LONDON AND PARIS FASHIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 8, 20 February 1892, Page 186

LONDON AND PARIS FASHIONS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) (SEE FASHION PLATE, PAGE, 189.) To begin with a fashion other than mere millinery or dresses, and this is the fashion which prevailed in Loudon this Christmas in respect of the ever-popular Christmas card. Alas 1 you can no longer send home-made ones. You choose a card for some particular friend, and the maker stamps any kind words of yours on it, together with your name and address. Fur is to be much worn this season. A fur border on a hat suits most faces. To make a pretty hat you want velvet, quills, and fur, paste brooches and pins. Any shape will do. It sounds simple enough, does it not? But theie are, of course, divers other and very charming kinds, of which I must tell you more anon, only hinting that toques are much worn, and are cosy and coquettish. The illustrations this week show two dainty evening gowns, and a charming opera cloak or party wrap. The wrap is of brocade, the ground-work being a faint primrose shade with very handsome silk embroidered tulips worked on it. The sleeves are semi-long, and are lined with the exact shade of the tulips in satin. Round the neck is a most becoming cream lace frilling. It goes twice round, edging also both fronts of the wrap, which is fastened together by three agate chains. The dress to the left is of black tulle most exquisitely embroidered in white chrysanthemums. A thich ruche goes round the skirt, which is slightly trained. The same ruche, a trifle smaller, encircles the neck, two rich chrysanthemums appearing just in front. Black satin comes from under the arms and wanders down each side of the full front, edging it and finally disappearing in a novel manner in a bow behind. Streamers of ribbon fall from the left shoulder. The bouquet of very fine, but very carelessly arranged and straggling chrysanthemums, is tied with white ribbons. The third figure is indeed a dream of beauty. It is a French gown of white cr£pe de chine, exquisitely embroidered iu coral and many pale coloured silks. The train is of coial satin lined with white satin merveilleux, which, as you know, hangs infinitely better than the lately much-used corded silk. The trimming of the bodice specially lends itself to the soft crepe and lovely embroidery. Handkerchiefs of finest lawn, beautifully worked, or trimmed with real Valenciennes lace, with the corners diagonally striped at intervals with insertion, or with the Christian name exquisitely stitched across one corner, are used just now in polite society. For pretty dresses for little girls the short-waisted Empire style is a good deal seen. Still more dainty frocks are made with a yoke, smocked or not, the skirt hanging bellless, and entirely uncontined at the waist. Puffed sleeves are much worn. H ELOISE.