NEW GOWNS FOR A GERMAN COUNTESS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 39, 26 September 1891, Page 423

NEW GOWNS FOR A GERMAN COUNTESS.

(SEE FASHION PLATE, PAGE 4251. Some very beautiful gowns have recently been made for a German Countess. They are so novel in design, and so tasteful in colouring that they reflect the greatest possible credit on the well-known firm by whom they have been executed. Sketches of these gowns will be found on page No. 1 has a bodice and train of terra-cotta brocade, with lovely designs in a mixture of reseda and gold. The front of the skirt is of reseda bengaline, daintily dra|>ed and finished round the hem with a deep frill of chenille, over a flounce of bengaline. The bodice is arranged with a vest of silk, buttoning down the front, while the sleeves are trimmed in quite a novel manner with points of piping, arranged one below the other, in the manner shown in the sketch. No. 2 is an exceedingly handsome gown made in a combination of plain black velvet, and old rose and black velvet brocade. Down the back of the gown there is a graduated pleat of black velvet, with breadths of brocade on either side bordered by a very effective trimming in chenille. Round the hips there is a girdle of chenille fringe to correspond, the front of the dress being prettily draped, and arranged over a vest of plain satin. No. 3 is a beautiful gown, with a bodice and train of iris brocade on gold, in lighter yellow and brown. At the throat and sleeves are ruffles of old-rose chiffon, while the basque of the bodice is outlined by a plaited silk girdle, which is tied with long ends-reaching to the hem on one side of the skirt. The front of the gown is arranged with a tablier of brown velvet, cut in square points, over small flounces of gold-coloured silk. The demi-train is fastened on to the bodice at the back. HERE ARE A FEW HINTS FOR A HUNT BALL. The walls should be pretty thickly covered with foliage, and the corners festooned with trails of ivy. Coloured Chinese lanterns hung on tendrils of ivy are suspended from the ceiling with a particularly soft and pretty effect. The mirrors at either side should be appropriately surrounded with saddlery, while ornamental shields bearing such a happy motto as ‘ Good Luck ’ wrought in stirrups and enclosed in a horse-shoe greet all the guests. I give you a few chic dresses woin at a recent hunt ball. A brunette wore a lovely dress of yellow brocade. The bodice was trimmed with chiffon and pearls, and bunches of yellow feathers were in the skirt. The skirt had a short train and was bordered with a little frill. Short trains were much worn. They are very inconvenient in a ball room ; but that must be forgiven because they are so much more becoming than short-all-round dresses. A well-known beauty was in pale mauve, the only mauve dress in the room. It was of Sicilian silk, and trimmed with chiffon of the same colour, and bunches of Neapolitan violets. Round the waist were three wide silver bands, which were becoming to her slight figure. One lady was in white, with a small under-flounce and large shoulderbows of pale blue, while another was simply and plainly dressed in white. 1 liked a charming dress of heliotrope brocaded with gold, and handsomely trimmed with Honiton lace. Another chic gown was yellow tulle, embroidered with a fern like design in green silk ; she carried a large bouquet of white roses. Nearly half the men in the room sported their ‘ pink,’ which, as usual, added greatly to the pretty effect of the ball. One lady was in dull heliotrope satin, curiously made with huge paniers. It was a verystriking dress, and was trimmed with dull green velvet and the new jewel trimming. Have you heard of the new sensible costume for wet weather! It is a short warm skirt which needs no holding up at all, for the simple reason that it reaches only within five inches of the ground. The skirt is woin over ‘ knickers ’ of tweed to match the gown, lined with red flannel, and is in every respect entirely desirable, being at once neat and smart-looking, healthy and warm. The skirt is lined inside with mackintosh to a depth of six or seven inches, and worn over gaiters of tweed made to reach the knee. These gaiters have an excellent effect, as they quite take off from the short appearance of the skirt, while they add considerably to the warmth of the dress. The bodice looks best in habit cloth, with zouaves of tweed, worn with an outdoor jacket lined with box-cloth. Mrs Hancock lately displayed this costume, and lectured on its good qualities, at a drawing-room meeting held at her own house. Since then, she has worn the dress in London, both for walking and shopping, without attracting any special attention. The costume in question, which is strongly recommended by all the leading physicians on account of its warmth and lightness, was made by Mdme. Goldschmidt, the original inventor of those shooting and walking skirts which have been so wondeifully successful.