THE LADIES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4114, 27 September 1884, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE LADIES.

LADIES' GOSSIP,

Deae Edith,—l am sending you by this mail a description of some charming costumes which were seen at the different shows that have.taken place at our leafding drapers fit'oi laziness" prevented my sehding them last week, and,' although elaboraWin style,! ancVdear in price , ,'I think the ideas, could be carried out in other materials to suit the requirements of all. Would you believe when we arrived though the show was only a few hours old, many tickets were oh "sold." Mamma declares many are bought already to grace , the lawn on Cup day. A most elegant dres3 was composed of steelgrey satin and brocaded velvet, the handsome design of the latter being in various shades of grey. The skirt was edged witli a wide double box-plaiting of satin, the draped front being also of salin. The box-pleated sides were of velvet caught up by a sash of satin to form a slight puff on the hips. The sash was brought round the front and tied in a careless kriot on the left side, the ends tipped with chenille. The puffed back drapery was of brocade, with a knot of satin on one side. The bodice of brocade had a full front of satin gathered at the waist and falling in long ends tipped with chenile. At the neck and waist were small knots of satin. A strikingly handsome costume was composed of brocaded velvet (with a design of richly shaded roses on a cream satin ground), myr-

tic-green, nnd poppy-red merveillcux. The underskirt was trimmed with a box pleating of myrtle satin, over which fell a flounce of ficelle lace. The overskirt was formed of panels of velvet brocade, divided by inverted pleatings of poppy-red satin. This overskirt was edged with lace and two rows of loops of myrtle satin lined with red. The panier drapery of myrtle satin was drawn to the back, where it, was raised in a puff, and then allowed to Fall lose to the edge of the skirt. The bodice of myrtle satin had a wide vest of velvet cut in four sharp points over a flounce of lace. The bodice was piped with red, and had two rows of lace over the hips. The high collar was of velvet, lined with lace. A stylish costume wa3 of electric and flame colored shot silk combined with frise brocade to match. The skirt was of brocade bordered by a narrow box-pleating of flame satin, over which was a small puffing of silk, both being almost hidden by a fan-shaped box pleating of brocade edged with lace. The polonaise was of silk with a full front gathered at the waist under a steel • clasp. The vest was of brocade trimmed with steel lace. The skirt of the polonaise formed points at the side, and was bordered by steel lace. At the back it was cut short over the puffed and pleated skirt of brocade. A sealbrown cashmere and brocade costume had a skirt of brocade cut in points at the edge over a kilting of cashmere, the points edged with a narrow puffing of brown satin. The overskirt of cashmere was caught back at the sides with wide revers of satin. The puffed and pleated drapery at the back was of cashmere! The cut-away coat bodice of cashmere had a vest of brocade and the deep, turned-down collar was also of brocade. A pretty Mary Anderson costume was of cream bison serge, the short drapery looped with poppy-red satin ribbon. Tho cream jersey had" rest, collar, and cuffs elaborately braided with gold. A handsome costume had a skirt of red satin veiled with black lace and trimmed with panels and bands of satin piped with red and covered with jet luce. The straps of satin at the side terminated in loop's and ends tipped with jet. On the hips was a drapery of satin caught back in a full puff, and then allowed to fall free to the edge of the skirt. The bodice^ of satin had the front covered with lace. The

vest was of jet lace. Another handsome costume was of myrtle green cashmere and brocade. The plain front of the skirt was of brocade, with a short pleated drapery of cashmere. At the sides were pleatings of enshmere, and at the back a puffed and. pleated drapery of the same material. The bodice, with Zouave front, was of cashmere, with a front of brocade edged with velvet tied in a bow at the side. A stylish costume was of plain and figured navy blue eerge, the skirt formed of panels of the plain divided by alternate pleatings of red and blue. The drapery was of figured serge, caught up high at tho sides, and forming drapery pt the back. The bodice of plain serge has a full front of red and blue check foulard, which formed sash pnniers, nnd terminated in a bow at the back. Tlie favorite combination of blue and red still promises to maintain its popularity ; it is seen on many of the new light woollens, and here, among the spring novelties, prominence was given to a walking dress of deep blue, flocked all over with tiny dots of red. A grey costume of velvet broche and satin attracted very general notice. The broche velvet formed the bodice, with a loose vest, terminating in loops of satin, finished off with chenillo pompons. In the front of the skirt was a skilfully-arranged drapery of satin with three deep box pleats of velvet broche at either side. Over the upper part of

these pleats, crossing over and falling in loosely knotted ends, wns a juivo scarf of aatin. The back of the dress of broche was-

slightly draprd andefu'.ght. up at one side with loops and ends of satin matching the scarf in front. it wns a very elegant costume, and I wondered that it had not been selected with others which were sold the first day. Its cost of more than forty pounds

could not have been the reason, for sums

like this are by no means an uncommon price to pay for elegant spring costumes. Another very tr.agnificientdress was acorn, bination of olive-green satin, cardinal silk,

and a rich brocade of a deepyellowish cream

foundation, with brilliant flowers in relief upon it of cut velvet. A handsome costume had a skirt of cardinal satin, edged with fan pleatings, divided by small tabs of black velvet. A pointed apron in front wns formed of a net-work and fringe of black

chenille. The bodice and back drapery were

of black brocade. A very stylish costume was of myrtle shot silk and brocade. The

draped front was of brocade, and at. the side were pleatings of silk drawn together at the lower edge to show draperies of coflVe lace. The bodice was of beoende, nnd the puffed

and pleated drapery at, the back was of silk. Another costume was of flame and myrtle shot, silk and brocade. The skirt tvas of brocade cut in points over a kilting of silk, the points being edged with a narrow ruche. Across the skirt was a sash of silk, caught with bows of myrtle ribbon velvet. The bodice was of silk, half-fitting in front, nnd having a full vest of brocade. The back drapery was of silk.—•LotJiH.