THE ROBES OF SPRING

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5126, 10 September 1895, Page 3

THE ROBES OF SPRING

[I)T H.J.K.] "Stately Spring! whose robe-folds " aro valleys, wboso breast-bouquet is "gardens, and whose blusli is a venial "evening," is upon us, jN'o one can doubt this, even it the leafy world has failed to herald genial spring, we cannot go back on the fact that winter has been superseded by beautiful spring weather. If any doubt exists, the drapery establishments will readily dispel them. In this big City of ours,the fact is drummed into our heads that fickle fashion is recording the change of the season. Imperious mistress fashion counts her slaves by thousands. It was my pleasure a day or two ago to yiow the latest noyelties in dress fabrics, millinery and feminine frippery. Fortunately I was able to indulge myself with a look through the establishment- known everyw where as the D.I.C. By arrangement with the-obliging Manager, Mr A. A. Corrigan, I was turned over to the head of the Cotton Dress Department, and I am sure the ladies in the country would like to know a'l about theprettyatufFs. Anew fabric inthislineis the French Coteline Muslin, a fine soft material in all thefashionable shades. " Marl'd Goods," if the term can bo understood, is also a new line, and if I am any judge, I should say this fabric will be seen in many frocks. The Cotton Dress Department makes a splendid show in granite crepons, art piques, infancy colours, crepe Louisinnc, mock vestings, drill costumo cloths, in stripes, spots and plaincolours. New Toile I'arisicnne and cretonne fancies, arc new materials of exquisite beauty. I nm told blouses and Garibaldis will be much worn this season; the shift's for shirt-blouses are of every variety of colour, and the most fastidious cannot fail to be satisfied. The ruling passion in colours will be heliotrope, art shades in green, pink, and blue. The head of the department assured me with an earnestness that stifles doubt, that he lias never had such a fine show of goods before. In Laces and ltibbons, there is not much change. Large lace collarettes,

both square and pointed, were very fash- , ionablo in London (luring the season, , A and will, no doubt, take a similar position in the Colony. Lace is destined to 1 play an important part in all the dresses of the season, and in this class of goods tho D.I.C. shows a very fine assortment. Lisso Eulllesare also fashionable goods. In ribbons, shot effects and flowers will bo all the rage, and suede gloves, with fancy points and buttons will again be fashionable. To my untutored optics the head-gear on exhibition seemed delightful. The sweetest of hats and bonnets, trimmed bewitchingly,showiiij( all the fashionable colours, make a bold display. A pretty hat shown me was of black straw, trimmed with black and white tulle, shot green and orange ribbons, paste pins; unmounted roses and grass softly nestling in recesses and blending to the shades of the ribbon. There is no important change in capes and mantles; crepon capes, cloth capes, and silk tapes arc in profusion. I am told very politely by the head of the Dress Department that crepon is the fashionable material of the day, and the ■ladies are welcome to the information. There is an endless variety of crcpons in all the leading shades, and beautiful they look. Singlerobclcngthsformanimportant feature of this Department, and while a very large selection is available, there is only one dress length of each k sort. Although crcpons are very fashionable, there arc plenty of other materials to delight the eye and empty the pocket. Silk mixtures, brochc effects, Sedan cloth in French blue, marble, electric and brown; covert coalings in silver-grey, dark-grey, and other colours. Exquisite French tweeds in small checks of black and white and grey and white, give promiso of being Tory largely worn. In black material, French grenadine, brochc and t plain, grenadine er'cpon and lacc cloths will be found very useful in warm weather. I had a peep at some of tho exceedingly pretty dresses shortly to bo worn; these have all been designed by Miss * Price, amodistc of very extensivociperiencc, and with London and Melbourne reputation, who has been lately engaged by the D.I.C. to take chargcof the Dress- . making Department. A walking dress in black crepon, the bodiee trimmed with black jet passementerie and black satin with ecru lacc collarette, looked exceptionally pretty. Miss Price's designs of evening dresses arc charming, tho two I saw were marvellously beautiful, one was of cream broche Surah and . cream aatin.and tho other of yellow L ongaline silk trimmed with tlowers. There "4P I were lots of other costumes in various ' maforials, but it would be impossiblcfor inc to describe them in a limited space. Takon altogether the D.I.C. makes a specially fine show of fashionable goods, offering a very wide range of choice in colour and material, while tho prices throughout all the departments seemed to me exceptionally moderate.—Advi.

A nasty accident occured at Petonotlc > other day, some children wcrc^pass.' and kicked a child named Stevenson on the forehead, inflicting an ugly wound which laid bare tho skull, I