The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-09-15 00:00:00

cOSSIP ON DRESS.

nut recent Highland gathering at Birnam was an
interesting event, and was favoured by a nutoerous
attendance. S tme of the costumes worn by the ladies
were very pretty, and dark colours appeared to he
more general than l'ght ones. A costume of narrow
black and white " tioosrring " stripe was made with a
kited skirt and cutaway coat, t•howing a red waist-
coat, and strait collar. Red hose, with black shoes
and buckles, and a red cap, with black cock plume.
A dark green (hers was profusely braided with narrow
red and gold braid, close together, placed as a band
near the edge of the plaited skirt; the drawn•back
tunic was edged to match, and also the cuffs and
collar of the habit bodice. The dark green cap was
made with encircling' folds, caught tcgether cn the
left side with a tuft of red pompons, sacured by a gold
claw. A long close•fitting coat of stamped velvet
ganse, lined with pink, was worn with a flounced skirt
of pink nun's veiling, and a large black velvet hat,
with a tuft of pink rosebuds in black lace on one side.
A cream nun's cloth looked well, braided with narrow
black velvet and gold braid in alternate lines on the
flJuncss in front, and waterfall skirt at the back ; cuffs
and cape. A neat costume consisted of a shepherd's
plaid,,ou r
ianr arranged
forlamc eafnu
of t esra
mbel a cwki
tvhe eat, ckwvietlh a
v et
bows; a three•cornered hat of velvet. A dark blue
dress, trimmed with Russian embroidery in red, was
effective.

IN an article on "London Fashions," the Queen
says that many new mixtures of material and har-
monies of colour are already prepared for early
autumn wear. At present, however, everyone appears
in fresh cool-looking costumes of linen cotton, batiste,
or zephyr cloth, all more or less pretty, and moistly
trimmed with frillings or flounces of lace, and adorned
with bows and loops of gay coloured ribbons. The
lighter the tint the more elegant the gown, and
dresses of the paler shades of blue, grey, lilac or pink,
are everywhere seen. The skirts, of plain colour, are
worn with bodice and wide-spreading coat tails of
flowered material to match, and the tight fitting
plain sleeves, reaching just below the elbow, die.
appear beneath the deep gauntlet of the fashionable
"Guards" glove, which are usually black, when worn
with dresses of these light colourings. The parasol, of
black satin or cream lace, is lined with towered
material the same as the bodies, and the high black
Welsh or Henri 11, hat is adorned with a cluster of
bright feathers, or a banquet of field flowers. Costumes
of white nun's cloth, or white glom, are trimmed
with bands of silk ef Eastern design, and are very
pretty and stylish, the tunios lifted high on one hip,
and falling low in a long point at the other aisle of the
skirt ; the short basque bodice is pointed at the edge,
the points resting en a narrow plaited flounce of thc
oriental silk. Tee cuffs and gathered bag waistcoat
are of the same material. A very effective costume
for seaside wear is of fine cardinal twill, the
trimming consisting of rows of narrow velvet of a deep
claret shade. The parasol is similarly trimmed, and
the Spanish hat of cardinal felt is edged with chenille
cord studded with pompons.

GOWNS of decidedly nautical style, in the new shade
of marine blue, are much ix vogue, both in town and
at the seaside. These are often mixed with red and
all shades of crimson. Entire navy suits are trimmed
with gold and silver braids, and those of blue serge
look remarkably well with rows of coloured braids--
blue, yellow, red, and white. lirametimee the fishwife
tunic, thus trimmed, is worn over a plain skirt of
striped flannel of these colours on a white ground. A
skirt of white serge is arranged in wide box plaits ; the
space between has five rows of mixed blue and gold
braid; these are carried in upright points upon the
face of each plait, a small tassel falling below. The
tunic and back drapery, of marine-blue serge, are
trimmed with three rows of braid, the tunic raised
high on the left side, where is fastened a cordeliere of
blue and gold, with hanging tassels; the habit bodice
ia braided to match; the cuffs and open turn.down
collar are completely covered with rows of braid. A
sailor hat of blue felt has pompons of gold silk, and is
edged with mixed cord.

TAX above-quoted authority mentions the following
stylish toilette for afternoon wear :—A skirt of the
finest cashmere of nemophila blue with a pattern
of "moons ' in narrow lines of brown, red, laud old
gold; the skirt is composed of close set perpendicular
/Ads, the tunic a series of pointed draperies falling one
over the other from the left side of the waist to the
edge of the skirt; each point is fringed with small
pompons of gold-coloured silk. A habit bodice of
nemophila velvet, the basque edged with pompons, the
small coat tails lined with gold satin. Long loops of
satin ribbon, brown, blue, and gold, are fastened at
the waist on the left side. Another of similar material
in dull myrtle green, the "moons" of tan colour shut
with brown and blue; the kilted skirt is edged with a
band of cerise velvet, which iA also introduced among
the folds of the draperies surrounding the hips, and at
the hack. The bodice is tight-fitting, and pointed
back and fsont, a row of graduated velvet battlements
is placed beneath the edge of basque.

THERE are some novel garnitures for young ladies'
ball•gowns, which are very effective as trimmings for
the plain skirts of net or tulle which continue to be so
fashionably worn. A deep trellis-work of shaded green
chenille of a ilat " leaf " pattern is edged with garlands
of small flowers, having fringes of banging buds and
light grasses of unequal lengths. The trellis-work
takes the shape of two large festoons, which form
panniers beneath the pointed bodice of green velvet,
which is usually worn with these floral ornaments.
Daisies, shaded cornflowers, sweet peas, forget-me.
note, and heather are the favourite flowers used ; the
latter very rppropriate ior the " country horiz,a
season just now in full swing in the highlands. Berthes
of gathered lace are worn with the plain velvet bodices,
a bouquet of flowers matching those on the skirt is
worn on the right side of the berthe, or as epaulettes
on the shoulders.

oa making of children's dreaaes is now quite as an
impurtant an affair as the elaborate costumes pre.
pared for their elders, and much time and thou,tht are
given to the production of these miniature toilettes
(remarks the Queen). Truly, nothing can be prettier
than the dainty little garments as at present worn by
these small folks at the seaside and elsewhere. Frocks
for dressy occasions are made in every variety of
summer material—of fine cashmere and nun's veiling,
muslin or washing silk. Very pretty are some of
white 'lawn, trimmed with narrow frillings of red
embroidery, with sashes of red Numb. Two charming
little sisters were thus arrayed ; their golden hair
surmounted by veritable " college caps " of red plush.
Long silken cords depended from the °entre, which
were caught up and fastened on the left shoulder of
the white frocks. The effect was novel ani
striking withal. An elegant little dress is of pale
grey nun'e veiling, relieved with tiny pleatings of
faint pink silk, appearing beneath scollops at the edge
of the skirt. The entire front is composed of
perpendicular pleatings of silk crossed by branden-
bourgs of grey silk cord; a grey ptraw hat with pink
ilk pompons. To be quite en regle also, the back
breadths of these frocks are made to stand out by a
fen, flounces of stiff muslin attached to the waist,
having all the appearance of a crinolette without its
actual adoption. Plainly made frocks of light-
weighted crimson or navy serge are thoroughly useful
for school room and house wear. The straight skirts
are slightly gathered at the waist, and beneath a silk
sash of the same or contrasting colour. The yoke
bodice is finished at tiie neck with an "Eton "linen
collar, and the rather loose sleeves are gathered into
a cuff at the wrists, and fastened with buttons; a row
of buktoes down the front of the bodice. The many
varieties of sailor costume testify that both for boys
and girls it still holds its own as the favourite and
prevailing style oi dress for outdoor wear. The
newest jerseys worn with these are in stripes of crim-
son and blue, blue and white, or red and white. They
are bright looking, and more economical than those of
plain white.