Summer Fashions.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 340, 6 February 1889, Page 6

Summer Fashions.

The prevailing style in dress just now in Sydney is both simple and elegant. The straight-fallingskirfcs and graceful draperies are exceedingly becoming to all who wea 1 ' them, be they tall or short, stout o v slender ; and the make is so simple tlia^ almost any woman with taste and skill in cutting and fashioning a garment can mako up her own stieet or house costumo. There is such a charming variety in material, too, that one is almost at a loss on entering a shop as to which pretty fabric to give precedence to. Embroidered costumes in pink, pale blue, grey, vicux lose, and white, are much worn this summer, and are extremely tasteful. They can be washed, and done up to look as fresh as when first put on, and are very serviceable indeed. Then there the self-coloured and printed zephyrs, in every conceivable shade of pink, blue, gray, and lavender. They are in broad and narrow stripes, checks and plaids, and are excellent wear, very suitable for either in 01 outdoor use. Prints, again, are in great variety, and in fast colours, and are prettier in pattern and style than ever before. The blouse jackets seem to maintain the standing which has been accorded them ; and, indeed, they are very useful to wear with skirts of dresses which have hitherto been used in conjunction with jacket bodices — these last being quite superseded by tho round bodice or blouse. The round-waisted full bodices are exceedingly becoming to young people and even to maturer "women of a slender build. They give the figure of a more girlish appearance. Jacket bodices are now relegated to the shade by young girls ; only middle-aged or elderly ladies being addicted to wearing them. The direetoire coats are fashionable and very stylish. They give a certain air of chic to a costume, and will, no doubt, come into great favour for autumn and winter dresses. The modified direetoire of a mixture of the empire and directoire styles, is a becoming fashion, and very suitable for best dresses for young ladies. A dress made in redingote style at the back, having the front of the bodice shaped like a zouave jacket, opening over a full round-waisted bodice, is a pretty style, and very becoming to either stout or slender figures. The empire sash, either of the wide sash ribbon or of liberty silk, is in great favour. They are suitable for either street or evening wear, and are very pretty. Coloured sashes have a pretty effect on white dresses, as, for instance, what could be a more charming contrast than moss green and white, pink in ary shade and white, or blue and white ? Then there is ruby, or heliotrope — both lovely colours, which contrast favourably with a pure white costume. There is a nice variety in summer hats, although the Afghan shape is most generally favoured by young ladies. Those in fine leghorn are the prettiest. The small sailor hat, worn with a plain band around it, is very nitty, and buits some girb better than any other style or shape which they can wear, and the gem hat holds its own most tenaciously. These last are stylish when a tulle fall is worn with them.. Tho day of the tall hat is over for a time, as the French hat, which ia very low-crowned, is the coming mode. There are not many to be seen in wear yet. But they are exposed in all the most fashionable shop windows ; and very charming they look, with streamers at the back, and long, curling ostrich feathers around the low crowns. Some have the brim tiptilted in front with a bow of ribbon or flower fastened beneath ; while others have tho end of a curled feather sweeping round under the side of the leaf in front. Millinery hats, though so pretty, arc not, strange to say, much in favour. I think that this is because of their fragility or their liability to crush so easily. When fresh they are decidedly sweet looking, and are becoming to young faces. Tan is a vexy fashionablo colour just now, and is de rigueur for gloves. But the tan boots and shoes have not taken generally. One reason may be that they have a tendency to make the feet appear larger than they really are. I noticed a pretty pair of tan shoes, which had the whole of the toe, or front portion of the shoe, of patent leather, This was, I thought a vast improvement on the regulation tan shoe, and looked very stylish and pretty. Handkerchiefs have quite changed their character during the last season. The white lawn or fine cambric handkerchiefs have quite disappeared and given place to small squares of soft muslin with coloured borders. These can be had in silk, too ; and I notice that the gentlemen are following the example of the ladies in this rospect, for in a fashionable mercer's window are hundreds af dozens of white silk handkerchiefs with broad hems of coloured silk similar to those used by the ladies. — ' Sydney Town and Country Journal.'

A Scot,, being shown Niagai'a, was asked if he had ever seen aughb so beautiful and sti'ange. Ho replied, ' Weel, for bonny, I'll no say, bub, eh, mon, for queer, i ance saw a peacock wi a wooden leg afc Feeble?. ' Dear Mr Editor : Please read the enclosed poem carefully and' return it tome svibh your candid criticism as soon as possible, as I have other irons in the firo.' c Dear Mr Smith : • Remove the irons and insert the poem.' A judge, joking a young lawyer, said :—: — 'If you and I were to be turned in to, a horse or an ass which would ycu prefer to be ?' The asa to bo sure,' replied the lawyer,' 'I've heard of an ass being made a judge, bub a horse — never.'