WOMEN'S FORUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 241, 12 October 1933, Page 14

WOMEN'S FORUM.

HOME OP A DICTATOR. The garden of Trotsky's rod piaster villa on Prinkipo Island, in the Bosphonis, has been a riot of scents and colours, especially with its mimosa and lilac, writes a correspondent, and the later 6winner flowers are now combining with the magnificent view across the Bosphorus and the leafy vines to give the exile a wealth of Nature's blessings. His comfortable study, with its huge desk, and rows of books dictionaries, has a whole library of Press cuttinas. Xo motor care are allowed on the island in summer, so there is peace and quiet not everywhere to be found, and the house is guarded by four Altsatian police dogs. LADY BANDITS. Four well-dressed women, including a beautiful blonde with finger-nails tinted to match her heavily lipsticked lips, have carried through a Wcht End bandit laid. Whilst the beauteous blonde kept their car's engine running and sat tirht at the wheel, her three confederates forced the etreet door of a dress shop finite expertly, and, calmly and coolly and entirely without flurry, transferred the contents of the shop to the car. Dozens of people saw them, but never for an instant suspected four women of acting as bandits. The ueual police chase took place, but the blonde cliauffeuse left the Yard car standing. This latest incursion by up-to-date feminism may persuade the Yard that the dtor.v about a West End smash-and-grab and banditry organisation, with a fashionable and attractive blonde as the brains of the confederacy, is not all moonshine after all, states an English writer. EVE ON THE TRAMP. During the heat wave I did some quiet strolling on unfrequented Surrey footpaths, writes our London correspondent. At one point, where our way traversed a buy main road, we encountered two girl hikers. They were studying a signpost. These young women's attire wou'd certainly have made their grandmammas faint, heat wave or not. All they had on was in each case a backle<?6 bathing costume supplemented by a short pair of silk or cotton running pants. And, of course, shoes, socks and the inevitable rucsack. They were in the heart of Surrey, and must have walked some miles. They looked fatigued and exhausted. Xo doubt they believed their attire was suited to the weather. As a fact, it was about the least euitable imaginable. You would never get Sicilians, who know what hot sunshine is, to venture out with" bare backs. I should say some girl hikers will be getting sunstroke.

LONDON FASHIONS. The London dress shows opened at the end of last month, and. as they are now a serious rival to the Paris shows, everyone tried to be back in town in time for the most exclusive parades. Although the masculine note was stressed in the day-time, when clothes must be plain, square-shouldered and of subdued colours, at night and for more formal afternoon occasions niadame must rustle as she walks, use softer scents, wear gloves and have a cluster of curls at the back of her neck. Some evening gowns have Dog Toby ruffles of stiff pleated organdie; others are high-necked and long-sleeved, and one had a reproduction in beads of the old-fashioned mesh purse attached to its shoulder, so that the wearer could dispense with a bug at a dance. Coq and ostrich feathers are to be used profusely for evening trimmings, and skunk is also to be seen. In the daytime, however, broad square shoulders a la Garbo, narrow hips and entire absence of feminine curves are to be the vogue. Coats arc taking on a Directoire appearance, having either padding or epaulettes. The latter can be made of fur, or are crescent-shaped , shields consisting of finger-thick rouleaux of the coat material stuffed with wadding. Nearly all the new coats are belted, and popular colours are pule green and all shades of beige, brown and rusty red.

CULTURE FASHIONABLE. The "Little Season," that gay three months between the summer holidavs and Christmas, is to have culture as its keynote this year, writes our London correspondent. Routine amusements no longer satisfy the intelligent modern woman, so sewing parties, reading parties and music parties will figure largely this autumn. Lectures, too, will be as fashionable us last winter, and the Loan Exhibition is another proof of Mayfair's highbrow tendencies. "Marlborough and the Reign of Queen Anne" is the title of one exhibition which, in addition to benefiting a charity, will teach women who own furniture, silver and china.of the period something about their possessions and how to plan the correct background for them. This period is becoming increasingly attractive, partly, no doubt, owing to the success of j\lr. Winston Churchill's book about Marlborough, who wns one of his ancestors. Midnight parties have lost their popularity since women realised the efficacy of the carly-to-bcd campaign as a beautifier, and charity performances will be given in the afternoons. This means that matinee clothes for formal afternoon functions (a type of fashion in which Edwardian hostesses specialised) will be featured in the forthcoming London dress shows. The Edwardian trend is likely to be emphasised in these creations as. indeed, it is in other modern fashions. It will bo interesting to note the difference in real and presentday Edwardian modes at the costume bail, period 190S, which is to be held in London towards the end of the year. Lady Howard de Walden, who is organising this, function, is determined to re-create all the stately atmosphere of the period by having several famous hostesses to receive the guests. Supper will be a dignified sit-down affair, and there will be powdered footmen and a band to perform the waltzes, polkas and schottisches of the period.