FEMININE CHIT-CHAT FROM ENGLAND.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1770, 8 April 1874, Page 2

FEMININE CHIT-CHAT FROM ENGLAND.

[Melbourne Argus.] London, Jati. 23. Ths is one of the red-letter days in life, and llussia and England are combining to celebrate with all due honours the wedding of an English Prince with a Russian Emperor's only daughter. Of course, the ladies have a great deal to say about the trousseau, and it is supposed that the Grand Duchess will bring about a new era and tone in the matter of dress, as she is said to be likely to indulge in such costly toilettes that if her example be followed the line dravn between rich peeresses and poor gentlefolks will be broader than ever. Then do you know it is whispered that Her Royal Highness, may introduce English ladies to the hitherto forbidden joys of a mild cigarette, and to a better knowledge of the art of tea-making ? Nous verons. Much is hidden in the future. . ■. . With regard to dress, however, everybody appears in a kind of uniform just now, viz., petticoats either of quilted satin or of, a material the same a? the rest of the costume, with kilt, plaited flounces, and a polonaise made with no basques, the body/ and skirt cut in one, large pockets at the side, and a profusion of oxidised buttons. Among the new; , nicknacks are muffs wliioh have a large bow

of ribbon fastened with a buckle in the centre of the fur, so that when in use they are immediately in front of you. With regard to evening wear, I will describe two of the prettiest dresses I have seen lately — one was black and white, the other salmon-coloured silk and dark claret velvet. The-latter had a front^breMth of the velvet, with a flounce of the same, headed by a crosscut band piped with pink,; above this a row of Point d'Alengon was arranged in a semicircular" form ; there were pockets;: at each side, ornamented with lace butterflies ; the back of the dress was salmon-coloured silk, the upper part made as a tunic, edged with Point d'Alengon ; below it a crosswayplaited flounce, the heading lined with the velvet, which showed a good deal. The bodice consisted of a sleeveless jacket of the velvet, coming to the throat, with a tulle ruff ; the sleeves were of the silk, trimmed with velvet. At many dinner .parties this winter people have been wearing perfectly full-dress toilettes, but .coming high to the throat. The black-and-white dress was made long, of black tulJe, no puffings ; the tunic was edged with wide white tulle, headed by ra puffing of the black tulle over white ribbon, and the back was divided from the front by perpendicular puffings of the same kind, with bows between ; and a series of such' puffings were carried horizontally across the front of the tunic ; a wide white silk sash was carelessly knotted at the back, and the bodice opened at the neck in a semicircuUr form, and . was. trimmed with folds of white tulle laid on outside. These semicircular bodices are superseding the square cut and the heart-shaped ; the rounding is more becoming to the figure. Dressing well with small means is an easier art than it used to be, thanks to the annual sales which all the large linendrapers' shops have, and where wonderful bargains are to be picked up. Indeed quite a new system seems to have, been, introduced among our. really best shops, viz. , that for one or perhaps two months in the year — J anuary and July —a portion of their stock is brought out and sold at half the original cost, and a reduction made on everything, as long as the sale lasts, many items being charged again at the usual rate when it is over. • . " Whifceley's "is quite an institution ; it is a shop, or rather series of shops, .in Westbournegrove, where every article of dress, .. as well as some furniture and stationery and ornamental nick-nacks, 'are; sold; Fine ladies, once upon a time, only ,w;en^ to cheap shops ou the sly, but ' everybody goes and owns to going there. Some things just now are to be had at absurdly low prices; the counters of the 10 or 12 shops are strewn with wares, and the crowd and the scramble are altogether ludicrous ; fearthers and, ruffs, silks, collars, cuffs, cotton dresses) 'made-up skirts, and the like, there they are— all piled up before you, and the number of shillings you are tempted to spend which you never dreamt of doing is wonderful. They have certain specialatie3. For example, you can buy almost any coloured"satin shoe to match any dress, and they contrive to cater for all the little wants in the matter of nick-nacks in dress, at a cheap rate ; but they charge you llfd. instead of Is., and add farthings on. to eveything, after the manner of cheap shopa, ,and there is a crowd to be encountered whenever you go there. The last thing is a refreshment-room— where you can have all kinds of good hot fare better than anywhere else in London — where ladies lunch, and at a fair price. Beer, wine, and. spirits they do not sell. There is generally a -mania about some particular thing in Loncion, and just now the shop windows are "full of the Nice baskets. They are made .of "• looselyplaited straw, not very much unlike a carpenter's basket in form, save that they rest on a circular base. They are lined with scarlet and a ruche of : braid goes round the top and bottom, while the basket itself is ornamented with leaves cut out in green cloth, and fastened down with silk, added to which are large red cherries made in wool. . .These are useful receptacles for work, holding a great deal, and moreover are, bright and pretty in a room. The present Lord Mayor has brought about an innovation in the social gatherings at the Mansion House. ' Last week he gave a conversazione in connection with the Home for Little Boys, Faringham, Kent. The company lisoned for an hour or more to some account of the institution, illustrated: by dissolving views, and subsequently there was' a concert. The boys of the Home sent representatives, who were busily employed in the vestibule in their various trades. We were so far interested in what. we. heard, that a few days afterwards we paid a visit to the Home in Kent It is situated in one of the healthiest spots in England, and consists of some 10 distinct homes, a schoolhonse, and chapel. There are 30 inmates in each home under the care of a serving man and his ■wife, and a very happy home life they seem to enjoy. . One of various trades is taught in each, • and good bakers, tutors, carpenters, and printers are the result. We were shown a very excellent diet-table, and it may intrestyou to hear that one day Australian meat was given, and very highly approved.