FASHION NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 25, 29 January 1921, Page 16

FASHION NOTES.

(By An Expert.) PARIS, October 11. I purposely spea-k of hats firet to-day. for I 'believe hats are as important as frocks. You don't, always buy your ha: to match your frock no-'.vadays; as often as not you try to find a frock to match a perfect hat. Felt hats are having th , ' tops of the brim covered with leather, as well as the sidoe o; the crown; a' the base of the lattpr appears a narrow eatin rire ritibon. Hats with "black i pivot crowns and white satia brims have created somewhat of a sensation, and will doubtless I>e worn until the wfjitcr arrives. The autumn hat- arc of every coueeivable shape. Dainty toques of lasves i>r plumage, built to fit snugly over bobbed manes, or on softly Marcelled coiffures; picture hats, with wide velvet brims and tulle crowns—unless, in coniradictiou, they 'boast of tulle brims and velvet crowns. Tricorcee, fur toques, Yi-loutino caps —every style ie to be seen. There i?n't any fashion? That's just ihe trouble. One wears w hut one likes. There are dozens of styles to choose from, and they are all enchanting and bewiiderinjr. One can wear just any old —or now thing , —one likes. Any period "f history will do, so long as it suits one. And any liberties can be taken from whatever period one chooses. One looks nice in almost everything —so> how can one choose? But panniers are barred; they have definitely vanished from our ken, and the looped-up/bur-tlc-likc effect that threatened Paris in the early summer seems to have aborted.

Nothing at the present moment so much resembles one of last spring's new frocks as one of the autumn's latest, models. The new silhouette is composed of a long, flat, and loosely-fitting corsage, often with liijrh collar and knuckleIpngth sleeves. The waistline is low, and the full appearance of tbe skirt is obtained by means of panels, kilted or gathered, set on lo the hips, and Cowing loosely away from the narrow skirt ao one walks. A variauan of the e!:;s;ic tailor-made i* the rat- coat, the little short paletot embroidered or braided or lentiierIrunmcd, and already, alas! •with fur. Snugly litting- fur collars, high above ihe fjrs, are cosy to look forward to, for wo are most dreadfully afraid of a severe winter in Paris with no coal, and i< would be really too extraordinarily luoty to be that we should have a teasott

We in Taris I,;nr reverlcd to I lie v.'-y feminine and fri'.ly; tiny ylNst; I'ri!!- . adorn our frock*, our materials dr;\j>-< with fr.Ur.cs»s. neckwear i< admirably ] planned in plisHo tul'e or thiiines , . lawn, j and tied will , rihbi;:i. Or the demure: \ ictoriau divolletajre accompanies abbreviated, rutfied sleeves, tiro ri'.ibon has ' descended from our hats unto our waists, where it. flutters with long ends and '■ •bows. These ribbon belts often have a ; bunch of (lowers, or even a cluster of i eherrift?, with thick woody stalk, tucked i into them in front in a con! rastin" ■ shade. ■ AUTIMN COLOUR. Tlie canary yellow now popular for woman's drt*?s has piven j)laee i!)is nutumn to a. sliade which' is < ailed brickred, but i.-, really :i war.n ohneinut -brown - a most appropriate colour for tile falling of the leavtv. Thi., brown wot only be thy l':i -hion.ihle ont-oi'-door tint, but. silks aid other pvenint; mat.'rials are b<>in£ iniuie of it for dinner and theatre po'.vns and evening wraps. Mt:,,. r colours in vofrae for evciiinp; wear are lavender and silver tones; d'lll blues, real Mark (not brown 'blacki. !mt ebony. or;n skktch. i ]'-niinent!y becoming and exiremelv comfortabU' is tin pmart coat, illustrated on this page, which has a decidedly dashing air about ii. Carried out in" rough white cashmere. wi;!i Kumanian em- , broideries, in red and yellow upon bands jif Balkan Mnc, this coat makes for ! beauty.