FASHION NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 170, 19 July 1924, Page 22

FASHION NOTES.

(By AN EXPERT.)

PARIS, March 26. The Concours Hippique, which opened at the Grand Palais in the Champs Elysees on March 22, and continues till April 13, has brought with it thrills in horsemanship, and many good looking men. One sees tbe tlnest specimens of French manhood. They express France, not merely Paris, and they are really magnificent. It is rather pleasant to give them the palm for once. Women arc nothing to look nt on this ocasion in comparison with them. How well they ride. what good manners they have, how well turned out they are. It was the rule in other times to wear one's best tailleur at the horse show. Now, one can wear what one likes, from the tailleur classique to one of those flimsy little frocks that look so much like evening dresses. The only thing that strikes one this year as different from other years, is that nine women out of ten are wearing a threecornered " Marquis " chapeau. Awfully smart they are, especially when they top a well-cut tailleur. As for the cloche, I think its death sentence has been signed, nnd it's high time it was. There are some good toques with Russian crowns —very richly embroidered are the mitres of these chapeaux,—and the big hat is gradually coming back to popularity. Many are the little hats, trimmed with a rosette at the side, and a floating gauze or chiffon veil coming from it and falling over the shoulders to well below I lie waist. This kind of hat is very becoming to a certain type of woman, and sometimes these long veils are caught up with a rose, or a bunch of flowers at the waistline and fall to the hem _f the skirt. The new dress is are lovely, interesting, and versatile. Skirts uniformly follow tbe general tendency to become shorter, while coats are long, even on tailored street costumes, reaching to just above the knees, in tbe bitter case, or of three-quarter length. There arc charming draperies, soft materials, bodices arc just loose enough -. necklines are interestingly diversifiable. Colours are bright, but not crude, and one seldom sees a woman with any pretention to good dressing looking scrappy. All she has on goes well together. The patchwork-quilt appearance lias vanished. A girl who wears blue, sees to it that she is well finished oil' in suitable hat, shoes, stockings, gloves, and wraps. All these things are related one to tho other. Close relationship marks all the garments which go to make up a costume. The effect is harmonious. Any woman who wants to be smart on a small income should have a lot of black dresses this season. "Le noir est toujours habille," is a well-known French saying. This \-enr l-'rencb women are buying several black dresses to mix with their coloured frocks. They know that there are days when nothing but smart black will fit the case. There is nothing better looking than a beautifully draped black crepe satin dress. This year there are many interesting black and white combinations, and all white dresses will be much seen as the season advances. The skirts are either classically plain, or finely pleated. The scarf, which is omnipresent in all spring fashions, will become, it is said, a rage with Parisiennes as the season advances. I have settr ome very interesting printed and iMt-J-painted specimens, which have the exact appearance of embroidery and the inimitable advantage of being washable. Dresses are also being made with these novel painted embroideries. There is, for instance, an original applique which is called "brodia," and which is very effective. For instance, on a deep azure under-dress, finely pleated, and having long pleated sleeves, there is a darker blue satin tunic made in panel effect, the lower part of which is trimmed with this "brodia" applique. The Parisienne has decided ideas concerning "make-up" and aids to beauty. Her craze for plucked eye-brows is passing. She is sick to death of the thin, clean arch above the eyes, and much is being done to help the growth of the snubbed brows. Now she is concentrating her attention on her hair. After spending no end of money on permanent waves, she has returned to the coiffeur, to have the ripples cut away, and show a smooth boyish head under her chapeau. Oh fashion, how much have ye to answer for! Oh fashion, what caprices arc committed in thy name ! The new coiffure of last July, almost belongs to the last century ! Our -Sketch. This small intriguing frock is for afternoon promenade. For summer wear, it is made of dark blue crepe de

A common deal chest of drawers can be transformed into a useful kitchen cabinet. Have the various drawers carefully divided up into suitable compartments, and line each division with thin tin. This will enable you to \ empty various foodstuffs directly into their own compartments instead of stocking them in separate jars and boxes. |