THE WORLD OF FASHION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XV, 11 April 1903, Page 1046

THE WORLD OF FASHION.

(By

MARGUERITE.)

The picture at the bottom of the page displays four very pretty ordinary evening gowns, two for girls who are not actually out. and a couple for those who are enjoying their first winter season. At the left-hand side is to be seen a ( harming costume made of white muslin pleated from the waist to the hem and decorated with filigree garlands of white mousseline roses. It has been noticed already that girls are wearing colours a good deal. A bright pink is prevalent, and so is that ever-fashionable turquoise blue. Ringed muslin is an excessively suitable material to choose for a girl of 15. and nothing could be more simple, and yet more elegant, than the second model of the sketch with its pouched bodice cut low to show the outline of the shoulders, but daintily filled in with a chemisette of lace, beneath which the decollet age is outlined with rows of gauging, which adornment also adds a touch of quaintness to the skirt with its edging of three old-fashioned frills.

Quite a debutante air, as of one who has just left school and put her hair up, is borne by the girl who stands third on the pielure. Her gown is much more elaborate than that of her younger companions. for it is made of crepe de Chine, very closely gauged to form a sheath from the wait downwards, and trimmed with large lozenges of lace superimposed of chiffon. There is an excessively full flounce edged with three-quarter inch wide bands of pale amber satin, which satin forms a hip yoke and a decolletage outline, and also edges the four frill that make the pretty sleeves. In the last case the scheme is also elaborate. Debutantes of from 18 upwards can usually

with advantage to their personal appearance wear sleeveless bodices, or in lieu of sleeves a cloudy drapery of tulle. The toilette in this case depicted is one of

creamy white point d’esprit, trimmed with arabesques, and rings of pink crepe de Chine delicately laid on and appliqued to tl;e tender background.

A charming dinner, theatre, or demidress bodice is introduced in this figure, which embraces more than one feature of up-to-moment modes. Firstly, as the “powerful discourse” goes, it is of black and white, which is as much la mode as ever. Secondly, it is of crepe de Chine, which is still greatly en evidence; and thirdly, it is trimmed with an applique of grapes, which are having such an immense vogue. The white of the crepe de Chine is softened by ivory-tinted lace as chemisette and sleeves. ® ® ®

This attractive blouse is made up in a woollen material. The front has two tin tucks, which are faced with a strip of silk or ribbon of a contrasting colour to that of the texture, and stitched in three rows. The back has an inch tuck each side of the centre fold, stitched

and faced in the same way; there is a little fulness at the waist, which is folded in a plait outside each tuck. The fastenings are under the left front outer plait; the front waist is slightly pouched into a waistband, or if preferred it may be left loose to be worn under the skirt. The sleeves are the ordinary new shirt waist pattern, made to fasten to size or not, as preferred. This blouse may be made for outdoor wear, as part of a suit, in which case it is, of course, finished with a waistband, and there is no collar to the neck, the edge being finished off to match the tucks, or if for house wear, a small neck band may be added for wearing a stook outside.

Two yards of 42in wide material are required for a medium size; three-eighths of silk on the bias, or four and a-half of ribbon.