Parisian Fashions.

Manawatu Herald, 15 September 1896, Page 3

Parisian Fashions.

Pique will be the favourite material for dresses for the seaside, and there is nothing more practical or more easily worn. It is substantial, and at the same time cool. The skirts, made with three rows of stitching at the broad hem, have no lining ; the ; jackets,, or bolen>3, only require a good iron to be as fresh as if they had just come from the tailor's bands. A pretty costume is composed of a White pique skirt, with the stitching ■job as described as above ; a bodioe in the form of a blouse, ornamented with three wide pleats edged with narrow Valenciennes, and a corselet of black satin. The hat worn with this simple dre3s is of Cuban straw, bordered with black velvet, with a couple of rows of narrow ribbon Tel vet around the crown, and a bird and aigrette at the side. The white pique jackets will also be popular, very short, and smartly cut, and they will bo more like the bslera with any skirt. The fashion of the day in corsets ia a ribbon winding round the bodice to the height of about 20 centimetres, listened to whalebones, back and front, finishing off with a narrow tacking in front to hide the hooka and eyes. But this will soon be Buporceded by a length of mousse line de soie tied around the waist, bangin with a bow and ends to the end of the skirt. This sash will be in black or white, with a pleating or coloured chiffon seam at the edges. Now that it has become the custom to receive in the garden, and that so many invitations are issued for al freteo dinners, special attention is being given to the decorations of the •mall tables. Aa far as possible a different colour ia selected for each table, and not only the cloths but the flowers are chosen to correspond. | For a mauve table the cloth is in mauve damask, with an embroidered border of violets, and the natural flowers scattered loosely upon the table terminating in a mass of flowers in the centre. A pink table consists of a pink cloth dotted with rose buds and Malmaison or France roses in pink glass bowls. A yellow table is composed of a ohain of buttercups upon a cloth of a yellow tint; a blue one with blue cornflowers; and so on, through the entire scale of colour to the taste of the hostess and the admiration of the guests. The favourite perfume at the moment is still the " Royal Daisy " and the "Oriza Incolose of the Czar," from the celebrated " Oriza Perfumery." ■ .