LONDON FASHIONS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 925, 12 March 1881, Page 2

LONDON FASHIONS.

(From the Queen). Each month as it passes shows some novel adoption of plush, which has succeeded chintz and cretonne as a covering for books There are several novelties in its uses for dress, namely, gloves, petticoats, and evening shoes. The first are made of short, fine plush and fit the hand-as closely as silk or thread, while they are much warmer for winter use. They must, if worn at all, match the color of the costume to the utmost perfection. Plush petticoats are most luxurious and delightful wear. They are lined with a thin silk, and have no trimming except the balayeuse at the edge. Jersey collars sailor collars, and bib collars, all owe their becoming qualities to the beautiful colors of the plush of which they are made, and also to their closely quilted edgingr. of yellow or creamcolored lace, lhey make a verv use-

|ul and effective addition to. a dark i®pess, audare much worn by young .ladies at afternoon teas. [ ■ Talking of petticoats, I daresay it j'is.pot needful to inform the readers of tjjie that tonures are now quite re-established amongst us, as might have been expected, when the full draperies at the back were adopted. They began by being very small and unpretending,odt they appear to be assuming larger proportions, and perhaps may develope into a real crinoline. Many ladies, > however,; will steadily reject this deformity, and we hardly need-fear its-arrival in the outrageous shapes of 1861 and 1863. As for the furore for Spanish lace for evening ; it Something truly surprising. It is made up over skirts of every hue, in satin and plush and even muslin. Madras muslin used in the same manner still continues in vogue. One of the most stylish dresses made of it lately had a foundation ©f peach-bloom satin, the trimmings consisting only in strings of pearl beads and pearl lace. The collection of highly decorated stockings is something quite wonderful, and as they are all new, we may gather our ideas of the future from them. Amongst the more expensive stockings must be mentioned, those of silk, with a cashmere shawl pattern of small palms woven in the fronts and feet—a charming novelty in both richness of color and decoration. Then there are the beaded stockings, with sprays embroidered in black and white, gold and violet, and gold. Spun silk stockings of all colors are embroidered with gold-colored silk, a very favorite .pattern gf & cluster of wheat ears, up the front of the stocking for nearly, , half .a yard in length. For next spring a determihed effort will be made to introduce thread stockings in place of the everlasting Balbriggan, which have been so long usedf.; and the new-thread hose are of all hues, and so beautifully embroidered that they rival the finest silk. A new development of the jersey is called the “flilk lace woven cuirass,” which is an open lace work tightfitting bodice, made in all colors, for evening wear. It is /without, sleeves, and is intended to wear over another dress, buttoning up at the back with a quantity of small buttons, jersey fashion. There are several novelties in gloves. ? The Louis XIV. has stripes of silk embroidery an gfpnadine let in round the; wrist .flijd.. ah the arms; and a pretty glovb for full dress has insertions and ruffs of Honiton lace up to the elbow. Quite pew are gloves with some eight or teti gussets of a contrasting color, let in at the upper edge —for .example, a brown kid with blue, black with yellow, and so on. On the arm they look decidedly well. For mourning full-dress toilettes, black and white kid gloves, embroidered in jet beads up the backs, are much worn. Some have a broad band worked almost to the edge, to simulate a jet bracelet. The hose and shoes often match. Lace-edged handkerchiefs are only seen at balls; for dinners and small evening parties, embroidered handkerchiefs with colored borders have taken their place. Chenille scarves, shot with gold threads in white and every color, are also charming wraps. They are very wide.

The quaint cloaks known as “ Mother Hubbard ” and “ Coquette ” are extremely pretty in cream cashmere or satinette, trimmed with satin ribbon, and lined with cream, red or old gold. They fasten closely round the throat with a broad ruche, and are very warm. They are also made from Trench and Indian shawls, and trimmed with either narrow fur or delicate brown feather trimming. Black lace has almost superseded gauze for drapery on evening dresses. It is arranged over either a satin or batiste foundation, and has wide satin ribbons in bows, put in among the folds, usually at the back. Red, pale blue, old-gold, and black, are the fashionable colors. A plaiting of black or colored satin edges the skirt. The body is usually of satin, with lace sleeves and trimming.