LADIES' COLUMN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3654, 27 December 1879, Page 4

LADIES' COLUMN.

♦ ! FASHION NOTES. - Broad, soft Scotch ribbons in basket plaids \ are mnch used &» aftistio coila for lining felt, Ixmoeta. Gold filagree rings in^verj pretty ipatterns are vied to fasten the wide bonnet strings of •oftiilk. . Hevfingerie ii df^coloured percale, lined -frith -white and embroidered incoloura match* j^ the colours in the percale. '■ A new trimming velvet is of tan colour, with inrgular tpots of- dark brown in it ; and is appropriately called tiger velvet. Handkerchiefs are much worn at the neck ; tbcj&re of palm-leaf design, in rich Persian' cdonrr, sod are tied in-eailor knots. Crochet lace in shaded wool is used to Ixoder embroidcred'tidies. It is also used as as edge for honse sacks and flannel skirts. At recent openinge,.evening 'dresses were; -without the decollete waist. This, it is said, w not only a tendency of the mode, but a faahion that has grown out cf the -steady refusal of American ladies to appear with bare shoulders and arms. Thus Paris has leen compiled to succumb to the demands of fashhnrs TOtariea on this side of tho AtImblic. ~Kcw fashions and ideas as to mourriingnre fat tpreadinj?. It is now quite conecbto year those becoming long light-brownish ja&ef s trimmed with -fur, in mourning, prolided a black band round the arm ehows'that jtra are en devil. Dee: stalker, felt, and cloth Lats are also allowable, and I have no doubt tkls fashion will gain ground, and the wearing of nniforiu black garments for many months together, become a thing of the past. Jn shoes for ladies the broad English eolod walking boot, laced over the instep, is worn; lor tho street. Slippers, with high heels and •traps on, are worn with evening toilets, and snail bouquets of flowers, or buckles encrusted wilh jtem?, fatten »he straps together upon tile infctep. Rhine pebbles are used for the lame purpose. Cloth pboes, with kid tips, we beroming fashionatdi*. In full dress tbe ahoe or slipper is made of tbe same material as the costume. On such occa-ions silken host, -with lace insertion up the front, are worn. A dm* made entirely of oio material is never seen nowadays, but tho c< tnbinortion d two or three fabrics in one dress is differently szmaged from the " patchy " mnke up of last aeason. Wow, as a general rule, the waist, jpmmen, and part of the traki, if not al l , are vf figured goods, while plain material is ueed for the petticoat and apron drapery, and for the rery narrow pleating* that edge trains and form their onlj flounces. In some cases, henerer, tbe principal part of the aktrt and it* draperies i* plain, while the bodice and the borders or trimmings of the skirt are figured. By alow degrees we are approaching some ▼rry definite changes. No longer are skirts to be tied back, not wisely, but tightly; the l>e»t cut ODes norr require no strings at all; paxiier-> continue to be fashionable ; they will bvone of the preriiiling modes of the winter aod aatnmn, aur7 'heyaro the precursors of matrr alteratioi i» The why and wherefore it Is difficult 1o Ml, except that n reaction generally sets in; but. judging from the tightness with which w<> Imvo hitherto been clad, we may anticipate » return of hoops at no distant period, and the reign of wellderelopod btmulies in lieu <>f (lim ones. How match has Dame Fashion to answer for! At the present time, in some things, extremes prevail. While, for examplo, dreoßTamkm can ecarcelj make tbe sleeves tight flMpgh, others arc wadding the upper portion to improve the shape of the arm. Many J>odices are made up over a cork foundation, afipped on nith the dross, insuring perfection of shape.