Ladies' Column

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 348, 8 January 1903, Page 2

Ladies' Column

FASHION AND THINGS V FEMININE. Bt MISS ADA. MELLEB. (All Bights Bbsbbvhd.) AN ABTISTIC TEA.-GOWN. I i SKtSKOR home wear there is nothinp 1 (jrMp more comfortable in the way of jgis& dr<sßß than a tea-gown, the very style of the garment being indicative of ease and grace, no master how much tea-gowns of sorts may differ from one another in the way of detail. By a tea-gown, we understand at once a robe with long, straight line 3 and without compression or very close fit—a gown, in short, which is the nearest approach to the long, clinging garments of ancient Greece that we are permitted to wear. A very pretty and artistic tea-gown is suggested in the sketch in this column, it iB f»shioned on Empire lines so far as the short waist is concerned, but for the rest it is strictly up-to-date, for nothing ia more fashionable at the moment than tucks and accordion-pleating. . The example given, therefore, is very happy blending of the picturesque and fashion-

able. Tho tf a-gown is composed of white or cream- coloured nun's vailing, the skirt and lower part of the sleeves being accordion-pleated, while the bodico and upper part of the sleeves are of tack 3 of veiling and bands of guipure insertioa. Tho robe is, of course, en princesse, the bodice being joined to the skirt and the union concealed by a broad band of patin ribbon covered with guipure insertion, A big rosette of satin ribbon is Bewn to the waist and continues in long mda down the front rf tho skirt, The accor-diou-pleated portions of the sleeves are edged with guipure, and the foot of the skirt is trimmed with one or two rows of stitching. This pretty model lends itself with extreme grace to either nun's veiling, as suggested, or to soft Jap silk. BUTTONS AS TBIMMINGS. A great many buttons are being used this summer as trimmings to cloth and washing dresses, When associated with art-linen the buttons are frequently of pearl—which may be suffered to pass through the laundress's hands; but cloth gowns display a variety of enamel, silver, or paste buttons, and occasionally buttons of their own material. A very charming gown of cream-coloured oatmeal cloth is profusely trimmed with tiny buttons en suite, and many of the black and navy blue serge costumes of to-day are deoked with straps of braid or of black glace aet with groups of tiny pilt buttons of the drop type, A particularly smart-looking frock of cream-coloured serge, made with straps and stitchinsts, shows a decoration of innumerable buttons of its own material and of various sizes, and several gowns of ' light beige are trimmed with enamel or silver-filigree buttons, supporting loops of black bebe velvet. The fashion of button trimmings has started a new vogue in wedding presents, and,; it is quite the . usual thing for the bride of to-day to receive among other gifts a case of antique silver buttons, which she can use as mere trimmings or as actual fastenings to her bodice or coat.. Buttons of a large size have, for the most part, given place this season to buttons of exceptionally small proportions. NEW WAISTBELTS AND FEONTS

Fancy waistbelts are a great feature of the piesent modes, the ' Swiss shape * being very much favoured. Baits of gold galon are quite the rage, and others of leather or elastic material, thickly studded with cut-steel and perhaps blue stones, "are equally fashionable. la the group sketch of toilette trifles will be seen one or two examples of the most popular forms of waistbelt. The belt sketched at the top of the group is carried _ out in bands of gold galon or tinsel, widening into Swiss shape at the back, and held to its width by a handsome ornameHt of gold-coloured, metal, the fronts being clasped by a buckle to match. The lower belt illustrates a ' waist' of dove-coloured leather set with cut steel and imitation turquoises, and fastened in front with a steel and blue buckle. Other belts are Swiss-shaped back and front,. and others again are about three inches wide all the , way round, and are set at intervals apart with large single stones. The pretty sash sketched between the waistbelt* flej-cribed illustrates a charming mode affected by young ?iris. The sash is of

black glace jsilk or of ribbon* tied into a bow with high loops at the back, and finishing in long mitred ends edged with black Chantilly lace. The remaining sketches suggest two novel styles for fronts to wear with; open coats or boleros. In the one will bo seen a front of soft white silk, draped across the bust hand* kerchief fashion, and knotted into a bow with lace-trimmed ends/the little vest above being of guipure- or fine lace. This vest is made in one with the front, and can be mounted on silk or not, as preferred,