FASHION NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 24

FASHION NOTES.

ATTRACTIVE DRESSES. COLOUR HARMONY. (By Au Expert.! PARIS, January 5. During these dull January days we seize upon any novel distraction to help us forget the dreariness of the landscape, when the fog settles over the city, and the sun is sulky. Theatres, picture shows and concerts fill up some of our hours, and there is always the house to be busy about — when one has a house. But how many women are now forced into idleness by not being able to find a flat to live in? Hotel life, for any length of time, leaves most people witli a lonely feeling, anil unless they do something to fill in time they get neurasthenic. Good works! Yes! But there are still uours unl;ll«.d.

Perhaps that is why women now spend so much time looking at clothes. They cannot buy all the year round, but they can look at things they would, or would not, like to wear. The dressmakers arrange things very well for these "unemployed" ladies. They -how their collections regularly; and now and then have a special show of tlnir latest models. In another week, however, the "openings" will be a fait accompli, and then there will be something very interesting fo chronicle with rccard to ;'-.<• hitcst fn«hion«.

A Fair Slim Lady.

The other day I met a fair, slim ladv, who managed to combine beauty and warmth—a feat not very easy nowadays, for a fur coats cannot be "worn without being bulky, and that bulk and line do not go together—however, heaven-born the genius of the man o.lio works the fur—is a well known fact. But this woman's coat was a very smart affair. In mole, it was worked in the usual strips of the fur; the collar was not too high, nor the sleeves too wide. Such admirable restraint is rare. Her coat ended at the hips, and with it she wore a tight skirt of the same fur, and the tout ensemble looked like a long coat of impeccable cut and line—two virtues which the long coat often lacks. The wide pocket and cuffs were bound with a quaint Chinesey-looking galon in grey and burnt-orange, and the little hat was of burnt orange velvet. Under the coat there lived a charming jumper. which was simplicity itself, except for a tiny border of mole, and a monogram worked in grey and silver. Shoes, sloves and stockings were all in mole—■ cela va sans dire with so discriminating a person. And the harmony, the beauty and the grace of her quite enlivened the dull winter afternoon on which I met her. Attractive Little Dresses. Some people wear very attractive little dresses under their fur coats, things tucked and stitched and embroidered, after the manner of the frocks one sees about this season. They have no special pretentions to cut. All the art of them is in the decoration, which must be the best of its kind. I need hardly add that the best is not the cheapest, though there are people who insist that it is always the cheapest in the end. You can wear a garment of this sort, so they say, for years and years, because it is more a "work of art than a mere dress. Hut even art has its limitations, and one gets bored with the same masterpiece unless one belongs to the constant, tintemperamental sort, which sort is not particularly interested cither in art or in clothes. So I am not sure that the best is always the cheapest in the end.

Just to Cheer us Up. Just to cheer us tip, the modistes are showing us some really young-looking hats! To have a young-looking bat is even more important than having a aat that is merely fashionable. The Paris milliners this season seems to know how to make a hat that will suit any type of face. She studies the face lielore she advises a hat for it. Above all things she makes the face look young; that is her groat idea. And she should be blessed for it. Her hnts arc \ery com fort able, and they are lo l>c seen in felt, in satin, and in straw for the Riviera, Ychcl hats she cat hers and twists until they suit the face, and straw hats for the Riviera are in any ami every colour in and out of the rainbow. They are trimmed with a simple ribbon-band and a jewelled ornament. Some of them have two brilliant flowers —usually roses—placed under the brimover the right ear. Ami very Incoming they are! Sometimes the brims of ljttle felt hats are cut into strip.* and then plaited. Velvet is incrusted on to felt, and felt on to velvet. Colour Harmonies are Obsolete, ('•dour harmonies are obsolete. We deal in discords anjourd'hui. Only be bold enough and have the courage of your colour combinations, or of those of the friends you have copied, and all will he well. I adore colour myself. It is one's only hope of self c.\prcs»ion, now that form—or shall we say shape — is not done any more. It defies time ami survives it. The colour in an «>'■' master, for instance or. to go one better, in an Fgyptinn mummy, seems to Innght to scorn our paltry three-score yenrs and ten. I would like to think that we too can leave behind n« some lovely colour schemes for posterity to onthuso over.

Our Sketch. This opal white satin wedding dress with its flaring side panels, its long sleeves and graceful "v" decolletagc is a model by a well known rue w la Paix house, and bids fair to meet with

great success. In lieu of the orange blossom trimming, our bride has chosen roses and myrtles to adorn her frock, while a wreath of myrtles encircles her forehead and keeps in place the handsome veil of tulle and Point d'Esnrit,