THE LADIES COLUMN

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 8, 6 November 1880, Page 61

THE LADIES COLUMN

Langtry hoods are much warn. White collars and cuffs, for the neck and sleeves, have been re-placed by black lace. Basque bodies seem likely to take the place of the " princess robe " this summer. Hats covered with beads and with but very little other trimming have been introduced. Pompadoxiv sxmshades to match the costumes are all the go just now.

Bonnets trimmed with black jet and lace will be very fashionable this season.

Pompadour still seems to be the most approved pattern in prints.

Mrs. D.'s new bonnet excited favourable comment at All Saints' on Sundny week.

Ladies have abandoned the pockets at the back of their dresses, and adopted the old system.

Girls are wearing boys' hats, boys' ties, boys' jackets, and boys' cravats.

It is to be hoped the Zulu helmets may continue the fashion. They are very becoming.

Black jet capes seem likely to be very much worn during the summer.

Sleeves are generally close-fitting, and have cuffs made in every variety of form.

The trains of morning dresses are increasing in length.

Kibbon-bows have taken the place of buttons on dresses.

There were more ladies than gentlemen at the Choral Hall Ball, but comparatively few wall-flowers.

Though there were four Marie Stuarts at the Choral Hall Ball, only one of the Queen's Maries— Mary Beaton — was represented.

Indian shawls having gone out of fashion, those who possess them are getting them made into wraps, for theatre and carriage wear.

An evening dress, worn at one of the recent balls, was ornamented with several large birds in the place of flowers.

Short sleeves and long gloves are now worn with walking dresses. Black gloves make the hands appear much smaller than any other colour.

For children, the " corsage a basques," opening at the side and from right to left, is very elegant and suitable.

The latest artistic craze is for dresses made of house flannel. The eiTect of these is better than might be exx>ccted. The colour is usually a cool yellow.

One of the most becoming dresses to be seen in Queen-street on a fine afternoon, is the green velvet and merino, worn by the wife of a well-known City councillor.

The handkerchief costume has at length reached Auckland. I saw a young lady in one the other day, and before long there are sure to be lots. The style does not altogether plense me though.

One of the prettiest and most becoming of dresses which I have noticed this season is a plum coloured silk, worn by a young lady well known in fashionable circles.

The latest" dodge in ladies' dresses is to have the " train " separate — to button on when required. It will probably be a great convenience, especially in wet weather.

Ail Auckland belle, whose costumes are always neat and well fitting, now woars a very becoming dress of black merino, with a pompadour sash knitted on the left side. The same young lady has assumed the jockey hat, which suits her admirably.

There is one young lady in Auckland who has taken advantage of the leap-year privilege to win no less than four pairs of gloves from separate young men, to whom she " popped the question," but who (strange creatures) preferred to part with their cash rather than their single blessedness.

At the quieter marriages which have taken place lately, the wedding dresses have been of dark material. The fashion, though something of an innovation, has common sense to recommend it. Light coloured silks spoil easily, and can very seldom be worn subsequently.

It is a pretty idea that of the Vienna nobles to oilier to the Prince Imperial, on the occasion of his marriage with the Princess Stephanie, an album, each leaf containing paintings by the best known Austrian artists. They talk of spending £15,000 sterling upon this album, which will be unique as a wedding present and as a work of art.

Mrs. J. M. Clark says she can't think how the Observer man could be so stupid as to pretend not to know her bird, at the Fancy Ball, was a parrot. Well, the Observer man hereby apologises to Mrs. Clark for the error. The dress was one of the most successful in the room, and whoever designed it deserves considerable kudos.

"Augustine," writing on the latest fashions in " Truth," says : — " All kinds of dresses tend to the close fitting style, with round skirts. Tho bodices will probably be round in front, laced at the baok, and high at the neck, with sleeves less close-fitting, and often coulisses, or gathered lengthways. The short, round skirts are generally adopted for walking costume ; but Dame La Mode is not so tyrannical as formerly, and ladies that posses good taste oan really dress so as to appear quite in accord with the last rule of fashion, and. yet only wear colours and styles that suit their figures and complexions. The short, round skirt is a capital and most useful fashion for out-of-doors, but is most bocoming to slim, good figures of the medium height ; any one less tall looks better in a skirt that nearly touches the ground, the same as anyone inolined to stoutness is more elegantly dressed with the half -train skirt ; just as a pointed bodice gives length to a short waist, and a round waistband lessens a long one. The handkerchief dress, 01% indeed, any large squares, plaids, and such like patterns, however fashionable they may be, are only really becoming to tall, slim figures, just as these latter will do well to avoid wearing striped patterns ; in colour selections, mistakes are frequently made this season with the favourite red tints for bonnet and hat linings, which, as a rule, do not suit anyone with, a blooming or high complexion*