HINTS ON DRESS.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 297, 20 February 1878, Page 4

HINTS ON DRESS.

It is almost certain that dresses for next winter will bo worn short; the bonier of the shirt will hardly touch the ground. This naturally only applies to walking dresses. This fashion is so agreeable that it will soon become uoneral; no more voluminous trains to lift up and carry in walking, nor have to listen to just complaints dirty draggling dresses. It lames had to clean their own dresses, these Jong walking costumes would never have been fashionable. , The prevalent reigning style of toilette for autumn is decidedly the. prineesse and the polonaise prineesse ; and, however much dressmakers talk of waistband bodices, and pretend Unit they will soon be in great vogue, there are very few indeed in anummal stuffs, and these will not for a long time efface the firstmentioned shapes, as really waistbands are only becoming to thin ladies. Bodices for young ladies will be generally made not close-fitting; it is the blouse shape that, will bs fashionable, and all are plaited or plissea la Yiergo. The now jackets, mantles, and paletots are very much like those oi last spring —either the old paletot similar to a gentlemans overcoat, with two seams at the buck, very little cut out at the waist, with long close-fitting sleeves and cuffs, or the paletot with straight basques in front, ami Macfarlane sleeves, seems to be most preferred; these are made to come down below the knee. The trimmings will bo galoons, with beads of fur ; the stuffs themselves are invariably very thick, yet light, soft cloth, or suchlike woollen materials. The shades are marine blue, myrtle green, dark beige, blue grey, and otter colour. Even in funerals, even of M. Thiers, Queen Pa eh ion rules, and, although the hearse was covered with beaiiiliql flowers, there were very fins wreaths, and crowns of heads, borne by men a t the side of the hearse, as there was no room on the pall itself. This fashion has now become very general here, and is a very pretty custom, as these head crowns are so much more lasting than immortelles, or other tomb decorations. All kinds of heads are very fashionable for adorning dresses and inantles; they are notv made in all colours, but the clair de lane , and all shades of dark yellow, and green, arc the colours d la mode.

Tight, close-fitting dresses will still bo the fashion ior carriage and visiting costume. It is supposed by many dressmakers that ball dresses will ho exceptions to ibis rule. However, the tight-fitting fourreaux dresses will be worn by all elegant ladies for several months at least. Fashion is a most absolute queen, and does not admit of any rebellion, nor allow two contrary principles to exist together.— Commission Agent.