Ladies' Column

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 353, 12 February 1903, Page 2

Ladies' Column

FASHION AND THINGS FEMININE. > Bt MISS ADA. MELLEB. i A SMABT COBSELET SKIBT. |SKHANKS to the fashion of sideohTAo openings to skirts, instead of back dwLt plackets, there is far less untidiness than formerly displayed between the union of a skirt and blouse, for the reason that it is now possible to stitch the waistband to the skirt, which greatly helps to avert what was formerly a common evil. A pretty vogue that is particularly useful in keeping the figure trim, especially when a blonse is worn, is the corselet skirt, which gives to the waist a becoming shapeliness, and prevents any untidiness between skirt and blouse. A smart model of a costume with corselet Bkirt is shown in the sketch herewith. The skirt should be of cloth, with tapering applications of guipure, and the short coat of guipure to match is finished with velvet cuffs and collar and tabs, these latter being fastened down with paste or pearl buttons. The skirt fastens at the left aide, and the corselet in front is cut up and laced across with bebe velet, The corset being cut in one with the Bkirt yields comfortable support to the figure, and is exceedingly becoming. Of course, cloth of any colour could be used, or the design might be copied in black, the lace applications and coat being of black or ecru-coloured as preferred; but a smart scheme for festive wear would be a skirt of pastel blue cloth or old rose cloth, trimmed with stringcoloured guipure, while other suggestions are that the costume be either of reseda cloth with tan-coloured lace, or light fawn or dove-coloured cloth or wool crepoline, or—what would be very useful—of nutbrown cloth, with coffee-tinted lacs or

With lace dyed to match the costume material. The little coat should in any case be lined, and the blouse should repeat the colour of the dress or be of a deep shade of cream. This effective dress would be suitable for a wedding guest, and, of course, later on in the year it could he supplemented by a cape of oloth or turned ta account as an indoor dress. BA.THING DEESSES. The bathing dresses worn abroad are very much more elaborate than those seen on our English coasts, and following the fashion of smart costumes, many of them are made with blouse bodies cut after the style of the Russian bolero. At the fashionable Continental seaside reaorts bathing is one of the features of the day's social events—just as a daily drive in Hyde Park is considered necessary to the Englishwoman of fashion during the season—consequently, the question of dress becomes very much more important that When sea-bathing is pursued solely for the enjoyment of a good long swim. A MATRON'S HOME DRESS. The present fashion of long waists conveniently adapts itself with 6qual success to slim and stout figures, bat is, perhaps, more particularly acceptable to the stout, since this type of figure is more difficult to suit than the siim. Stout fUrares need careful dressing, and very often a spec-ially-designed costume, since- the average gown is not for them. An excellent model of a home dress, specially adapted to the figure inclined to embonpoint, is shown in the sketch in this column. The special and n vel feature about the dress is the way in which the pcuch is clasped with a couple of fancy braid buttons, from which depend bunches of tassels. This i a very smart and original touch, and look

very well when' worn. Any woollen material, such as cloth, serge, all-wool poplin, nun's!veiling, etc., ii suitable for making up into a gown after this fashion. The style ia quite simple, the only trimming being stitched bands of the drees material. A short basque might be added at the back of the bodice, which would increase the; dignified effect of the dress. There is, it will be observed, a simulated inner waistcoat of glace silk, with a scalloped edge and 'small round . buttons, which falls over-the front of chiffon, strapped across with lace insfereion,