Ladies'Column.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 441, 29 September 1904, Page 2

Ladies' Column.

Latest London M Paris Fashjonsr^ Bt MISS ADA MELLEB.C ' ' ,' JjADT JOUBNALIST, &O.J A SPEING COSTUME WITH SHAWLCAPE. ■HE influx of spring fashions into the Bhop windows followed immediately on the close of the winter sales, and now every day brings with it fresh models for April wear. But in the meantime there are March wiads to be reckoned with, and though it is always wis? to be beforehand in matters of the wardrobs and to be prepared for sudden changeß of temperature—which advice may at the moment be construed iHto buying a frock for early spring: wear before it is actnally wanted—yet it is unwise to pack away the clothes of a dying seaßon too prematurely. I have already alluded to the coming-in of capes for spring wear, and am this waek presenting a picture of a Bkirt and cape costume that is typical of the new mode. In this instance it is a shawl-cape depicted, falling into deep points, which might, if preferred, be emphasised by the addition of cord buttons and tassels thereabouts. The costume is suited to any of the new spring materials, such as fise cloth, cashmere, hopßack, serge, etc., but preferably to the first named owing to their more supple quality, the charm of the c*pe being the soft, limp way in which it (alls over the shoulders. Serge and hopsaok

are more 'resistible' materials than cloth or cashmere, and do not fall so gracefully and softly. The costume sketched would work out very prettily in reseda-green face-cloth or cafe au lait double cashmere, trimmed with Oriental galon or embroidery. The Utter should introduce tones of tomato-red, old gold-and green, with touchfs of white, if the green schema be affected; whereas on a cafe-coloured frock the embroidery might advisedly ehow tints of old rose and golden-brown or fawn, or of China blues if preferred, the touch of white again being evident, The embroidery forms an entire border to the cape and appears as a band on the skirt, which is otherwise quite simple. As for the blouse-bodice worn beneath the cape, that m&y be either of the dress material or of silk to match, or of fancy delaine or voile. It is considered oorrect for the blouse to match the skirt in colour i£ not in material; wherefore in the case of a delaine blouse the ground should harmonise with the colour of the dress, while the pattern might be in white, or better still in colours agreeing with those in the embroidery on the cape. A DJIBBAH EOBE. For the past year there has been an attempt on the part of artistic people to introduce the Djibbah into the drawingrooms and for house wear generally, and the many beautiful forms in which it may now be seen give little clue to the origin of the garment, which is, of course, the robe worn by the peasants and watercarriers of Egypt. The characteristic of the Djibbah ia that it is plaoketless, and fastens neither at the back, front, nor side, the opening at the neck being jast large enough for the head to pass through. On the other hand, artistic dressmakers prefer a placket and are arranging invsible side-openings to the gowns, which are, of course, in every oase princesse. Our eketch represents a graceful Djibbah of black wool-satin aa soft as possible, embroidered at the neck with floral ornaments in art greens and blues, touched up with gold thread. Above is a small

J tucker of pale green, gathered, chiffon, and the sleeves are of similar filinyfabric, veiled with a frill of blaok kilted, chiffon. Other Djibbahs are of soft brocade^inade in a similar manner, and those 6f: velvet ace even more lovely; while the Djibbah of simpler material, such as donble cashmere, or some such stuff, is made with straight bell sleeves and a simulated vest let in the front, for a short distance, of white satin worked over closely with gold coloured silke.