Perhaps the greatest change of the year has taken place in the sunshades, which are striped in various and wonderful ways, and some surprising colours. As to the embroideries, chiffons, laces, and ornaments lavished on them, they are so many I have no room to describe them. The latest I have seen was of chiffon, embroidered in straw; and on another I counted sixteen rows of gathered baby-ribbon in three colours, the foundation being in green satin.
A CLOTH GOWN.
Our first group of three figures shows, as we have already said, three varieties of the tunic. The gown on the extreme left is of heliotrope canvas, over white silk. It has a pointed tunic, trimmed with white silk, or satin, ribbon, or tucking. The same is placed in rows on the top of the sleeves, and there are rows of heliotrope satin on the collar and on the edge of the skirt. This is a very pretty and girlish gown, which could be carried out in any thicker material if desired. The figure on the right hand side wears a gown of plain grey alpaca, with an under-dress of a crimson-figured poplin, which has rows of narrow black velvet round the edge. The tunic is also trimmed with rows of black velvet, with cream lace, and the bodice has a white satin yoke, with a front of crimson and trimmings of black velvet also, with double revers, which fold back. The hat is of the new boat shape, and has three ostrich feathers in it. These are very much uncurled, as it is no longer the fashion to curl them very tightly, and the stem must show down its entire length. They are often of shaded colours, and are of moderate length.
TWO CAPES AND HATS.
The centre figure wears a very smart gown in muslin, with flowers, the colour being blue, in shades. It is made up over blue. There are three scalloped flounces, and a tunic, which are edged with blue velvet, and a tiny lace. The bodice has revers of cream-coloured chiffon, and there are frills of the same at the side front, and the waist-band is of heliotrope velvet, and is very narrow.
The charming figure in a fawn cloth tailor-made gown wears one of the rather long and rounded jackets. The trimmings consist of rows of satin ribbon and cream lace, three rows of which go round the skirt and jacket. The front is of white satin and cream lace, and the collar has rows of satin on it to correspond. These narrow satin ribbons and tuckings, made of silk and satin, are the special trimmings of the year, and they seem quite ubiquitous, and look so pretty that we have not got tired of them yet.
There are so many muslins—organdies, and the ordinary corded ones—that it is quite a muslin year, and the lace and narrow ribbons used on them are enormous in amount. Lawn of the same colour is generally used for the linings if you do not choose to afford silk. A fine sateen will also answer.
Our third drawing shows two pretty hats and two of the most fashionable capes, which still contrive to hold their own in the dress of the present season. The figure on the left wears a short cape of heliotrope silk, tucked and trimmed with frills of white chiffon, and it has one of those stoat fronts, which are quite new this year. The cape to the right is of grey satin, with pointed fronts, and a large collar of white satin, with front revers of the same. The whole is edged with a ruche of black chiffon. The hat is of the new Cavalier shape, with feathers and a buckle.