FASHIONS FOR EVENING WEAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5567, 16 May 1896, Page 3

FASHIONS FOR EVENING WEAR.

{Weigel's Journal.)

If the fashion dicta are to be believed, we have chosen luxurious types to be copied in, the season's modes. Everything attains distinction . by being borrowed from the period and style of Marie Antoinette and of Louis XV of France. For evening fashions these influences are felt or seen in most of the arrangements of materials, and n their combination. An elegant costume, for instance, is designed with a basque sewn to the sides of the open-fronted jacket, this being of brocade in pink and green, and comes to well denned points in front, tinder points showing of an open-necked tight-fitting vest. At the top the jacket turns back with rose-coloured revers, and a full lace ruffle" covers a white' chiffon shirt with soft collar. Below the wide cuffs of the sleeves are full lace ruffles, and large diamond paste buttons flash from the cuffs and lower jacket fronts ; the skirt is of green satin. Another evening dress which has the typical bodice of the season is cut in an oval opening at the neck, with revers going low down from the shoulder, so- as to leave the shape of this quite visible. A light berthe finishes the neck edge, and the sleeves are of the same material as berthe or bodice, and consisting : of triple flounces, either godet or accordioni pleated, reaching barely to the elbow. The skirt Jo plain and full, as is the rule. Bodices are worn with every form of neck. The very fashionable have that oval cut described above, but square and round outlines too are much seen, while highnecked evening bodices are by no means invisible. Full fronts are favourite, and broad collars and epaulettes in which sequin trimmed lace finds ready use. But often there is nothing more at the neck than shoulder straps, or braces of flowers, with the puff or flounce of the sleeve coming low down on the arm. All waists . are brought low and completed either plain, or with slightly full or plain bands. Points in front are somewhat deep, but the backs are preferred rounded. , Basques are affected by matronly ladies more than by the young. Princess dresses are made in rich plain silks or satin for evening or ball dresses. A high-necked evening robe is of pale tinted silk, showing the double-bust darts in front, and the top is turned back with wide revers over full sleeves of brocade, ruffled down the elbow seam, while a yoke of the same fits to the neck with a high collar. A ball dress is a princess robe, with a box-pleated back, and lengthwise bands of ribbon ending below the waist in long loops and ends. The neck is low and circular, and trimmed with sequin lace, and the sleeves of tulle in a double set of flounces, tucked between.

The materials are as rich as the exacting taste may require. Sumptuous brocades are in a wealth of variety, and these are again affected by the general tendency to the historic wardrobe, portraying lines and panels of flowers, separatsd by stripes in many of their designs. Velvets, satins aud shaded silks, with the most delicate plain tones in the latter, and broad stripes, give the principal evunaiary of the fabrics. Q«

the subject of garnitures, we find the range exceedingly wide. There are surpassingly beautiful patterns of lace, and many of these are traced with sequins, prodncingamost brilliant appearance. Sequin trimmings in bands, fringes, girdles, &c, are most notable, perhaps, but they are rivalled in effect by imitation gems and stones, set in embroidery, of gold and ilver, a bodice with such ornament flashing from quite myriads of diamonds, rubies, turquoises, amethysts, &c, or laden with pearls. .