WHAT TO WEAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6090, 29 January 1898, Page 3

WHAT TO WEAR.

(Weigel's Journal) The Kiissian blouse is to be the feature of the new fashions. Everywhere it is seen in one of its many varieties, the regulation shape being fastened at the side, falling full over a bolt, and with a fairly deep basque. The basque and side fastening are very often cut in tabs, usually square and broad. A pretty form of the blouse is fastened in the centre front and opens over a chemisette at "the neck, or is outlined like a round jacket over a pouch vest at the waist. These blouses are trimmed with crosswise bands to a large extent, applique of guipure lace or braiding being specially suitable for this trimming. Trimmed skirts are the next prominent feature, and these also are in great variety. The skirt with the trimmings high around the hips is greatly in evidence ; this trimming may be a kind of flounce overskirt, or it infay consist of two or thiee narrow frillings. bands or. twelve or fourteen rows of cording or stitching. Panels too, are worn, the skirt at the side gathered full on the hips or arranged in flat pleats, stitched down below thehips. Foot borderings are generally seen when the deeper ornamentations are not adopted. The bodice proper is the daintiest concoction of muslin, lace and ribbon, arranged in pouch fashion over a centre vest or plastron with frillings, insertions and crosswise trimmings galore, the collars full with bow or pouff at the back and a frilling above, the sleeves plain to the shoulders with frillings, and perhaps, the addition of a puff. The small jackets in Eton or bolero style are in much predominance. Bodices and blouses with the fastenings at the side still continue to be very popular, the closing covered with a cascade or frilling. Colours are of the brightest, and modifications are only made in the blendings. The most vivid greens and blues are seen made up, but veiled with transparent materials, muslins, canvasses, grenadines, lawns, open-worked fabrics and the like, the muslins being made with the foundation separate. Muslins with large brightcoloured figures are made with plain foundations and finished with bright ribbons repeating the colour of the design. In muslin dresses, the skirts are prettiest when bordered with a flounce or with f rillings, but some show the flounce at the foot headed by a set of frillrngs, and another set of frillings midway up the skirt Where the skirt has a foundation, as is. generally the case, the over- skirt is sometimes made shorter to show either the flounce or facing beneath. Tartans hold their own both in /cottons and silks, and are likely to continue to do so into the next season. The blouses are accompanied by ties to match and, are frequently made with two or three different shapes of collars to button on, as indeed are many of the blouses of any other material. An example of a fashionable costume is in blue cloth, vest yellow chiffon, the bodice embroidered all in black braid with a short plain basque. At the neck is a cravatte of white lace, and the skirt is made with three overlapping bands, looking as. though three skirts overlaid each other, the lower bands being sewn to the foundation. Of a different type is a dress of brown : canvas over a rose-coloured lining, the blouse bodice held in with a belt withgold I buckle, the front striped with lace, and showing glimpses of the rosy lining through slits, the sleeves with lace epaulettes bordered with chiffon. The skirt is trimmed with.points of .lace over the coloured silk j and . outlined* with* psgrw^ velvet -rib- J &»• ■ - - ■• -.. I