The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-06-25 00:00:00

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A VERY handsome black toilette consists of a plain
skirt of velvet broche in a plaii design, and a polon-
naise of rich black faille, open front and back over a
narrow pointed plastron matching the skirt. The
fronts of the polonaise are plain at the shoulders, but
finely pleated at the waist to avoid the neceskty for
breast pleats, and fall in long pointed paniers tipped
with bead ornaments, and draped at the back. The
back breadths are puffed a little at the top, and then
fall in straight folds to the edge of the skirt.

FLOUNCED skirts in lace and in silk, are growing
in favour, and the flounces are either carried all
round the skirt or placed in front only. An elegant
model is a toilette of luciole-blue bengaline and
broche to match, with three deep flounces of ecru
lace covering the front and sides of the plain benga-
line skirt. Tho back of the skirt is plain and full,
but a tunic of broche bengaline joins the flounces on
each side, and is pleated acro3s the back, where it is
quite short, the sides falling in a gradually lengthen-
ing coquille drapery. A scarf of wide faille ribbon
crosses the flounces, and is tied in A. large bow near
the edge of the skirt on the left side, and a sash bow
to match mingles with the short pleats of the tunic at
the back. The corsage is of broche, pointed front
and back, and ornamented in front with narrow revers
of plain benga ins, opening over a waistcoat of velvet,
which is also open and fastened on the chest only over
a full chemisette of lace. The collar and parements
are also of velvet.

AmoNosr the prettiest and most practical of the
prevailing modes are the coquettish little jackets and
open bodices made of all kinds of material, and worn
with 'kids made of entirely different fabrics, and
with which they must harmonise. These bodices are
worn with morning and with evening toilettes, but
although little difference is made in the materials
employed, the styles adopted for the two occa=ions
vary considerably. The jackets worn at the breakfast
table is frequeutly loose in shape, while that intended
for evening wear fits the figure closely and is more
like a bodice. A description of two or three models
will make these variations in style clear to our
readers.

WE will take a jacket intended for dressy morning
tcilette. It is of heliotrope faille trimmed with bead
embroidery in all shades of mauve, violet, and helio-
trope. The loose open fronts are joined on the chest
and above the waist by beaded clasps, and are cut out
in oval openings over a cream lace chemisette, which
is continued round the jacket as a deep basque, show-
ing between the tabs in which the basque of the jacket
terminates. All the edges of the fronts and basques
are trimmed with bead embroidery, and the same
trimming ornaments the long open Juive sleeves,
which fall below the edge of the jacket over the full
underaleeves of lace. A cord girdle is passed round
the waist and tied in front.

Now that the summer weather has come at last,
and come with a vengeance (the Lady remarks), the
plaids and cheeks that have been popular in fine
woollens have given place to the same patterns in
foulards and zephyrs, and surah scarves to match
have made their appearance for the trimming of
bonnets and hats.

LADIES who do not feel the heat overmuch are still
wearing rich silk and velvet costumes, and only mak-
ing the difference of thinner underclothing. Surah
seems likely to ho the favourite among thin silks, and
it is so light as to admit of ample draperies without
adding much to the weight of the dress. A very
favourite black silk is called " Soleil." It is extremely
soft and rich, but not particularly glossy.
TiGirr sleeves are certainly departing, and ladies
ought to be glad, for their hands always looks smaller
when peeping out of a full sleeve, besides which some
of the sleeves really have been so tight as to impede
circulation, consequently Taking the hands red.

A VERY pretty fashion has set in of lace and tulle
bonnets, extremely soft and fussy, in which natural
flowers are pinned every day to suit the dress. Some-
times it may be a rose, and then he wearer earries
about with her the indefinable fragrance that adds
such a charm to her presence.

VERY often it is an orchid, and the orchid can be
put in water at night and used again several days
ranning, for it is he most everlasting of blossoms. A
couple of gardenias is a black lace bonnet look lovely,
but these flowers have a trick of turning brown if long
exposed or much handled.

WHAT'S the matter, Pat ?—More fun in the family
this morning, sor.—Yes; twins again ?—No, sor.
Faith, and its triplets this time."—You're getting
on.—Getting on, is it ? By hivins, sor, I belave the
nexi.'ll be quadrupeds. •
Mit. 131.1FrEns (to his daughter) : Eliza, did you
read this article about Li=zt?—Eliza (at the piano) :
Yes, Buffers: Did you notice that he said
p-opie must play the piano with their souls ?—Eliza
Yes, pa.-11r. Buffers: Well, Eliza, just put down
your hands, and. play with your soul till I've done
reading. . . _ _

WIIEN schools were first started in the Highlak,as,
not only chil,lren went to them, but even their
parents, and sometimes even their grand-parents, to
learn to read. One day a teacher, who observt d a
little fellow cryi-g, went up to him and asked him
what was wrong, to which the little fellow replied—
greetin' because I've tappit my gran'father.
LADY ARYMYNTA has been collecting for the local
Jubilee fund. She called on an cld lady, and, with a
sweet Jubilee smile, remarked: I am sure you would
like to contribute something in honour of het
Majesty's Jubilee.—No, not non, was the reply;
pert apr I will next time !