WET WEATHER DOWDINESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 212, 6 September 1911, Page 8

WET WEATHER DOWDINESS.

18 IT IfECESSAItY ? FASHION NOTES FROM LONDON. (Prom Our Lady Correspondent.) LONDON, July 28. As I write a grateful rain is falling, and parched London has assumed its dull weather dowdiness, in sharp and instant contrast to the pretty toilettes sported for the past sunshiny months. So great is the change if scenes in the dress world that one wonders, once again, why some couturiere does not make a brilliant name for himself by inventing wet weather clothes as smart, in their way, as fair wither creations. Once again—in this -onvention-bound country —feminine public opinion is probably at the back of things. Men would irather swelter in thick dark tweeds and serges in the height of summer, than brave comment by appearing in the thin and cool garments of l*-w Zealand and other countries. Women have the idea so firmly implanted that a dull, stodgy style of dressing is the only way to combat dull and wet weather, that it would take a revolution to induce them to dare a change. The fortunate being who owns a carriage is exempt from condemnation, and, at any rate, hardly counts in this contention. She I speak of must depend, in sulky weather, on "buses or on her own good feet. It requires some courage, no one can deny, to sally forth in becoming clothes in the face of sleet, for instance; but none, of course, should try and reconcile wet and dry weather smartness. Each must have its own toilette, and from the wet weather wardrobe fr'lls and feathers, chiffons and delicate flowers, must be sternly banished. Even barring embellishments of that description, however, much remains that is infinitely prettier and brighter than the average trimmings seen abroad in wet weather. There are natty tweeds and serges that will stand any amount of rough buffeting, and since waterproof silks in various colours can quite easily and reasonably, in this country at least, be obtained, there is not the least excuse for the pathetically "serviceable" ugliness that we've seen for so many years past as soon as the sun hid his face, in the way of hats. So long, usually, is the winter here, so fleeting the summer, that the matter, one would think, is worthy greater attention than it receives. In the fashions of to-day BLACK AND WHITE STRIPES are still very popular, though these, it may be noted, are of the subdued description, and nothing very loud and startling is seen. Motor veils, of striped ninon or chiffon, are the latest things to fall under the stripe spell. A chic little blouse of black and white striped voile that I saw this week could be easily copied in a very short space of time. It was made in Magyar fashion, with the stripes meeting diagonally' in the centre of the front, the sleeves, necessarily, being of three-quarter length and finished with wide turned-back cuffs of Irish lace. The collarless neck had a flat collar of the same lace, and a sharp touch of originality was given the whole by a neat little emerald satin bow at the neck and three .buttons to match down the front of the blouse. COTTAGE POSIES, that is to say, tight little bunches of small flowers such as forget-me-nots, rosebuds, daisies, and buttercups bound up with feathery grasses, are very popular just now for straw hats, and give a simple old-world ah- that is very effective in this hot weather.

Some of these posies, made up to match or harmonise with an evening gown, make pretty coiffure ornaments. It is safe to prophesy that TINSEL AND BEADING,

when they do go out, will stay out for gome considerable time. The majority of women must be heartily tired now of the sight of even beautiful beading, so has it been run to death on every material or ornamentation that would admit of it. SCARVES die hard, and some of them are so pretty and graceful that we cannot tire of the fashion.

A graceful old-fashioned example of this week is of ivory ninon, made sufficiently wide and long to serve as a summer wrap. A band of very pale blue satin ribbon borders the scarf throughout, while very pale pink satin and chiffon roses decorate it in delightful fashion. The foliage is of leaf-green satin ribbon, and the while effect is exceedingly dainty and delicate.

Draped like an old-world fichu round the shoulders, this scarf is meant to be tied liphtly at the waist with a bow and ends of narrow black velvet ribbon, and would look well worn over a simple frock of white muslin arranged with broad tucks both on the bodice and the skirt, and finished with a chemisette and undersleeves of net and lace, the sleeves, perhaps, showing touches of black velvet ribbon. WAIST GIRDLES. Paris, which set the fashion so universally followed in England of waist cords instead of belts to gowns, is wearying of it. and declares that wide directoire belts with fringed sashes attached are to appear again.