FRILLS OF FASHION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8704, 18 August 1906, Page 3

FRILLS OF FASHION.

Dressed kid gloves aro again fashionable. The reason why white suede gloves are out of favour (and cheap) is that the oonstant cleaning they require makes it extravagant to wear them with short sleeves.

Tli© pose of the moment, Bays the "Queen," is to be somewhat poetical ih the evening. There was never a more marked feeling for plain, unadorned skirts. They are for the most part full and clinging, much stress being laid on beauty and quality of fabric. Bugled robes a-re very beautiful, and RTaat variety can be obtained in them.Sometimes the bugles are long, and so employed singly. Sometimes they are small and strung into the form of hang-* Ing loops. Opalescent bugles look well on whit© net/. Satin and chiffon velvet are both popular for "solid" evening gowns. Satin has such a " bloom " and chiffon velvet is tso light in weight while looking rich and lustrous that these two materials are not likely ever to go out of fashion permanently. Young married women in England are copying the pese of unmarried girls, who regard it as "chic" to abstain firorn jewellery of every description. With, hair dressed a la Greuze (with curls and puffs) and perhaps a snood of satin ribbon, the wearer of a clinging eat-in gown looks most distinguished when wearing no ornaments. The revival of the round gathered skirt, a year or two &%&,' threatens- to shake the supremacy of the fitted skirt, but time has shown that the " fitted " is the more lasting fashion, and the revolution but a temporary one as regards cloth ami eerge tailor-mades. Nearly all the new models in these materials are fitted at the waist. Gatherings are the prettier and more popular style for thin fabrics. Tailors are cutting their skirts with a very beautiful flow •on the lower part-, and fine modelling above. Handsome flutes are encouraged on plain skirts, with mere 6titching at the hem. A wine-coloured hat, trimmed with tulle and feathers of the same, shade, worn with a wine-ocloured crepe de chin© gown, is very effective. To complete this toilet, wine hose and 6hoes should bs worn. The fashion next spring will be for hose and shoes to match dressy gowns. Square buckles, of immense eize, in mother-o'-paari or cork, in charming greens, ambers, and other colours, are the most important ornaments used for th« decoration of bats, and make a lovely impression with wide ©oft satin ribbons, drawn through them. Tulle, velvet ribbon, and satin ribbon lend valuable assistance in the scheme of fashionable trimmings, the newest thing in this way being black tulle, powdered with a small whit© spot. It is used for ruches and draper: \, and is most effective. Plain coloured tu'le, used in two or three shades, one above the other, is also introduced with a very happy result on millinery of the moment, as are mixed ribbons in wellchosen colourings. A new trimming, introduced on cloth and serge skirts, consists of a couple of half-inch bands of the dress materia 1 , placed round the skirt at a distance ; apart of three or four inches' so that, j as it were, they outline a panel. This effect is repeated, perhaps, once or twice on the skirt, and the bands of cloth, maybe, are trimmed with little turned-over straps set with tiny but-to-na. The panels in some oasgs are of lace, dyed to match the dress, or of pleated silk. The tendency of coats is to fall to the lines of the figuro, and encourage a neatness of outline. Even the supposed loose-fitting coats are inclined to cling to the figure and indicate the natural curves, shaped curved seams being preferred to straight ones. Belts are very wide, and the jiew kid ones are straight and undraped, and fastened in front with two or" three little straps and buckles. Every fashionable tint is reflected La kid. A variation from the straight belt of dull kid is the new shiny leather belt, sliaped to the figure and decidedly smart. Another variety of waistband is composed of wide soft chiffon elastic, in •cneain and otheir colours, drawn through a large gilt buckle at the I back. I Single string bead n-ecklaces, pink, blue, or white, tinged with coral, are takjng the place of the pearl bead for , the time. Other novelties for the neck are single strings of gilt and silvered beads, each bead less than the size of a cherry stone. The short necklace is now considered more fashionable than the long neck chain. The slave-bangle, in coloured mother-o'-pearl and real gold and silver, is called the bracelet of the season. It is olumey-looking in pearl, but effective in fold. It is becoming a popular gift for ridesmaids, or as a souvenir from a lover to his fiancee. For millinery purposes, buckles are of mother-o'-pearl, very largo and square ; for dress, the newest waistbuckle is made of 6mall rose 6, and looks charming in pink against a white or pale .blue gown. Originality is the keynote to millinery fashions. The milliner's aim is to eclipse all previous efforts. The variety expressed in modern millinery is amazing. Ostrich feathers are very long and ! swiping, the n&treet id«a in connection

with these being a bca feather, thai curls itself right round the crown of a hat, and is very full and fluffy. Peacock feathers, dyed rose dn Barri, bronzo, wine, and other fashionable colours, are used Hi big bunches. A Dew aigrette consists of uncurled feathers, a handful of which droop from the left -side of a hat.