Ladies Column

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 363, 23 April 1903, Page 2

Ladies Column

FASHION AND THINGS FEMININE. • Bt MISS ADA MELLER THE NEW FUR PELERINES. tttfHHERE is something quite new to fltflk &M of in fclie Bha P e °* the nev fur j2|£» boas, which really resplve themselves into pelerines, the smartest and latest idea being a large square collar of mink, or any otheafnr, continued as iwide stoles, which fall down the front*the

•oat, or bodice and skirt, with wbioh th« •fur decoration iB worn. Rich people wear sable, ermine, atone marten, chinchilla and other costly furs, but for those who cannot afford such luxuries there axe plenty of cheaper furs to choose from. An idea of the new fur pelerine, or collar and Btoles combined, may be gathered from one of the'sketches in this column. With an ermine or sable pelerine, tails to match are introduced about the wrap, and the same idea is copied in cheaper furs, the tails appearing at the lower edge of the collar and also on the stoles, Sometimes the tails will be arranged in groups in t series of lines all the way down the stol»B. Sometimes the tails will be arranged in groups in a series of lines all the way down the stoles. Tfaaggy and smooth furs aie alike used to carry out the new pelerine, which is to be seen in dark brown furs, in black fpz and in white fox, etc. Perhaps the most original note in furs, however, is struck by the new far fichu, which, like its companion the pelerine, is produced in almost-every variety of fur. One of these naw fancies is sketched in this column. The fichu is

quite an independent affair, and can be worn OYtr a cloth bodice or Basaian coat and iB very becoming. The far is arranged on a satin foundation, fichu fashion, and becomes narrower as it nears tfie waist, where it is clasped with an old silver buckle. Some of the new fichus conclude thereabouts, and are iB this way almost like revers; some, on the: other hand, continue in stole end to the knees. Again, the upper part of the fur shows variety, the fichu being at times frilled with its own material, at other timaa having no frill at all. Good, fare are rarely cheap, but with care they will last so long that they are well worth'their outlay, and nothing gives so great an effect to an outdoor coßtume.' 1 * The simplest of the new fur wraps are mere stoles of astrachan, cafacule, or other fur, the length varying from mid-waist to knee-deep. , • A CHABMING DEMI-TOILETTE. Accordion-pleating is very muoh in vogue again for evening gowns, soft silks, mousselines, crepes, etc., being treated in this fascinating way with great' success. Accordion-pleating has- the advantage of making a thin silk appear of better quality than it is, and, therefore, suits a soft Japanese or Pongee silk particularly well. A pretty gown for demi-toilette purposes is suggested in the accompanying full-length sketch, and would make up very gracefully in white or creamcoloured Japanese silk.and ivory or ficellecoloured guipure lace. The skirt" and sleeves are of accordion-pleated silk? and the yoke is of hem-stitching or' drawn chiffon, anlined, the little caps to the sleeves and the French sacque, also the cuffs and the border to the skirt, being of guipure. The sacque should be mounted on a slip of soft silk or chiffon, and if

great lightness of effect were desired, the, - sleeves might be of chiffon instead of S Bilk. The sacque fastens undeE the left arm, so that no join occurs down tbe back. The, yoke should be fastened on the left shoulder, Touches of blaok velvet round the waist and on the corsage throw up the lightness of this elegant toilette, which mipht be transformed to full even' ing. dress by \ removing the yoke and accordion-pleated sleeves, if this idea is to be acted upon, the'. yoke and sleeves must be' made complete from the bodice, so that they are 'detachable without dis-turbing-any stitches. Of course, the dress could be copied in black, and in this way would be very useful.