SOCIETY AND FASHION GOSSIP.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3112, 18 June 1881, Page 3

SOCIETY AND FASHION GOSSIP.

Black muslin edged with white lace, and white muslin with black lace hare proved a great success in some handkerchief dresses. A pretty additioii to a dark winter dress is % cluster of rich red plush flowers and leaves fastened among the lace ruffles at the throat. The spider-and-the-fly brooch represents a web of silver and a little black fly caught in the toils, with a gold spider evidently about to spring upon its helpless prey. Cashmere and velvet dresses, sunshades, reticules, and other articles of feminine wearing apparel, are profusely decorated with imitations of peacock's feathers. Wash merino and black thread stockings In water with bran, no soap ; the bran to be tied up in a musliu bag. The stockings will then preserve their black dye. Elbow sleeves will be worn more than ever next summer. This fashion will make the fortune of glove-makers, since it necessitates long and expensive gloves. Plush is used for everything ; brackets, chairß, work-tables, and videpoche tables are all covered with plush and decorated with vollen tassels and fringe. Some of the new hose have the foot of one colour up the ankle, and the rest of broad perpendicular etripes of two colours, or else the foot and leg of one colour and the instep of another, with embroidery. It is inferred that there will be a continuance of the revival of picturesque old etylea in dress, as the Princess of Wales is having several toilettes constructad after the pictures in the Louvre of tho Henri Quatre period. Petticoats are in great variety just at prosent. Instead of stripes, there are coloured spots up to a certain height. Ked spots on navy-blue ground are moet popular just now, as serge and cloth dresses of thab color are much worn. At a ball in Vienna, not long since, Elizabeth of Austria wore a gown of black velvet, relieved by a collar of black diamonds and pearls, and a brilliant diadem in her hair, which, though an elderly lady, she wears hanging loosely over her shoulders upon ceremonious occasions. When the Empress of Austria rented Combermere Abbey, the whole place was painted and papered, hot water laid on, the stables done up, telegraphic wire and telephone put in, and all sorts of other permanent additions made at the imperial expense—a fine sort of tenant to have. Cosies of the usual shape are left open at the top and upper part of the sides and then filled in with a puff of satin. This puff is often of a diflerent color to the rest of the cosy. In black and red, or gold and dark blue, it looks well.

A bit of Fronch coquetry is a red beetle an inch long of a gilt and stone that is resting on the pleated lace of the dress front. This single beetle is discovered on other French costumes, sometimes reposing on the left shoulder, while on other dresses it is transferred to the sleeve.

A lady who aims at being the best dressed woman in Philadelphia appeared lately in a dress of white embroidered velvet, covered with crystal trimming and pearl fringe. It was so heavy that she could barely waddle about, but as it was the dress of the evening she went home happy.

White enamelled ribs showing outside of the lining of parasols are a new feature. Borders of bayadere-striped satin, or else of plaid satin, are seen on many of the darkcoloured parasols ; instead of bordering the outer edges, this gay band is sometimes around the middle of the parasol. A now diversion is now occupying the minds and busying the hands of many young lady artists who are amateurs : and that is, sketching with pen and ink on linen. The work has to be very carefully done ; for, if a mistake be made, it cannot be erased : but the results obtained by a skilful hand are commensurate with all the trouble taken in producing them. A pretty way of decorating shoes, is to choose some rather narrow sarsenet ribbon of three colors, say for instance, pale blue, pale pink, and cerise, then with a needle and thread proceed to put a runner in close to the edge., curling the ribbon round and round until it forms aminature rose ; do the same with the other colors, and then fasten the roses on to the toes of the slippers ; the cost is inconsiderable, and the effect is very pretty. The lavish use of flowers in American houses increases so rapidly that the florist's bill forms one of the largest items in the domestic budget. Rare plants and blossoms crowd every available corner and vase, till the rooms resemble a greenhouse, and hostesses vie with each other in producing novel floral decorations. Cornucopias and horseshoes have grown common, and the success of the winter is a miniature sleigh filled with roses ; while at a recent dinner to General Grant every plate was encircled by a wreath of smilax, and a basket of blossoms three feet in diameter occupied the centre of the table.