The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-08-18 00:00:00

GOSSIP ON DRESS.

DURING the continuance of the holiday season, the
columns ~f the fashion journals are principally devoted
to descriptions of seaside c,stuines. The Brighton
correFpohdent of the Queen sends scone notes upon
cir,ss s worn at that t.othionable resort, from which
we quote the following :

There are many pretty dresses to be seen, cream
and white toilettes predorninatir,g on the bright sunny
mornings, and darker, more servic,aqe•loeking cos.
Wines when the weather is dull and rather damp.
Two beautifully fittim; costumes, were especially
noticeable ; the material was fine cream cashmere, the
deeply kilted bkirts were trimmed round the edge with
alternate rows of brad a shade or two darker than the
dress material, and gold braid, beth braids being quite
narrow ; there were three rows of each, the tunics,
trimmed in the same style, fell in deep points in
front, and were gracefully draped high on the left
hip; the bodices were slightly full, but gathered in at
the neck below the tight-fitting stand-up collars,
which were made of the gold and deep cream
braids ; the waistbands—into Which, in each case,
was stock a large creamv•yellow rose—corresponded
with the collar., and the sleeves were finished off in
the same style ; cream straw sailor hats, with gold
ribbon round them, completed the costumes, the effect
of which was decidedly good. A simply but well.
made dark blue silk, having rather far-apart red spots
on it, with red Bilk waistcoat showing under a cut-
away coatee bodice, a parasol to match, and blue sailor
hat with red ribbon being worn with it, looked well,
as did a black and white very small-checked silk, which
was stylishly marls with is number of narrow black
lace-edged flettucNs quite up to the waist at the
back ; panels of plain black silk at the sides, and
alternate box plaits of plain eiik and the check in
front; the full bodice was gathered in at the neck, and
confined at the waist by a black silk belt; it had
elbow sleeves, finished off with black lace, and met
by long black silk gloves; a small black straw bonnet
trimmed with white ropes, and a black lace parasol
with a hunch of white roses, completed this dress.
The tailor•made costumes have now nearly all waist-
coats. A fine fawn cloth costume had a waistcoat of
chamois leather, and a brown cloth one of buff. Red
waistcoats are generally seen with dark blue serge
and white with black serge, pale blue with white, and
clove c dour with darker shades of that particular grey
with which it blends well. The elderly matrons were
wearing dresses of richer materials, and very hand-
some mantles, profusely trimmed with bead em-
broidery, lace, and chenille fringes, and very much
puffed out at the back. Brochd velvet capes, cut
high on the shoulders and reaching to the waist, were
carried by many as extra wrap. Of the lighter
materials, flowered silks, flower embroidered voiles
printed crêpe de Chines, Ir dian muslins, painted
muelins, salt washing silks, and foulards are all to be
seen.

lit the metropolis the silk mercers, dressmakers, and
milliners are busily employed rearranging stock and
materials in active preparation for the coming autumn
season. Meanwhile, there is a great demand for wash.
ing material of all kinds, printed sateens, gingbarns,
and zephyr cloths being generally adopted for seaside
wear. Plain colours, drab, grey, pale lilac and butchers
blue are selected for such costumes, checks and
flowered patterns being somewhat out of date. The
flounced skirts are trimmed with many rows of narrow
worsted, or linen braid of some contrasting hue, and a
sash of colonrcd •:+l.lrah encircles the waist. The simple
gathered bodice is usually of th, bebi form, the plain,
tight sleeves, finished at the elbow and the bodice at
the neck with a falling frill of deep lace.

A LONDON contemporary in its fashion article says
that costumes of grey linen and lilac cotton, of the
familiar " housemaid" type, printed with a tiny pat.
tern in a darker shade, are very fashionably worn, and
a-e ptrauilarly pretty when made up with quantities
of lace of any inexpensive kind. Whole skirts of lace
in shades of ficel:e and coffee colour are worn with
peplum tunics of flowered organdy muslin or printed
corab silks, the jacket bodices being of ottoman of
some decided colour; the gathered waistclat is of the
same material as the tunic, and is edged with flots of
lace and ribbon bows. Batistes in light blue and pink,
plain, or spotted with red or white, are much trimmed
with 4cru embroidery or Russian lace; the skirts
decorated with bows and loops of red ribbon of narrow
width. These latter sometimes Cross and recros+ the
front of the skirts, and are caught up in festoons at the
.ides, and many yards of ribbon of all colours are used
in this way, with quite a "recruiting sergeant effect,
when viewed at a distance. Some young ladies wear
habit bo lees of dark blue or deep red twilled linen
with these light coloured skirts, the fronts turned
back to display a chemise.te of lace or spotted muslin;
and hats of blat.k straw, the high crowns encircled
with three rows I red or blue ribbon, and bunches of
staled corn flu wers in front, form an harmonious
finish to such; t E ttes.

Tma gauntlet "Guards" gloves are universally
adopted as sty4sh adjuncts to morning gowns They
c,kn he procured in several shades of tan as well as in
black and dark brown. The long silk ;loves are also
much u3ed, and these are frsqutntly dyed to match
co.tumes especially deigned for evening wear. For
full dress occasions, many ultra-fashionables affect
gants de Suede of preposterous length, producing a
multiplicity of folds and wrinkles, thus imitating a
mode which found much favour in the days of our
grandmothers.

THE newest parasols, some manufactured expressly
for Goodwood, are in foulard of various shades—cream,
grey, anti reci perhaps, the favourite colour+,
0e of the last tint, covered with openwork embroi-
dery, and having a long stick of black and gold, wa4
edged with a fringe of onenille to match. A " fantasy "
parasol was of fine yellow straw, having two rows of
gathered lace, healed with narrow black velvet, and
loops and bows of velvet kept in place a br,e garland
of poppies, ox-eye daisies, and other held flowers.
Another, in quirter taste, but very uric minor:, was of
black ottoman, with three flounces of lace, sep4rated
by a trimming of exquisitely embroidered begonia
leaves. A large bouquet of similar blossoms was
attached to the out,,ide by a bow of black ribbon,
fastened with a garnet buckle.