DARING COSTUMES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 153, 27 June 1908, Page 15

DARING COSTUMES.

Btady : on tbe stage. Mile. Ocfle Socel, for example,: la to t wear one"' at •""the Theatre Francais, and, as La Ben* Otero says that eowus a foußßo am only be worn women of perfect snap*, it is pretty safe to cay -she wBl also adopt fashion. Mile. AUette Dorjere has also ordered a sheath sown. '■• . --■.'■■:■ .-.-. '.'-' - •' :

DRESSMAKERS' MODELS TURNED OFF FBENCH RACECOURSE. . . j Racegoers were provided with a sensation at Longebamp on Sunday, May 10, in the shape of on exhibition by four ladies of the latest Paris fashions. It is a long-standing custom for the great | costumiers in tbe French capital to: utilise the race meeting for'this purpose. The prettiest women ln Paris —the professional beauties—are usually Selected to show off the latest creations to the best advantage. Many of these ladles, indeed, are practlc- | ally kept to clothes by the houses whose goods they thus advertise. Racing bad just started at Longebamp on Sunday when into the enclosure there walked four charming -ladles in the latestthings in dlrectolre costumes. These, are called skirts a fourreau, or sheath gowns, and are well named, for those worn by the ladles to question were so tight-fitting and so transparent that they left little or nothing to the imagination respecting the models' figures. As though this were not enough, one of the skirts was split upat the side, exposing the wearer's lower limbs as far as the knee. These dresses must be worn without' cither petticoats or corset but over a sort of silk combination fitted with whalebone. The advent of the four ladles caused a tremendous sensation. Visitors of the same sex looked curiously for some time, and then fled, professing themselves shocked. The men gathered round, and proceeded to criticise the wonderful garments in terms the reverse; of complimentary.", Jeers led to insult and insults looked like paving the way for a more forcible | method of expressing disapproval, when, the police Interfered, and, to the models' own interests, escorted them to' the station. -..'■. '■.. - , C ;r-\ The police were pressed to toke r proceedlngs against the dressmakers and the models, • but M. Touny, Director of the Municipal Police, said: "I. thought the exhibition made by tbe young ladles somewhat daring, but If it is the prevailing fashion there is no more to be said. As long as the gowns.are hot positively Improper we can do nothing, it Is; for "public taste to decide." "*" : ; ■'-_' pierity of opportunity wRI be.' gfyen -.(to Parisiennes of Inspecting the new 1 style"of i dress, tot they : ''w^'""be : ' c wW' ; pr»rfrT.''* l F***