FASHION NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 263, 5 November 1932, Page 4 (Supplement)

FASHION NOTES.

ORIGINALITY OF DESIGN.

DRESSES FOR EVERY HOUR.

(By A PARIS EXPERT.)

The delightfully feminine evening gowns which are being shown at the Paris dress openings—-the Paris dress show season has now begun—are a severe contrast to the simple clothes shown for the street and for sport. Some of the newest afternoon gowns, too, are very feminine, and almost • elaborate enough for evening wear. A pronounced evening tendency is to have the front of the dress very high, there being practically no front deeolletage, but, on the contrary, a very low cut at the back. It is interesting to observe that Ather evening frocks reverse the deeolletage effect, having the front cut very low in a square or a deep V, and the back quite high. Some of the evening models are made with extreme width in the skirt and with fine shirring round the waist. The effect is to give a very longlegged look, especially when the skirt is long at the back, as is the case in manj' models seen in the collections. It ib not so much the change of line— this remains little altered —but the use of new materials and originality of design and detail, which make the new collections so interesting. Spotted fabrics of the finest weave are used to create' delightful frocks almost in a period style. One lovely little black model spotted with white had a white satin ground giving a pearly-grey tint to the whole dress. Old gold taffeta was used for yet another, and white organdie was the means of carrying out three lovely "little girl" evening frocks with long skirts and black velvet ribbons about the waist. The Evening's Styles. Departure from mode is the latest order, except when you choose just for fun to share with your sister or your best friend one of the twin outfits of the moment. For instance, 0110 sister will wear a white dress with black beads and the other will have a black dress with scarlet beads. To-day you must be sleek, you must look as fresh as a rose, your figure must be trim and tapering, nothing about you must be indefinite or fussy, you must glitter and glisten with health and energy. Your dresses must fall into clean, definite, beautiful lines and your hair must be a work of art. You must be perfectly shod. No buckles, no trimmings on your shoes are permitted. Your hosiery must be of tho sheerest, and we have gone back to flesh-coloured stockings for evening wear. Flowers arc being wdrn ever so much, but not on the shoulder any more. A pretty fan helps a girl a lot, and is a lovely asset. By the way, the newest trimming for afternoon or evening frocks is uncurled ostrich feathers. They are made into thick, flat collars that wrap round the neck &nd cross over in front, and they are much more effective and smart than the curled feathers wllich remind one of those reviews that" one sees so much of in Paris. Delightful Colours For Autumn Wear. Delightful colours are a strong point of all the dressmakers this season. Blue still holds a prominent /place, and powe'-jr blue still retains the greatest number of adherents; those powder greens and blue violets are also numerous. Black, of course, refuses to Ik: downed. Black gowns for all times of day are seen in the collections. Paris is faithful also to brown. Greens are less favoured, but reds are strong, from lees of wine to blush rose pink. Indeed, every red in the palette is used, including such rare shades as shrimp. In a few houses pale grey is shown, but I do not predict a great future for it. There is much loss purple on the whole, but here and there ,a purple model is seen, usually rather greyed in shade. Parma violet appears occasionally. Shoulder Treatments. Tho shoulder treatments so popular last spring and summer are continued in many lioubcs. For evening, there is a suggestion of stress at this point. Elbows, too, aro a favourite place for details. Many dressmakers have chosen the elbows for special treatment, such ns puffs, inset sections, slashings, etc. Some dressmakers continue to pad their tailor suits for women, like a man's. Tho tailored effect is popular for evening and there is nothing more becoming and distinguished than the severely plain black or white evening gown worn with discreet jewellery. One still sees for evening wear tiny berets in black velvet or in beading, poi'ched on one side of the head, balanced by a jewelled ornament pinned to the hair over the opposite ear. A soft circlet of twisted velvet placed halowise over a very fine liair net is sometimes worn on bobbed heads. A circlet of ruclied velvet ribbon coming tip from the ruching to tie in a perky bow on the top of head is another evening mode. Lace is used to trim many dresses, generally quite plain and simple ones, in black- or dark blue. Transparent yokes and sleeves of lace are much seen, and transparent hems, as ■well, with evening dresses. Colour contrast is very important. The evening mode achieves it by means of wide sashes on very severely cut gowns. For the -day, the scarf is increasingly popular and is the perfect medium for discreet and effective contrasts of materials and colours.