THE DRAWING-ROOM.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 471, 14 May 1890, Page 6

THE DRAWING-ROOM.

Some Lovely Dresses. (From Our Special Correspondent.) London, March 21. The second drawing-room of the present season was as smart and crowded as the first was the reverse. The afternoon proved splendidly fine, and a great crowdassembled in the Mall hoping to obtain a glimpse of some of the Court beauties. Unfortunately, the Queeu bad only just heard of her old friend Sir Howard Elphinstone’s tragic end, whilst voyaging in the Tongariro to Tene rifle, and looked very white and distrait. She received' the diplomatic corps and general circle and then retired, leaving the bulk of the presentations to be made, to “ the dear Princess,” who also looked sad. The dresses appear to have been exceptionally tasteful and elegant. Mrs Anderson, of the “ Daily News,” says : Many of the trains worn were in dark velvet, a suitable and comfortable fabric for the season, while others emulated the springtide and beginning of flower-time. Crocus yellows and purples, the gold of laburnum, and the happy hue of lilac were imitated in velvet, plush, silk, satin, and miles of ribbons, the latter being used in quantities that should make glad the busy workers of Coventry. Exquisite embroideries on net, some of them in the new jewelled lace, also appeared on many dresses, whilb ostrich feathers, another costly trimming, were lavished upon many more. Lady Hylton wore a dress of delicate, pearl - coloured satin, backed and brocaded with shaded gold. It fell away at the sides, and showed a front of white satin edged with a narrow and most effective design wrought in gold. Down one side wa3 a ch&telaine of white ostrich feather tips, tied with white satin ribbon in which diamonds were secured. The train, arranged from the shoulder, was of dark sycamore leaf-green-velvet, lined with white satin. Lady Hylton wore a high diamond tiara, and ornaments to match, and carried a bouquet of rare orchids. Lady Hastings’ black dress of tulle, glittering with jet embroidery, looked very artistic, with a black velvet train lined with aquamarine coloured satin. Lady Edward Cavendish was harmoniously attired in black and heliotrope. Her bodice and train were of black velvet, the latter lined with satin ; her skirt was of heliotrope satin, veiled with black crfipe de Chine embroidered in a delicate design with thread of gold. Lady Emma Crichton was presented on her marriage, and wore her wedding dress of satin with filmy draperies of lace and a beautiful train to correspond. She carried a posy of white rhododendrons. Lady Knutsford’s neutral-tinted dress went admirably with a vivid posy of double scarlet geranium blooms settled with tips of their own foliage peeping up through the warm-hued blossoms exactly as if they were all growing. Lady Brooke’s dress showed much delicate loveliness and artistic design. It was of white satin, the hem bordered with groups of leaves wrought in golden filigree. The front was half veiled with a few folds of white chiffon looking like morning mist, while a sash of gold-meshed net was arranged at one side. The ends of the drooping bands fell over the veil of chiffon at the left side, and were finished with long tassels of dead gold. At intervals they were caught closely to the soft ethereal fabric by little flat bands of closely-woven dead gold thread. The bodice was bordered with gold filigree embroidery, and arranged with artistic folds of chiffon. A band of diamonds crossed the top, and straps of dead gold embroidery were carried over the shoulders. The train was entirely composed of rich white satin. A delightful combination of white with pale heliotrope-colour was the dress worn by Countess Marie Hatzfeldt. The train was of handsome white satin, brochd with silk. It was lined with heliotrope satin, and bordered down one side with a thick ruche of white and pale mauve violets. The dress was of heliotrope coloured Ottoman silk, veiled with pretty fine-textured, white lace. The hem of the skirt was cut in deep, handsome Vandykes, which fell over a flounce of lace and heliotrope ribbon loops. The basque of the bodice was finished off in a similar way, and the fair young wearer carried a bouquet of white and pale mauve double Parma violets. Mrs Charles Balfour’s admirably harmonious costume of yellow and white was supplemented by a fragrant and beautiful posy of lilies of the valley and yellow tulips. The Misses Bruce looked charming in their white presentation dresses, trimmed with white hyacinths, and carrying odorous bunches of the same pure, delicate-looking blossoms.