THE LADIES’ WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2582, 17 August 1909, Page 7

THE LADIES’ WORLD.

FASHIONABLE LININGS. Protty contrasts in the matter of coat-lining are very important. A nattier blue coat would ho lined with the palest shade of wild rose pink, a brown with a dull tone of gold, and a pale gray with orchid mauve, while black is also largely used for lining colored coats, and in all the most effective schemes a plain black hat is allied to these colored toilettes, not only to tone them down, but to give the full value to the soft shades. The little touch of black which is nowadays introduced into the new gowns is capable of endless variety in the matter of its, appearance. As a matter of fact, this touch —so smail in its way—lias always tho effect of redeeming a gown at once from insipidity. There are some colors on which it acts like magic. Yellow is a shade which, in spite of its richness, never looks well quite alone without a touch of relief; beigo is not much better, while pale green is likewise improved by the introduction of black. For this reason, when tlio black velvet is omitted from the gown a largo black hat is so often \vorn, and once put to the test there is no denying that a gray or primrosecolored dress, worn with headgear to match, has a lack of smartness which is immediately corrected by the introduction of a black hat. In cases, however, where a hat is not worn, one of the prettiest methods of introducing the touch of black into the gown is to follow the line of the yoke with a narrow black velvet ribbon, brought over the shoulders, like a necklace, and caught somewhere in the corsage to secure it.

BALLROOM DECORATIONS. We are always being told that the preposterous extravagances of the millionaire hostess are demodees in America. It is supposed to be no longer expected of the ball-giver that her cotillion favors should be set with real jewels, or that her supper menus be engraved on gold slabs, encrusted with precious stones. It is not to be denied, however, that the cost of a fashionable private ball still runs into a good many figures, and that despite the determination of the financier to invest his dollars in something more productive of interest than the wonder and envy of his friends, entertaining is still a costly matter. The “surprise ball” is as great a feature as the “surprise dinner,” when dishes which are not wliat. they seem appear to please the convives of the dinner-table more than, a pun or witticism is likely to do in less serious moments. Not long ago a wonderful surprise scheme of decoration was originated, on the occasion of a largo and important ball. There were two ballrooms, an outer and an inner. In tho first one tho idea of dawn, was intended to be given, the flowers chosen being the pale pink azalea, which in. the soft bluish pink of its petals suggests the flush of sunrise on the mountain top, and which was presumably intended to be admired and appreciated in a poetic spirit. Wide archways separated the two immense dancing halls, and in one of tho arches the rising sun was carried out by suspending a gigantic red globe, from which emerged flaming crimson rays, which broke into a golden yellow, and slicd a curious reflection of pink light over the dancers. Beyond the first room the sun, however, had risen. Golden rays poured down upon the hall, a wonderful effect being gained by crossing and recrossing great streams ’of light from electric arcs on the galleries and archways, the appearance being as like full sunlight as electricity and shaded lamps could produce. The boxes, from which a coup de’oeil of the dancers and the ballroom could be obtained, were hung with ivory and golden draperies, whilst the flower decorations consisted of masses of pure white azaleas and lilies, azalea moil’s, daffodils, hyacinths, and other spring flowers. Azaleas decorated the supper tables, while festoons of the same l ung over the boxes, and large banks of tho flowers were mased in every available corner, through which shone the bright gleams of myriads of electric lamps. At another magnificent entertainment the electric lamps were veiled with ropes of real flowers. Shades were made of vine trails and branches of wistaria, while lilacs and mauves of every tone were repeated throughout the ballroom, the peculiar success of violet as a “night color” causing a small sensation;