Ladies Express.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 923, 5 March 1881, Page 2

Ladies Express.

PEOPLE WILL TALK. [dedicated to scandal-mongers.] You may get through the world, but it will be slow, If you listen to all that is said as you go ; You’ll be worried and fretted, and kept in a stew, For meddlesome tongues will have something to do— , v For people will talk. If quiet and modest, you’ll have it presumed That your humble position is only assumed ; You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing, or else you’re a fool; But don’t get excited, keep perfectly cool— For people will talk. If generous and noble, they’ll vent out their spleen ; You’ll hear some loud hints that your selfish and mean ; If upright, honest, and fair as the day, They’ll call you a rogue in a sly, sneaking way— For people will talk. And then if you show the least boldness of heart, Or a slight inclination to take your own part, They will call you an upstart, conceited and vam ; But keep straight ahead, don’t stop to explain— ‘ ' For people will talk. If thread-bare your dress, or old-fashioned your hat, t , l Someone will surely take notice of that, And hint rather strorig that you can’t pay your way• But don’t get execited, whatever they say— For people will talk. If you dress in the fashion, don’t think to escape, For they criticise then in a different shape ; You’re ahead of your means, or your tailor’s unpaid; But mind your own business, there’s naught to be made— “ For people will talk. Now, the best way to do is to do as you please, For your mind, if you have one, will then be at ease; Of course, you will meet with all sorts of abuse, But don’t think to stop them, it ain’t any use—- . For people will talk. .

FASHIONS. We are pleased to see no diminution in favour of the cuirasse bodice laced at the back, which certainly shows off a good figure and a well-cut dress to the greatest advantage. One lovely costume of this kind has a half-long plain salmon-coloured plush skirt, and a princess cuirasse bodice of broche de Lyon, in a most delicate shade of blue, with a tracing of pink on it. The tunic is simply draped on to the basque of the bodice, and is shawl-shaped, edged with seven rows of silver braid, draped very high at the back, and falling in two ends lined with salmoncoloured satin, the right side end showing the broche, and the left end fastened over to show the salmon lining. Long sleeves with deep Trianon revers and lace flounces, and a wide Pierrot collar of soft surah and Mechlin lace. For the benefit of >our readers who may not know exactly the shape of the Pierrot collar, we will describe it. This collar is composed of a band of surah about an inch and a half wide, the size of the neck, on which is arranged a pleated surah flounce three inches deep, composed of two pieces of surah, separated by Mechlin or Valenciennes lace insertion, pleated with the surah, and the whole edged with a pleating of lace similar to the insertion. Historical costumes remain in vogue, and a Louis XIII. dinner toilette is of grey duchess satin, the skirt trimmed with little flounces and bouillonnes, and edged with a grenat satin balayeuse lined with grey. The bodice is of chequered damasse with gathered grenat waistcoat, worked with steel beads mixed with jet. The bodice has double paniers crossing in front, and the back is pointed, and from under it spring puffs of satin trimmed with steelbeaded passementerie, and a fringe and tassels of steel and. jet beads. Walking costumes are made quite short, that is to say, reaching to the instep, and the favourite materials for them beside plush are beige cloth, foule serge, and Vienna cldth; they 1 are

mostly trimmed with fur, light or quite black on biege cloth, and with the neutral colours of fur on the intermediate tints. A new-shaped hat has been intro-: duced by our modistes lately, which is quite classic, and the same which was worn formerly by pages in Germany, and in which Rembrandt is often represented, but we do not predict that it will meet with great approval. It is made of plush or of velvet, with the long traditional feather. Flowers have had their day all the summer through, when not a feather was to be seen, and, indeed, are still so much worn upon the corsage for evening toilette as to be dispensed with for outdoor wear. A round hat, almost concealed by feathers, is daily gaining in public favour, for the double reason that it is becoming to most faces, and that it is not absolutely necessary to be in one’s premiere jeunesse to look well in one, so we may thankfully accept them “ until times do alter.” Hats are of every shape, and ornamented in the most fanciful style with handsome wild beast paws with golden claws. One very pretty toque is of striped plush, but ornamented with such a fierce-looking tiger’s claw as to be positively alarming. Small capotes on the contrary, are usually trimmed with large flowers, such as orchids and water lilies, with their petals surrounded Avith thick chenille. A lovely bonnet is of gathered Russian green satin with strings of a lighter shade, and a wreath of bronze-green leaves in front. Another chapeau is of duck blue striped plush, bound and lined with gold satin, and trimmed with a 1 coquille of gold lace, and a bunch of shaded blue and gold poppies; the strings are of two colours, blue and gold. Both these bonnetts are in perfect taste when worn with corresponding toilettes. For trimming chapeaux there is an endless variety of fanciful ornaments. Paws of animals, both wild and domestic, and claws of birds of all kinds and sizes are among these, the lions’ and tigers’ paws being of natural fuT with gilt or pearl claws. There- are also spiders, alarmingly realistic in appearance, gilt forks, and a whole collection of cockchafers, dragon flies, pigs, squirrels, lizards, mice, tiny elephants, and long-haired goats in metal. One might really think we were in a menagerie.