London Fashion Notes

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 114, 16 May 1931, Page 9

London Fashion Notes

LONDON, 20th March. It is easier to write of spring fashions with the sunshine pouring in at the- window, for with one' of those quick changes of weather . which makes Londqn so fascinating wo have plunged from mid-winter1 snowstorms into sunshine and warmth.

flowers to add colour and gaiety to the landscape/while the trees are slowly acquiring their soft green foliage. The Row is crowded with ridbrs, and if one is sometimes tempted to admire tho beauty of 'the horses rather than the horsemanship of their owners no one worries about'such trifles on gebrgeous spring days' like these. Winter- boats '.arc hiding their dim

inished heads aridi; tailored suits, tweed ensembles, pretty hats, gay scarves, smart shoes are aBl lending their touch of' colour and chaser to -the crowded

Specially written t*r "Th« Pott"

streets, tubes, and omnibuses. Dressmaj ers no longer feel apologetic for showing chiffons and organdie, and women are watching the dress parades t with a much more personal intciest than was possible when the .weather was so orratic. . ' . It is a very definite" sign of the times that dressmakers' aYe1 relying less and less on Paris as' a'source of inspiration and concentrating on individual styles'to suit their ' own clienteles. "Isobel" boasts'that she never buys a Paris model, and Certainly her collection is as lovely as anything shown this season. ..■ .'. '.. .. ; '■■', . . 1 Exquisite cut and workmanship, practically all the materials of British manufacture, and charming colour contrasts distinguished every. ono of the hundred models shown in her collec-! tioh. .'-■'.' . ■ There was quite a lot of brown shown here in stockinette, tweed, face cloth, crepe satin, and georgette. ■ Madame Isobel told me it would be the colour for next winter, and that during the summer months nothing would be smarter than georgette or chicon dresses of nigger brown. She finds it immensely flattering to the Anglo-Saxon type of hair and complexion, particularly if there is a hint of red in the hair. A sports suit of nigger brown stockinette had an old gold tuck-in blouse \ of wool lace, and a brown bat of the same stockinette. An afternoon gown of nigger and while spotted voile had a coat of fine brown hopsack trimmed with a scarf collar of flat nigger brown lamb. ■An evening gown, of : nut brown shadow lace was worn under a theatre coat of gold brocade trimmed mink. But whilo brown was emphasised, every other colour was shown as -well. Beige has conquered grey; it always will whiles women remember how much more flattering it is. A very smart beige suit had a short coat belted at tlio waist with a shawl collar of beige lamb that extended to the bottom of the coat. A fancy printed stockinette in white and beige was made with two coats—a short white ono that finished the dress and over this a plain beigo ono just a little shortei, with a scarf that was half beige and half white. A charming beigo stockinette dress had a deep collar, vest, and deep turnback cuffs of white muslin broderie Anglaiso. Wool lace is an attractive material which satisfies the desire of lightweight materials that- havo sufficient warmth in this uncertain climate. A sports suit made entirely of apricot wool lace, with contrasting jumper of white georgette and a smart wool lace cap to match was a novelty that created much favourable comment. Tunic blouses with long or short sleeves in wool lace were shown with both tweed and fine face cloth ensembles. Blue, red, and yellow were three other shades emphasised by this very clever designer. A black dress worn with a short red coat with silver fox fur and small black hat was intensely smart. , A, race gown of all-red georgette had the entire body tucked from the yoke to' the knees. The plain yoke was outlined by cutout red muslin flowers quitfe flat, and the same cut out design finished the tucks just above the .krie^s. Colour combinations included a lovely short coat and dress ensemble of navy blue and 'palest pink crepe. The pink dress had ;dcsigns of 'bluo crepe appliqued on it and.a blue belt, and the littlo coat was of bluo. Worn with it was 'a shallow crowned 'hat of blue, with a droopy pink brim of stitched crepe. ' Such a lot of lovely lace is showing on everything, v Exquisite gowns of Nottingham lace, some very fine shadow lace, others in a heavier more silky lace, and the very newest colour is a real coral red; You notice this particular shade everywhere; it is so different from all the other reds, and is most attractive in chiffon, georgette, or fine lace. An^ Ascot gown mado entirely of black* needle-run lace was shown with a laco hat to match; but more striking still was an afternoon gown of'black georgette, the whole bodice (with baby sleeves) and the skirt to the knees consisting of rows and rows of fine black Valenciennes lace. I learned later that, this took 140 of narrow lace! | Another exquisite black gown consisted of a three-flounced skirt of black broderie Anglaise edged "with Valenciennes lace, a'close-fitting bodice that had a deep U vest of draped white chiffon and long tight sleeves, with small white chiffon sashes tied round the wrists. • A shallow^ crowned black hat had a flat white rose pressed on tho top and underneath the brim. . EUTH SIBLEY.