Boudoir Gossip on Frocks and Fashions

Observer, Volume XI, Issue 700, 28 May 1892, Page 13

Boudoir Gossip on Frocks and Fashions

By Gladys.

Some of the Bbop windows in Queen-street have been a source of very considerable admiration to the ladies of Auckland during the last few days. The other day, while out shopping, my fancy was quite taken with one of Wilson and McCullough's windows, which had just been dresßed with some lovely ball gowns and all sorts of pretty things for evening wear. One gown in particular pleased me very much. It was a delicious coral pink gauze, embroidered with gold tinsel sprays The skirtwas artistically draped, and the full bodice was banded at the waist with broad pink ribbon drawn up to the back of the low bodice and finished with butterfly loops and long ends reaching to the bottom of the skirt. I also admired very much a dainty white and silver gauze gown, which looked quite fairy-like, and also two lovely plush mantles, one a rich ruby, lined with ruby satin and the other a delicious shade of pale blue. There was a good display of charming shades in tulles, Russian nets, and gauzes, sea-green, amber, white, creme, sapphire blue, lemon and a lovely black and gold in fact - something to suit everyone's taste. Pretty feather fans in all colours,. dainty gloves and jewel pins were displayed also.

I spent a very interesting half-hour the same day in Court Brothers' establishment in Queen-street, buying a few and admiring the many pretty and useful things they have for the winter season. The costumes are very nice and really wonderfully low in price. For instance, they have them braided and trimmed with astrachan from 15s 6d. There iB a real beauty, navy braided in biack, for 21s. Another that I liked was bright wine with black spots, but there are too many to enumerate. They have a great many very stylish jackets, seal plush, in all shapes and sizes. Two cloth ones, I noticed, were quite 'new,' and a grey one, Newmarket shape, with nail heads all over it ; the other a black one the same style. The feather boas are very pretty ; they have them at very low prices. You can get a nice one for about 13s 6d. Some of the long cloaks will be found very comfortable this cold weather. They are wadded, but are very light, and have hoods lined with pretty shot silk. Mackintoshes there are of all kinds and sizes, some of them being quite new shapes.

Black stockings are in fashion for all occasions.

Patent leather shoes are the proper thing for evening wear.

Corselets of jet, sometimes twith the addition of bretelles, are very desirable and fashionable.

This is what a pretty young girl says about noses:— 'l have always been troubled with a nose that would turn reddish whenever I particularly desired to look my best, but I really think I have found an antidote. It is simply to wash the entire face at night with hot water and afterwards rub the nose well with alcohol ; this does not irritate the skin a3 it might seem. Chronic redness comes from a defective circulation, and the alcohol acts as a tonic to the capillary tubeß. This is also an excellent remedy for pimples or rough skin.'

Materials with broad shaded stripes are again fashionable, and when the colors are well selected and harmoniously blended, their effect is very pleasing.

, Colour with white is not considered so stylish as all whi te f or evening wear.

Gold slippers in fanciful designs are the latest, as they combine so beautifully with every shade of ball gown.

Darker and contrasting shades of velvet are used as piping on spring gowns of woollen materials.

' Crowns threaten to disappear altogether, so low are the new shapes, though the deficiency will be made good in the trimming.

Braid was never more used than now. On navy-blue, the very wide black silk braid is displayed, and on dresses for young ladies very narrow braid is seen, in rows, having half the space of the width of the braid between each row.

Lace promises to be even more fashionable next summer than it was last, and in many, cases the entire bodice is of lace. This is particularly effective when the gown is of the fashionable light shaded silk.

A new trimming used to outline yokes and seams of bodices is of gold braid with tiny gold drops. It sounds elaborate, but it is really very narrow, though most effective on black, brown, olive, or, indeed, any color that combines well with gold.

As plain skirts make the invisible setting in of pockets a matter of some difficulty, fashion has come to the rescue and gives a pocket flap about an inch and a half broad, to be set on each side of the gored front breadth of a plain skirt, while a real or imitation row of buttons is introduced.

Collarettes and cuffs of lace, chiffon, or embroidery net are »very popular for the brightening up of sober gowns.

Crape for mourning has quite gone out of fashion, owing to its having been discarded by the Boyal ladieß in their present mourning. The feature of the Wales princesses' mourning was very long, thin net veils extending far below the chin.