The Latest Fashions.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 18 December 1890, Page 2

The Latest Fashions.

»- (MlsS MaXTAUNI) Rumour has it that largo muffs will 1)0 the thing this winter. I hnve not seen uny large ones yet. Our gnindmothers carriecl muffs that look like minature steam-rollers to us. Jt would he bettor to abolish muffs altogether than return to these. The new muffs that were shown to me at Debenham and Freebody's wore anything but unsightly. They were made of very dainty materials, velvet for choice, and were trimmed with birds, tiny tips, or jet, after the manner of bonnets. Some were a combination of cloth and velvet. Some ultra -fashionable modistes are making long capes to match outdoor costumes, and lining the interior with bright colouiod silk. The pretty lining makes a dainty background for my lady's chair at afternoon tea. They are not only shapeless, they take several inches off the wearer's height. Four sleeves are being put into walking-gowns. J saw a cloth gown at a place this week with sealskin sleeves. They looked rather incongruous. Mdme. de Jeunes (42, South Molton-street) has managed to secure some exclusive models during her stay in Paris. She showed me several very fine gowns the other day. There was a Jeanne d'Arc gown that T have not seen at any other place yet. This was in Gobelin grey cloth, with high sleeves and cuirass bodice. This latter was of silk heavily brocaded in gold and sprinkled with tiny jet drops. Mdme de Jeunes expects this model to be copied pretty extensively by and by. Another dis-tinguished-looking gown was in dark blue cloth. The sleeves were the conspicuous feature in this. They were very large, and trimmed all over with jet drops. The bodice had a silk yoke, and was striped with rows and rows of jet trimming. All visiting growns are being made of cloth this winter. An evening cloak destined for the winter warbrobe of a duchess was in soft grey blue cloth draped in a very graceful fashion at the back and lined with a delicate shell-pink silk. New pocket hannkerchiefs are embroidered with flowers in their natural colours, and each of the owner's initials are wrought in different colours. Very Frenchy indeed are those in fine white linen, edged with deep real lace in black, and with black lace butterflies or bees appliqued on the linen. * ♦ « * All jackets are three-quarter length this Avinter. In other respects they are not unlike those of last season. They are doublebreasted and loose-fitting before, and all have the stately Queen Bess collar. No out-door garment, either for day or night wear, is considered to look the thing without one. All the best jackets are trimmed with astrachan or feather. I have seen some with vests of the latter. Astrachan coats come out at a higher figure than sealskin. v '» * * * To ileseriDe one tailor-made dress is to describe all, so to speak. Women are wearing the plainest of tweed dresses for walking. The skirts fit like a sheath, and the bodices mould the figure. These dresses have no drapery, not a wavy line anywhere, in front ; they fall in fan -like pleats at the back. "Where to put the pocket is a question that's agitating the minds of dressmakers for the moment. It's a difficult matter to put a pocket into such plain dresses without causing an ugly protuberance. My dressmaker has put the pocket in my last new dress right away at the back among the fan -pleats. I am just five minutes finding it every time. A poor lady in a 'bus the other day was fully that long getting at hers, and all the time the conductor was asking for " Fares, ladies." It was quite a relief to her fellowpassengers when at last sho did find it, for we wore beginning to fear she ' would have an apopletic fit. • * * • The smartest out "door dresses have three-quarter length coat-bodices. Of course, only tall women can possibly wear them. Some of these coats are more mannish-looking than others ; they vary a good deal in shape. I saw a distinguished-look-ing costume in camel's hair made

with a tn rtaj^H|^HH^HHkMgv of fashion 'tfj^L.-^^HHp^^^^Hs-and a lion^^p^^H^^Htt form.')' velvet. andj^Hgc^Vffl^l&ii^^K silk. SB*^ 1 *4tiaHlK