Vogue of Velvet.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 19, 10 May 1911, Page 69

Vogue of Velvet.

THE vogue of velvet is the dominant ■vie in autumn and winter fashions. CHARM OF VELVETEEN. Even the velveteens, once regarded as poor relations of the aristocratic velvets, are exquisitely light and supple, ami liko the more costly velvets are to be had in a wide range of lovely colourings. Blue in the beautiful sapphire shades. Gobelin and Nile Hues and blues softer and warmer in tone, greens, both of the merald order and the grey liehen greens, warm copper browns, ami, above all, bhwk, are among the leading colours for the velvet gown. The curious thing about velvet and velveteen is its extraordinary adaptability. It is no exaggeration to say that the fashionable, woman of autumn and winter will be robed from head to foot in velvet. From the toe of her little black velvet shoe to the high crown of her picturesque velvet toque, she will demonstrate the velvet vogue, and over her velvet gown she will gracefully drape a fur-bordered velvet scarf. FOR ALL OCCASIONS. The tailor-made short of skirt and natty of eoat will be of velvet; so will

the elegant eoat cat iu long ct ngag lines. The afternoon gown will bear witnew to the charms of real laee allied with velvet. The graceful tea-gown will be of the same favoured fabric, and the evening gown and dinner frock will have velvet as their basis, made additionally beautiful by embroideries of jewels that tone with the fabric and the softening effect of filmy laces. Beads, crystal, old silver, opal, pearl, amethyst, sapphire, and quaint wooden beads dyed to Uno with the velvet will be need in these jewelled trimmings. The picturesque fashion of the girdle of heavy silk cord passed twice round the waist and loosely knotted at the side is peculiarly suited to the velvet dress. Heavy silk cord enters into the trimming scheme extensively, in fact. A charming little velvet gown, simply fashioner! on the lines «o popular in the summer, has a row of silk eord buttons running from the neck to the hem. A turn-down collar of A'enetian laee. and a girdle of tasselled eord give a picturesque finish to a very becoming little dress. Velvet is used as a trimming for other materials as well as the main material of the gown. In alliance with ea<-he-mire de sole, satin charmeuse, chiffon doth, and even ninon, it is seen on many of the latest tailor-mades, and will certainly elbow ont satin and ottoman as a facing for coat collars and revers.

In this figure we have illustrated the simple morning wrapper, or peignoir, in * thick white cashmere-backed satin, trimmed with a Cluny lace border. An "odd length” of pale pink washing silk is utilised for the lining, while a piece of old-ro=e velvet, with quaint embroidery, forms a charming finish to the neck line. This garment, though apparently cut al! in one, has a seam under the waistband of laee insertion, which is on a firm satin ribbon of pink; this enables much fulness to be taken from the skirt, and preserves a straight line, ,