Fashion Notes

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1936, Page 19

Fashion Notes

London. Specially Written for "The Post.

LONDON, September 11

St. Leger Day, at the Doncaster races, gave us a .'forecast of coming fashions as worn by smart women . racegoers. The high-pointed and square-crowned hats have caught popular fancy, and the clay being warm, a tailored dress with silver fox wrap over the shoulders was preferred to tweed or other woollen suits. Very smart was a

purple woollen frock worn with a purple hat; the height of which was further accentuated by a long quill standing straight up in front. There were many wearers of the fashionable green which promised _to be the popular colour for the coming season, and both silver fox and pale beige lynx stoles and wraps look well with this colour.

A. touch of bright, red was introduced into another slim tunic, dress that had one red and one green, fabric flower at the base of .the neckline. The material wa,s very new, having raised squares over a plain surface, all in one colour angora. .

In a season of prolific styles, fashion has decided to pander to every-mood. Women can be sophisticated or simple, or just stop short at any stage in between these two extremes.. Particularly in the design of evening clothes is this apparent, for evening is surely the time when one can allow oneself to be temperamental, running riot with colour and fabric, or being neatly tailored in silk or velvet.

; . Mofyneux is making simple, straight, and .tailored evening gowns'in silk, .crepe, or .velvet, with double-breasted reyers or per * ctly plain, .and merely belted with, one' of the heavy cord arid; tassel .waist belts.; These dresses have no sleeves and often -it -is the colour contrast that arrests attention, as in one model of dark dahlia red, with a daring scarlet cord and tassels. The- cord and tassel waistline is a fetish in this collection, both for day and evening wear, in either matching or contrasting colours. These heavy tasselled cords replace belts and sometimes adorn necks of any day-time frocks which are worn with collarless coats. DECORATIVE TUNICS. " The tunic style is, being shown in all exclusive collections. Again, there is :a diversity of styles, for some are long,,and slender over a. very straight skirt, others have a charming fullness. :and when carried out in brilliant tinsel brocades, give an atmosphere of Eastern splendour. .' The tunics may be high in the neck, with long sleeves, or sleeveless and low at the back.

. The basqued tunic sketched is seen in .one of its more decorative: aspects. Made in .multi-coloured brocade, it is worn with a long skirt .of-black, satin. Note' the becoming sleeve: and wrapacross fastening at the neckline.

Again, the evening line changes from the tunic to one v'hich is a medieval compromise, with skirt softly gathered all the way round the base of a long semi-fitted corsage showing a square decolletage.

This is a charming silhouette in soft satin, plain crepe, lame, or velvet, as it sweeps the ground in an all-round width and is not too full. Although tulips, dahlias, and other large garden flowers make attractive colour notes at the waist line and corsage to many evening gowns, they are never added to this graceful long-waisted medie-val-fitted outline which is simple and unadorned. ' , DANCING DAINTINESS. Yet another • style that. is featured this season is the swinging fullness from the waist which one associated with the birth of the skirt dance. The popular medium for this is sunray

pleating on a very flared skirt, many yards wide at the hem but quite slim at the hips and waist. .The pleats are set into an upward pointing belt or sash, with a "brassiere style" bodice of pleating that tapers to nothing on the shoulders and very little -down the back. •' ■

Pleated crepes, satins, and chiffons are used for these dainty frocks, tha pleats being pressed out a couple of inches at-the bottom.to give the bouffant look, Other dainty "dance frocks

1 are made on this style with' very flared chiffon skirts one upon the | other over a ruched underslip. ■ WATCHING POINTS. With so many new .factors in the coming mode it is advisable to study all these points with care, for the well-dressed woman, while incorporating the latest line, avoids exaggeration.

. Top . wide shoulders, too narrow hats, exaggeratedly high necklines that are seldom becoming, will spoil the loveliest, creation. Err on the side of simplicity, .choosing a distinctive material and cutting down the trimming to a handsome belt or buckle, or . perhaps a massive ornament .at throat and .waist. RUTH SIBLEY.