THE PRACTICAL AND PICTURESQUE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 117, 19 January 1915, Page 7

THE PRACTICAL AND PICTURESQUE.

How to blend the practical elements of dress with the picturesque is a matter in which the designers are concerned now, says Lady Charlotte in the “Daily Mail.” This is not the moment for frivolity exaggeration or eccentricity, but because to be practical is our best course. We need not imagine that beauty need be excluded. Coming and going as we do in connection with our daily avocations, which are businesslike rather than social, we want more than over the well-cut tailormade, which is picturesque in aspect. We are soon to be tempted to wear high collars on our blouses, made of net with turn-over silk and even velvet bands, and in some cases wayward-looking muslin and lace Medicis adornments starting from them. This change will separate into factions, advocates of the low-cut decolletage, and the rest who have never adapted themselves to the whim, for the eollarless corsage. dhe no-sleeve and shoulder strap arrangements on evening frocks are abandoned in favour of lace sleeves, made all in one with the corsage fichu. It is a very charming idea, and one to be commended to those who have in their possession •' lace squares of scarves sufficiently large to be adapted for use in this manner. A picturesque frock for the afternoon and evening, and the dual dre.m is a favourite now, I may hasten to add —has two sets of sleeves, if we are to count the fichu draperies as one. The long net sleeves cling to the arms and end at the wrists, which arc clasped by bands of fur or velvet beyond which are pointed cuffs or ruffles of lace. These sleeves are made detachable, so | that should the fancy seize one to npl pear at dinner with the upper arms only covered the transformation can be effected ear-dly. Very lightly-patterned ! deer, black lace cf the Chantilly order i makes an excellent design.