Ladies' Express.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 439, 23 December 1876, Page 2

Ladies' Express.

[ The Editor wilt be glad to ffioe insertion to any local contributions from his lady friends that may be considered interestiny in any family circle, or to the se.r generally]

A WRlTEainthe Melbourne Argus writes of the Cup day: Tile huuiAii show was a great one. In spite of a gloomy morning the grand stand was early thronged with all the fashion aud beauty, and a good deal of the intelligence of the colonies. I never expect to see a finer sight in Australia ; one above the other the tiers of seats were filled with the yonth aud loveliness of the-land : young and old, beautiful and—otherwise ; they were all magnificently dressed, their garments elegant in themselves, and in many eases set off by the charming figures they covered. ThOjpresent style of fashion does notgoin for concealment; why should it? There is really something morally exhilarating in being amongst a welldressed throng : and 1 think that the consciousness of a faultless attire ought to keep the wearer from many temptations; the male companions of the gorgeous creatures on the stand were, if not supremely graceful, I hope gallant. Colonial gentlemen do not as a rule, dress too well, and any taste is all on the side of the fairer sex. The general practice being to take a turn before the vice-regal box before going ou to the lawn locomotion was difficult. Nothing like that at Goodwood, still this serves the same purpose, the display of the ladies’ toilettes. If these looked lovely on the stand, they were ten times more so on the lawn. The gently sway ing undulations of the female form, dis--played the costumes to advantage. Again the present style is, to my mind, in moderation, a graceful one.. It is the poetry of suggestion. Still “ pullbacks*" do not suit every one, and many do ndt know how properly to carry themselves in such attire. There are dangers to be avoided in posing. Victorian ladies cannot do better than study Mrs Scott Siddons. who is a queen in the art of dressing and its management. I wish I could thoroughly describe the dresses ; they were wonderftil in color, material, and make. Solomon in all his barbaric glory would have stood a poor show qn the lawn at Flemington. Every combination of color was present, there being a particular run upon light blue, the delicate maize tints which I love so much, chocolates, browns, and ochres. The mazarin blues, French greys, lilacs, cerise, plum, and pure white, singly or combined, were great favorites. One costume of black and silver was very tasteful. Styles of coiffure and of head-dress were various. I don’t know much about millinery, but one Gainsborough hat —or its owner — fetched me considerably.