Ladies' Column

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 360, 2 April 1903, Page 2

Ladies' Column

FASHION AND THINGS FEMININE. . ~ Bt MISS ADA MELLER THE NEW BLOUSES. XR3KOR evening wear there is nothing QMyp prettier than a lace blouse, and Mkxfk the models which favour the style of a little ' saoque' are especially becoming to girls The original design of an evening blouse of guipure, or finer lace, with long, transparent mitten-sleeves And insertions and knots of black babe velvet, which is illustrated in this column, will, I think, appeal to our girl readeia, for it is charmingly becoming. The lace sacqu-3 is mounted over a sleeveless blouse of cream-coloured chiffon, and is fiuiahed at the neck with smart little shoulder capes and rovers threaded with bebe velvet, which is continued down the fronts of the coat, and could be, of course, continued all round. The velvet knots at the neck might be of bebe velvet or wider velvet-ribbon, and the pointed waistband into which the chiffon blouse is gathered, is also of black velvet. Another way in which aacque blouses are being made is

to mount a flounce of lace on to a lace bmt-band, the finished effect beij,g very much the same aa that of the blouse sketched, the bust-band, or tiny bodice, reaching to about the level cf the turnedback points of the revere. The second blouse sketched is suitable for a woman of middle age, and is a useful style for home wear during the autumn and winter. It Is intended to be made up in ruby-coloured or petnna velveteen, trimmed with a fichu of its own material frilled with string-col ured lace, the vest being of luce to match. The blouse is somewhat of the Russian type, and is supplemented by a deep basque, with round?d comers, which is attaohed to the velveteen waistband sewn to the blouse itself. A few cut Bteel or enamel buttons fasten the bodice down the front, and the bell-shaped sleeves are finished with ruffles of lace.

A NOVEL WATERPROOF COAT

Of late years many improvements have been brought about in fashions relating to waterproofs, the materials of which they are now composed and the style in which they are made producing agreeable-. evolutions of what was formerly a distinctly unbecoming garment A cloth that has been subjected to a waterproof process is naturally the best material wherewith to make a rainproof coat, and modern invention has happily produced fine, soft, prettily-coloured rainproof cloths that bear with them none of the stiff n6ss and shiainess oi the mackintosh. The waterproof can, tbj»*- ' fore, be. a really smart-looking garment under prevailing conditions. The falllength sketch in this column suggests >

design for a useful, slim-fitting waterproof coat—one that might be worn with" eat regret even when the clouds give way to sunshine. The chief novelty about it is the doable cape-collar., which is cat ap here and there and etched all round. It fastonß with little buttons, wbioh might be placed in a line with the shoulder seam or nearer the front; or a few buttons only might be used, at the throat (as indicated in the sketch), these being merely decorative, the cape-collar fastening with hooks and eyes on the left shoulder seam. A few little buttons are set, in groups, down the side of the coat where the opening oconrs, the actual fastening occurring by means of. a fly-lap with buttonholes (on the right fmnt) and flat buttons sewn to the left front of the coat. The sleeves are turned back at the wrists with big cuff i. A good idea wonld be to pipe the ooat throughout—round the. fancy collar and caff a, and down the side-opening, OHILDBEN'S FABHIONR \ School outfits for children have occupied the attention of many mothers since the return from the summer holiday, for it has, of course, been necessary to provide new overcoats for the boys and new pelisses for the girls to suit the obange of season. Some of the smartest wraps for little girls are the long coats which are made of frieze or cloth, doublebreasted and pouching at the waist, and continuing to the end of tbe skirt, the pouch being sewn to a waistband of the coat material. Where the ooat fasiags at the left side is a stitched band ofpiain fritza or cloth, which may, however, be replaced, and with good effect, by anilk band, which appears again oh the collar and cuffs. Other tohool coats are semifitting sacques, reaching to the end of the Bkirt and fastening, doubleAreastott fashion, with large pearl buttons, some of the coats having the addition of detachable shoulder-capes for extra warmth. Bed cloth coats a»d tarn.© 8 shanters to match are tbe outdoor suits of many girls from the ages of six to fourteen.