FASHION NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3148, 18 February 1911, Page 4

FASHION NOTES.

The jaunty butterfly bow .which is now being worn across and on the side of the hat would be much smarter, though perhaps a little more daring,, if worn on the underside of the brim turned straight off the face. This style will not suit all, but will be becoming to most girls, and certainly worth attempting. A* handsome gown in dark violet corduroy velvet made en-princess, the bodice cut with the Magyar effect, a wide belt of violet, satin to match, tlie skirt turned up at tho hem with m broad band of the same satin cuffs of the same, long plain sleeves, and the neck without a collar. This would be really smart for autumn wear. A new and dainty style for a collar is made of a straight up piece of white linen finished with a soft black satin butterfly bow.

Velvet is all the rage in Paris. A turquoise velvet princess gown, veiled in faint shell pink chiffon, shot with electric blue, suggests itself to me, the chiffon made in tunic style finished at the hem with fine floss silk embroidery in a faint shade of blue. The bodice :o have short sleeves of the chiffon finely tucked, a band of embroidery finishes the square cut bodice, ami _ is caught on one side with a dull pink rose. This would be a lovely evening gown, and easily made at home by the clever girl. Veiling is to play a great part in all tiie best frocking this season. Where it is possible to veil, do so. Even .day wraps for the races, garden parties, and “At Heines” show the veiled effect in Paris. It only requires a little consideration to blend and contrast shades to make your old frocks (especially princess robes) into the height of fashion, brocade, watered silk, or floral jsilk can be veiled with mousseline de soie in plain tone, chiffon, or net, the latter being very much used. For evening gowns two ideas seem to be most popular—the straight skirt with a little narrow train, or the skirt banded or finished with flowers, the flowered skirts being especially pretty when worn for dancing at some of the largest Paris costumiers. Butt erf lies play a wonderful part •in the color schemes. Large rooms have butterflies in a preserved state attached to the walls, and it is here colors are blended, contrasted, and suggested to the clever men and women who turn out some of the loveliest gowns ever seen. M. Worth has butterflies from every part of the world ; even New Zealand has contributed to his wonderful and glorious collection. Extremelv high crowns will be worn in hats with a suggestion of “Mother Goose” and the “witches” hat of the old nursery rhymes. Fashions inf the Shops of Paris. Coats have vivid linings. Black and 'white in broken plaids is stylish. . „ „ , , . , Ai pretty is of black velvet ■edged with fur. ' .. The latest thing in feathers ur.e .feather 'slippers. . - ■. Beads play an important part an, the slipper buckles. '* Ballroom dresses are trimim|l m narrow bands of fur. ,•' y ' ■ . Some manufacturers say short capes are coming back. " • A w ' ; Many of the black hats are trimmed high with black malines. Visiting dresses, even when made short, are most sumptuous. . The fichu line are evident, especially on chiffon blouses. The Directpire style -i. grows more fashionable as the season progresses. _ .One of the latest evolutions of.fashion is the .long colored velvet paletot. • A ' ; W, v ■ ‘ k

A sailor collar when made of lace is a pretty aeessory to a dinner gown. Silk crepe draperies in the ancient Indian cashmere shawl patterns are new.

Tan shoes are in great demand. Button and 1 laces are about equally divided. Chinchilla, in its lovely tones of grey and black, was never more fashionable. Plain cloth velvet, and plaid trimmings are characteristic combinations on children’s garments. Garlands of roses are now being draped over cloche hat for little tots. Silver or gilt tissue or soft satin are the materials most used.

Evening coats are seen in every style and description, with a preference in color for black, white, dull blue, or rose. Usually they are cut on the .loose kimono lines, and the fur trimmings are in great elegance. The Empire fashions as now worn are not by any means shapeless. They are, oil the contrary, made so as to display the figure to the best advantage even though the waist comes almost under the armpits. One would go far to find a more attractive waist than the new chiffon jumper. The strong favor for serges in_.black, navy, and white shows no signs of decreasing. The range for black velvet gowning reaches down to the tiniest feminine mites. A charming fad. Corals that nearly reproduce the real thing are set on a bar, making a most attractive veil pin. The new bags have coronet or initials in gold or small diamonds, on their velvet background. The touoil of scarlet or red is a dominant novelty in the winter frocks. This red is merely used as a touch, in pipings. or in a single flower on gown and muffs and stoles. The “Harem” Skirts.

The task of introducing English-wo-men generally to adopt the ‘•'harem skirt’’ which,' as a Paris correspondent telegraphed recently, a well-known French dressmaking firm intends to introduce. is hopeless in the opinion of some of London’s dress experts. The skirt is an almost exact reproduction of the Turkish woman’s costume —a long, loose, divided garment, fitting tightly at each ankle. London dressmakers are ready to admit that in compelling circumstances the skirted dress will have to be doffed in favor of a bifurcated 1 garment. When women fly they will find probably that some such garment will have to bo adopted. Already a golf costume is being made for women in London which is°of the bifurcated order discreetly treated so that- it in no way offends anyone’s susceptibilities. -Such a costume is convenient on the links, but in the house would be inch loss becoming than the regulation skirted toilette. If the harem skirt is to make a successful appeal, it's salient feature will have to be so disguised that they will be lest, to the .sight of the onlooker. A woman has no objection to wearing a safety habit, but it must look as feminins'as various cievr subterfuges can render it when she dismounts from her horse. Her climbing and shooting costumes 'are similarly treated.