HOLLYWOOD IN PERSON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 50, 28 February 1935, Page 13

HOLLYWOOD IN PERSON.

HORIZON BLUE FOR WINTER. (By MOLLIE MERRICK.) Fabrics will be all-important in planning your winter wardrobe, Travis Banton tells me, and goes on to say that the splendour of tlie materials used for formal gowns this winter will far exceed anything we've seen these many days. Chiffons in black and brilliant greens embroidered in little metallic figures will have for rivals crisp taffetas and brocaded silks that might have graced a Pompadour's wardrobe. We've gone back a generation in selecting the materials from which our formal frocks will be made this season.

Our street dresses will continue to be as simple as possible, according to Banton, with cut and colour achieving the essential chic.

One dress created for Claudette Colbert epitomises all that the street frock should be. It is made of sheer grey wool, resembling silk in the fineness of its texture, cut simply, and featuring white linen collars and cuffs. A black satin tie at the throat and black shoes give this grey costume the correct accent, and a soft felt hat matches the colour of the frock exactly.

"This is the sort of dress," says Travis Banton, "that may be made by the clever girl for 15 dollars, and for which a woman of means would be happy to pay 150 dollars at a smart shop." Banton goes on to explain that while it is the duty of a studio dress designer to plan clothes for the actresses according to the characters they portray, the designer whenever possible should keep in mind the fact that the frock he is creating will be seen and copied, or at least adapted to the needs of a large percentage of American girls and women. . For this reneon, he eavs, a woman should be careful to select fashions that will suit her style and individuality. Especially to-day, when the trend in style is versatile enough to permit each and everyone of us to find her own type.

Tho rage for metal fabrics is not confined to evening materials. Even some of our afternoon suits are made of fabrics shot through with metal threads. Rosalind Russell, newcomer to Hollywood, lunched at the Vendome recently wearing an afternoon suit of black faille silk woven with gold threads. The skirt was simple, with the popular inverted pleat, and the jacket had the tucked lapels and cutaway front that are new this winter and soften the severe lines of the average suit. Miss Russell eliose a bright gold metal blouse, cut with a high oriental collar and fastened at the throat with a huge jewelled clip to wear with this suit. A tiny black velvet beret and black shoes and gloves completed this unusual and original costume.

Horizon blue and postman grey sire selected by William Lambert, fashion designer at. Fox Studio, as two of the most popular colours for winter wear. Tho blue, he says, is principally for smart lounging pyjamas and negligees, and the grey for morning frocks and suite. News roniCß from Paris that the fashion creators are trying to revive the short skirt. Can you imagine going back to knee-length frocks? And can you also remember saying about this same thing when it was first rumoured that we would wear ankle-length dresses ? Hollywood's reaction will be 100 per cent in either direction, as we don't do things by halves here. We'll either have our dresses cut extremely short, or we'll continue with the graceful floor length that is so popular now.