SOME FASHION NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 207, 30 August 1916, Page 8

SOME FASHION NOTES.

Walking down 'Regent Street, states a London correspondent. I met an endless variety of colours in hosiery and footwear, most of which proclaimed extravagance and vanity. A pair of neat bronze-coloured silk stockings, worth perhaps 10/6, worn with enormously high-heeled bronzed boots at, say, £2 2/ a pair, completed a suit of delicate beige taffetas and a pretty hat. Another girl j was wearing white stockings of extra I fine silk gauze which would cost perhaps 5/ a pair, with white boots costing perhaps a guinea. A pair .of navy blue glace kid shoes, .with silk stockings to match, cannot have totalled less than 30/, and a pair of striking-looking patent Russian boots, with an overturned rim and hanging silk tassels, must have cost nearly 40/. The appeal for economy Jn England seems to have fallen rather flatA simple dainty taffeta gown with a; little frilled basque was on show re-' cently in London, the frills being repeated on tfie little cape collar, the sleeves, and the hem of the skirt. The colour was the new bottle-green, a hue becoming to any but the sallow' coinplexionerl. Another model in navy blue taffeta, suitable for a young girl, has the skirt arranged with a hip yoke, carefully modelled to fit the figure. From this fell a decidedly full skirt, which was mounted on the yoke with a gathered beading of the material. At the hem were little reversed pleatings of the silk edging the two sides of a bias band of the material, the whole trimming being made separately to the dress, and fixied in position as a completed affair. Of the pinafore persuasion, the bodice fastens on the left shoulder with a hook and eye. The under-bodice is of ninon, and virtually a distinct affair, united only to the pinafore at the waistband and the right shoulder. Incidentally, it may be kept entirely, separate, : the pinafore and skirt being joined together at the waist and worn over a distinct blouse or under-bodice. First and foremost in the new colour schemes is the afore-mentioned bottle green; also navy, wallflower, wine-red, beige, and, of course, black, which is never out of date. Spats that are made to match one's blouse are a novelty in smart footwear that is coming in for a great deal of attention at Home. The idea was first originated by a well-known firm who make a speciality of blouse fabrics, and who now are busy turning out well-cut spats made in - plain colourings and checks and stripes, that exactly match the fashionable, well-cut, tailored shirts which are a speciality of theirs- The great thing about these spats is, that while they are warm and comfortable to wear, they are so soft and pliable that they in no way detract from the slenderness of the wearer's ankles. The idea is very practical, and imparts such a touch of smartness to the most ordinary coat and skirt that the idea ■of spats and blouses to match is- being! adopted by a great many well-dressed women, particularly those who are working and want something to relieve the. monotony of their serviceable attire. Orange blossom, which war weddings have put out of fashion, came into vogue as a bridal adornment through a"war of long ago. It was first worn, it seems, by the Saracens, who regarded.it as, a symbol of fecundity and ■ married bliss, and the custom was copied .by their.foes, the Crusaders, -who introduced it ■ into Western Europe., in some parts of the East it is still.customary. to ..sprinkle both bride and bridegroom with orangefiarvex water,,