THE WORLD OF FASHION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue V, 2 February 1901, Page 228

THE WORLD OF FASHION.

By

MARGUERITE

The exciting season of bargain sales has come round once more, bringing a merry harvest time for the women who are shopping, and the chance to take all they can get and give as little as possible in return. The momentous placard, “Great Reductions," conspicuously posted in the shop windows possesses a magic charm that never fails. Fair femininity hovers round; not quite sure |*erhaps where to alight, but ever watchful for the possibilities lurking in a bargain. Ah! but is it a bargain after all?

Calm reflection later sometimes says no; odd lengths of this, that and the other are never a desirable purchase without careful thought as to their usefulness. Discretion should, however. make the sales of this year an excessively grand opportunity. We have not hail a very brilliant summer,

but there remain at least two months, with the possibility of a third, in which the muslins, foulards, voiles, piques and cambrics will lie very acceptable indeed. Lace collars, blouses, provided they are of the most immaculate freshness, dainty handkerchiefs and hosiery, uutrimmed hats, ribbons by the yard, or rather one might say by the mile, and any amount of lingerie, usually make a thrifty choice on the part of a purchaser.

Trimmed hats are as a rule somewhat risky as an investment, and so are shirts composed of perishable materials, for which among them can possibly withstand the raids and onslaughts of the excited bargain hunter? The primary use to which ribbons can be put at the present moment is in the making of corselet belts and sashes. 1 have the highest authority for saying that the old-

fashioned baby sash will be one of the prominent items of the late summer season’s models, and a very charming finish such a belt affords to the muslin, foulard or batiste gown. Happily there is the very largest range of choice possible in ribbons suitable for the purpose on all the sale counters of the shops devoted to ambitious bargain hunters, so that all prizes and no blanks can reasonably be expected. The girl who buys a tempting length of pique or linen should consider the sketch of a boating frock, should she be aquatically inclined. Pique would compose it well if faith sufficient be placed in the promises held out by those who should know, of really hot weather, and so would brown holland. But wiser still would be the choice of unshrinkable flannel or a knockabout serge which

will withstand the summer shower that has been so übiquitous among us of late.

Some of the loveliest muslin dresses can be purchased, made of alternate stripes of insertion lace and embroidery. Then by the yard there are thousands of lengths of foulard and every other kind of material, and one of these that is being sold at a special rate this summer is the pretty Japanese washing silk, which makes such delightful blouses. ® ® © A necessary item of one’s outfit when paying the ordinary round of seaside and country visits will be found set forth in the pretty dressing gown given in my sketch, which in its dainty elegance seems to hint at the confidential chats it will no doubt share in together with its owner and

her deareat friends. This gown could be carried out in any material, from the richest brocade and finest old lace which would elevate it to the highest rank in the world of tea-gowns, to a

simple muslin or zephyr robe. In this instance pure white nun’s-veiling was selected, the collar. Empire belt and trimmings of ecru lace. The woollen nature of the fabric rendered it warmer than cotton or muslin, and permitted it to attain to a degree of elegance sufficient to allow it, if necessary, to successfully withstand the glare of publicity as met with round the supper table. After a hard day of pleasure-seeking it is almost essential to have some such easy and elegant gown which can be hastily donned and looks as comfortable as it feels.

The coatee shown is a neat little product in blue silk, with a white panne roll collar and belt. ® ® ® My sketch illustrates a charming hat swathed with spotted net, and with a magnificent ostrich feather curling round the left side on to the hair. We still cling to the black hat of picturesque aspect. The drawn net hat is as charming as it is extravagant and much more durable, and therefore a superior merit in the eyes of the economically-minded are those of coarse black straw swathed with • ulle, with feathers or a big bunch

of shaded flowers at the side. A pretty black crinoline hat looks well adorned with huge La France rosea, while another I recently admired was

utterly devoid of any note of colour, but owned a large goffered tulle bow in front. Such a setting is particularly becoming to fair hair acting as an admirable b ickgr and. ® ® ® The charming tea-gown drawn in Fig. 3 is of white merv. cut with a trained “Prineesse” back and full front, falling easily from throat to feet. The broad turn-down collar has an insertion and frill of ecru lace, a scarf of the same, caught by a rosette of black bebe velvet ribbon at

the throat, falling loosely, and again at the left hip held by a velvet rosette, then falling loosely once more to almost the hem of the skirt. The sleeves are cut bell shape, edged with the ecru lace and filled in by full lace wrist sleeves. There is a great show of frieze cloths for this autumn’s wear, of a heavier make than those shown in the spring, of course, and in deeper pastel shades. These are mostly of Irish manufacture, but, though heartily admiring the lovely laces, lawns, cambrics, poplins, and silks fair Erin sends us. we cannot enthuse much over the frieze cloths. They are too rough-looking, we think, for ladies' gowns. One we saw yesterday (at an exclusive tailor’s), of a sad brown, Strapped with brown leather, looked’ far more like a horse-cloth than a robe for a lady fair. The short coatee asserts itself in all the new autumn models for lighter wear, and the Empire coat, jacket, and mantle are evidently to be features of the coming wear, much garnished with stitcherv strappings, applique, and embroidery.