A Lady's Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 26 October 1897, Page 2

A Lady's Letter.

WHLMNQ*oif, Oct. 28, 1897. A very large and exceedingly enjoyable afternoon "At Home " was given by Mrs (Dr) McKenzie last Thursday, from 4 to 6. The whole house was a profusion of flowers, the tea table being very prettily decorated with handsome tulips and leaves, and laden with every imaginable kind of cake and sweet. Mrs McKenzie looked very well in a pretty gown of black silk, the bodice being of black and white accordion chiffon, finished with jet ; Mrs (Dr) Ewart, who was helping at the tea table wore a handsome black silk gown trimmed with lace and jet; Mrs Rhodes, rich black satin gown, jetted cape, and pretty jet bonnet releivcd with white ; Miss Reynolds (Dunedin^ light grey ooat and skirt, white sailor bat ; Mrs Samuel, deep velvet cloth gown, with a broard collarette of velvet to match edged with passementerie, email bonnet to match with flowers ; Mrs Capt. Rose, lovely black silk crepon gown, the bodice trimmed with black chiffon and jet, very pretty bonnet composed of butter lace, with sprays of lilliea of the valley and loops of green ribbon. Mrs Pirani (Palmerston) is paying a visit to Wellington. I saw her a few days ago looking very nioe in a black crepon gown the bodice being made with a short zouave back and front, edged with a tiny ruche of chiffon over a tight fitting blouse of of pale blue brocaded silk, and with it she wore a stylish little black straw hat trimmed with high black tip*, ribbon, and pink roses. Her little daughter was with her, quaintly dressed in a green Velvet frock, fall* ing loosely to the ground, and a Dutch bonnet tp match.

I think I promised to tell you about some of the pretty things that were on view at Te Aro House lately, and I did go to inspect them one day, but to my great disappoint* ment on arriving there I found that all the windows had been cleared of their finery, and uninteresting looking dress stuff* and parasols filled: them. However, I scanned the windows of some other shops, in which I found plenty to tell you about, being chiefly hats. I saw one very gorgeous affair of yellow velvet embroidered with passementerie and studdd with pearls. The crown, except for ihe top, which waa of the velvet, was yellow straw, while round the edge of the brim was a cherry ripe frill oi white accordion chiffon, and at the back, were high white plumes and loops of white ribbon, and two yellow and pink velvet iriss were loosely placed iii at the ude. Another one was » quaily gorgeous, the brim was composed of pale butter lace frills, and the crown of deep cream Bilk made in the beefeater shope, the top of it b.ing of mauve veiled with black s quined net, and at the baok it bad white silk ribbon loop 3 and white lips. I notice that white chip straw U vevy fashieoable, and I saw several very pretty hats and bonnets of it in on 2 window. I liked one bonnet tied with black velvet strings and in front it had pale yellow lace wings and a high spray of cherries, while at one side were some pink roses and at to 3 other some cream ones. There were three white straw hats there, and I could not decide whioh I liked best ; one was trimmed with quantities of white ribbon loops and white wing 3; another Toreador shaped one had a tiny frill of white chiffon round the edge of the brims, and the crown was draped with chiffjn caught with tips ; the third was the same shape, trimmed with fine white lace and tips at the back, and at the left side were two pink irises and grass. A wonderful concoction of a hat was of pale yellow straw and lace, the top of the orown and the brim being edged with loops of yellow beba ribbon, it was also trimmed with' a huge bow of pink and sage green ribbon, and at one side there were some lovely double yellow iriss. I thought one of cornflower blue straw, trimmed only witb bowa of brigbt green moire ribbon, decidedly ugly and would be most unbecoming to anyone. There was a large pink straw hat there trimmed at the back with loops of ribbon to matcb, and a thick wreath of ivy round the brim, which was edged with a frill of pink chiffon. I liked a yellow straw hat with black lace and black tips, and also one of green straw, Toreador shape, with black satin ribbon twisted round the crown and a loop of it, with some black lace and a huge mauve poppie at the side.

I was looking at some lovely sutniner stuffs in Kirkoa!die's the other day, of ecru insertion and coloured muslin stripes. The pink and ecru was so pretty, • and I pictured to myself a most bewitching gown of this with a broad empire belt of pink satin, and a satin oo'lar. The mauve too was most lovely I thought, and this with a violet satin bait would look ohanmag. Shot lustra eeemt jewt a* fafaion*

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able, if not more so, than ever, and it has been worn most extensively this year. I saw a very pretty .and elegant gown made of pale grey lustre, the skirt trimmed with bands of white lace insertion, and the bodice with bands also and frills of lace, while the belt and collar were of white satin edged with a tiny pleating of lace. Already print skirts and blouses are being worn, although I do not think myself the summer is far enough advanced for them. Hardly anything else but these frocks were worn last year and I hear that they are going to be more the rage than ever this summer. Signa.