FASHION NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 17, 20 January 1934, Page 3 (Supplement)

FASHION NOTES.

THE ETERNAL QUESTION.

WHAT IS "CHIC"?

(By A PARIS EXPERT.) Giic, dear readers, is a subtle, a3 well as a comprehensive tiling. It is a component of grace of carriage and of movement, of shapeliness, and the spirit of the age. Jt includes the knowledge of what to wear, and when and liow to wear it. It is a question of detail, and a matter of ensemble, and at the same time mysteriously, it may have nothing to do with any of these things, and be

entirely dependent on personality. There

are women who would be chic in a sacV

Being chic is surely a proccss of elimination. In earlier days there must

havo been a Twelfth Commandment

applied to fashions, "when in (lonbt, put a button" —or a tassel or a bow.

Now, the woman possessing the art of chic is she who can take off most. Such an initiate displays herself ill a single layer of something simple, and as a treat she allows herself, perhaps, one bracelet. (Among triple necklaces and constellations of fixed stars, it is pleasant to see someone wearing no jewels at all.) It is only wlten having stared all evenin" at "something simple," to try to copy it at home, that you realise ltd wearer used her brains, as well as her fifure, to achieve the effect of being the most cliic-ly dressed woman in her world.

Two Distinctly Different Silhouettes.

The French couturie has offered two distinctly different silhouettes. There is the so-called champagne-bottle silhouette, but any Victorian-sloped bottle has the same shape. The second, is the narrow, partially angular silhouette with flv-awav wings or other tricks about the shoulders, and a little kick-flare around the bottom of the skirt. It is the second silhouette which the Paris social leaders have decided to adopt right away for daytime. Lots of them use it for evenin" too. The other silhouette makes a woman look small and VictorianUh above the waistline, and gives her lots and lots of. skirt below.

The new narrow line dresses and coats are wearing their shoulder bulk with a lot more restraint. The restraint is, in fact, striking all along the line, for the dresses that arc coming out in Paris now are narrow, pretty near pencil-like, except for the flare near the bottom of the skirt. Paris seems bent on getting rid of anything in the way of frilly, starched ruffle effects, big bows and other details that have been in fashion

in the last few months. There is a general clean-up of this phase of fashion. The tulle evening dresses are the hit of the Paris openings. They came out in. great, surging masses, and with twentyvard skirts.

About Evening Clothes.

Just a word about evening clothes. Owing to their increasing formality, they have become difficult to select. Slim dresses of satin, chiffon or lace, with their accompanying coats, are useful. Always buy the right shoes and the right bag for your dress. If you feel you can't afford a complete new outfit then rro without the dress, rather than fall

nto the common mistake of buying a

extra new frock with nothing to match it. If none of your existing accessories will go with it, and you can't buy new ones, resist the more tempting frock, it is a potential white elephant.

And think twice before buying an evening cloak. They are often lovely, but often unpractical. You must always hold them round you, and you eanjiever open a door without loosing the whole carefully arranged effect and having to arrange it all over again. And, as a last piece of advice, remember that you must never buy anything just because you like the look of it. Everything you buy should have a connection with some-

thing else. The question of stockings is always a serious one for the owner of the slim b purse. There is one economy one can t make which is also a source of chic. This is, to keep to one standard quality v and colour. When you have found a good c make and shade that not only looks well j when new, but also when washed, adopt it as your only wear. A good cool grey beige "shade should go with any daytime costume. The effect gf standardising such an item is both a saving and a source of satisfaction, for it enables one to use up odd stockings, and to eliminate all worry and mistakes in selecting the right shade for any costume. Nail Hints. So many women paint their nails today that a few hints on the subject may not be amiss. Chinese red and mandarin shades have a yellow base which blend with sallow skins. Consider the tone of your skin. That is, tha skin on your hands, which may vary in shade from the skin on your face. If it is red by nature, don't make your hands look redder with a blood-red or Burgundy nail shine. If your hands are old, don't blood-red the nails. They look simply awful. Not only that, but you don't need to make a liability shout out. Not with the otlier lovely nail shades available. Platinum polish is the latest thing in nail polishes. Other shades include natural and extra pale shades of polish, medium dark red, pink, coral, rose, carmine, blood-red, Burgundy wine, tomato, Spanish, Chinese red, mandarin, "white pearl, amethyst, jade-green, onyx. Details of the Mode. There are lots of curves, but no conscriptions in the new silhouette. Iheie is fullness, but there is very little decoration. . . The styles of Paris this winter strive after an effect of broad shoulders, rounded and feminine by means of collarettes, and big soft sleeves, and of small heads. [ Hair is often drawn back, and stiff , curls pinned round the face, or garlands of tiny flowers for evening. _ i Brighter buttons are in fashion. i Darker dresses and coats arc tiimmcd ; with green, red and other vivid buttons, ' with buckles to match. Crystal and 3 tortoiseshell buttons are in also. 5 A soft voice and a graceful walk are i weapons a woman can use with dexterity, s and every chance of success. They arc worth thinking about.