THE LADIES' DRESSES ON THE MELBOURNE CUP DAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 2, 28 November 1877, Page 4

THE LADIES' DRESSES ON THE MELBOURNE CUP DAY.

The following from the Melbourne Argus may prove interesting to our lady readers : — Although the unfavorable weather no doubt had the effeot of preventing many of the handsomest dresses from being worn jat the meeting, there were still a very large number which attracted considerable attention. It was rumoured that two ladies who had generally been foremost in the gorgeousness of their attire would have eclipsed themselves this time. It was stated that tbe dresses would cost at least four figures, and of course both ladies and gentlemen were anxious to see costumes that had been tbe talk of the town for months past. It transpired, however, that those dresses — tvhioh had been ordered from Worth, of Paris — were to have arrived by (he last mail steamer, but unfortunately they did not do so, and the ladies in question were therefore unable or unwilling to appear. Among the more noticeable dresses seen on the lawn, during the intervals between the showers, weie (he following ir— A lady, who is well known as one of the leaders of fashion, wore a blue silk princess robe, trimmed with gauzy fabric of the same color, and Valenciennes lace arranged in gauffered flounces, alternating with pleetings round the bottom. Scarfs of gauze and laoe were folded across the front of the skirt, and fell in pointed shawl form over tbe train. There was a oollar and cuffs of Valenciennes lace, with bonnet to match. An attractive costume was one of very rich silk, in a beautiful shade of bronze, the ekirt being handsomely trimmed with eilk and velvet to match, together with a magnificent fringe of chenille and eilk. The bonnet bad a ligbt shade of pink, which relieved tbe otherwise sombre richness of tbe dress. Another most elegant and nnique costume was one of the very palest tint of green. The robe had a long train handsomely trimmed, with a gathered full flounce and pelisse killings, tbe garniture being of damasse silk. The same shade was brought in soft drapery across the front, and was brought very tightly back, displaying the artistic folds of front trimming, and showing the train to perfection. A most noticeable and greatly admired dress—admired for its rich simplicity, and. also for its suitability to tbe elegant though petite figure of the wearer — was a very rich eilk of two new shades of blue and tilleul. The dress was in a new shape, and was trimmed very prettily, with rich embroidered lace to correspond. Another very becoming costume was one of a light shade of drab, with a long fan-shaped train. The front waa richly trimmed with brocaded colored silk, and handsome fringe to match. A rutching of drab brocaded pink silk was caught iightly back, and finished witb a large coquillion of drabfaced and pink silk, a cuirasse body of brocaded silk completing a most magnificent costume. A particularly attractive costume was one with a skirt of a handsome shade of brown, with a very long train elaborately trimmed with fringe, a polonaise of blue and brown brocaded silk, a coquillion of Maltese lace, with brown and blue ribbon up the front. One of the most handsome costumes on the lawn, and one which attracted au extraordinary amount oi attention the previous day in one of the principal Bourke-street drapery windows, was a dress of geranium- -■ colored silk, with watteau-plaited train. It consisted of a very handsomelytrimmed robe, princess of same material, across the front of whiob was draped in rich folds a scarf of French silk grenadine, moet elaborately embroidered with field flowers and wheat ears, irom which depended a massive fringe representing every shade observable in the embroidery. A dress tbat was much admired was one of lavender, the under skirt being of plain rich silk, trimmed with the same material round the bottom, finished on each side with wings of violet silk. The upper part was a handsome robe, cut very long and gracefully, and of the same shade as the under skirt, from which depended a haudsome fringe. The costume wae a most lady-like one. There were several handsome muslin costumes. One of them was of a pretty ligbt green, elaborately made and trimmed with Valenciennes lace and insertion. The front waa trimmed with a diagonal row oi cream-colored bows. The dress as a whole was very light, and exceedingly pretty and youthful-looking. A very noticeable costume was one iv the etyle known as Louis XIV, in pale blue brocade. Tbe traiu was finistied in anumber of serrated points, which, falling upon a very rich petticoat ot dark brown, completed a very cbatming and ia'iy-like costume.

There were numerous other costumes, but the rain came down so heavily that the majority of the ladies who visited the grand stand brought {heir wrappers into uee at au early hour aod the lawn coon displayed a very sombre appearance.