is any difference it lies in favour of the former. The only others worthy of particular notice are those of Cosgrave and Cos., and Linabury's.