LATEST PARISIAN FASHIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1902, 26 July 1888, Page 3

LATEST PARISIAN FASHIONS

(From our own Correspondent.)

Parisians would appear not to have taken too kindly to Bhort waists and the other plotureeque eooentricities that marked the parfod of the First Empire. The number of actual Empire dresses fa extremely limited, but the result of the movement is nevertheless dco'ded. La Mode has settled upon a medium oouree that has Buffiolent novelty m it to make it aooeptable, while at the same time it Is far enough removed from absolute ecoen« trlolty to please French taste, m geaeral not much given to patronise out andlsh form's and styles, considered more m their places wlihin a picture-frame than fcr the ordinary ooarse of dally life. One of the principal resultß of all these gleanings In the paat ia the adoption of the rediugote tunlque or polonaise, with its long fljt basques, fluted back breadths and bodice out m one with the skirt, if not entirely at least m part, and abDve all, of the addition thereunto of a soatf loosely knotted round the waist, or of a wide ribbon BBsh tied on one side. Being essentially a dressy garment the redingote is seldom made m other than a silken material. At the many great weddings that have taken plaoe lately it has bio*Bomed forth m all sores of rich fabrics, m brocaded silk and satin, In damnsk and lampas— that softest and most refined of figured silks, the designs of whioh are often woven on a background shot with live oolors— and also m plala tissues, futile and Velontine, Biollienne and Bengaline.

Fancy galloons, embroidery, and fringe taken into favor once more, are used to trim the border of rodlngoteß, composed of plain materials, it trimming at all is found necessary, entire simplicity being often preferred.

Parasols are always a matter of consideration to many ladies, the sfza, oolor, and general appearances are somewhat ombarrasin^i and among the en-oaa ornamented with squares, stripes or m Bimple shot silk, the Japanese parasol stands out with an originality of its own. It is of cream Bilk muslin, flowered! with a Ja£> neeque design In tender Mnta of rose, blue and green ; the frame is light and elegantiy gilt, each rib being visible, the lining of some soft corresponding tint m silk throwing a pretty Bhade on the wearer's features. A lace edges the frame somewhat tendue, and completes the Yeddo like appearanoo of this BunEoreen.

Next to parasols In the hat months, the question of fans is mooted In this fabrication again Paris excels. Nothing is so ÜBeful as the largo guaze fan of any color to suit the oostume, painted on the onter edge of the half circle with a beautiful bird of paradise or golden pheaßant, co posed that the long feathers of the tail, m graoeful curve, enframe the top of the fan when opened. Other fans, move dressy, are of blaok ohantilly edged at the top with a band ten oentimotres m width of fl>wers painted "en oordoc;" Such bloßsoms as poppies, violets, and small sunflowers, big, rich pansles, form admirable oontrasts with the diaphanous tranepareuoe of the lace.