Somewhat High-hatted Autumn Fashion Review

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 98, 27 April 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

Somewhat High-hatted Autumn Fashion Review

Before the hot news came through with authority about the autumn and winter modes, everybody was talking about what the hats might be. Heads were going to be very swelled when the crowns rose and smart young things began to practise their yodelling in keeping with the Tyrolean trend. The season's change was going to be in hats, and nothing but hats. It promised to be all very exciting. And, as the dress shows progressed, the rumours proved correct. Hals were high—very high. But Dame Fashion felt in kindly mood, and in case you had that sort of a face and figure where a high hat would make you look like a badly-designed skyscraper, she allowed that you could wear a low hatvery low. Equally smart is the pillbox and the alluring tricorne. And should brims be a necessity for your particular type of feature, there are brims in plenty allied to the utmost chic—arid so on through all the range of styles. So here in a nutshell is the autumn hat story. The crown may soar heavenward, or it may cling to the hair, merely outlining the shape of the head. And for those of a roving and adventurous disposition who can live up to its jaunty air is the Pirate ... an exciting creation. So much for the hats. When we start talking about the fabrics we can only reiterate, in tones of admiring amazement, "What wonderful strides the weaves have made!" The fertility of imagination, the wealth of unexpected effects, and the bold combinations of colour are enough to take away the breath. The new woollen materials arc clearly divided into two groups. On the one hand we have the range of mixed tweeds, infinitely more varied than ever before, and in some cases with a totally new aspect. On the other hand is the jersey group, elastic in weave and closely outlining the figure ideal for the latest streamline effects. The first group is composed of mixed colours never less than three different tones to each weave. The surface is diversified with irregular bumps and bosses, cunningly giving the effect of faults in the weave, so haphazard is their appearance. The patterns, too, are vastly more varied and artistic than in the past, and it is easy to see that the tweed industry, put on its mettle to retain its place in our clothes, has risen gamely to the occasion and surpassed all hopes. At Ellerslie for the Easter race meeting, autumn and winter modes were well to the fore. In spite of the sombreness of the day, the course looked bright and attractive. The autumn meeting is generally interesting; the weather is suitable for racing and there is a renewing crispness in the atmosphere and in the appearance of the women racegoers, after the end of the summer. New models are the order of the day, and, particularly on the first day, before the weather broke, a number of charming styles were worn. Of ornament as well as utility were the fabric weave ensembles,' »ome fur-trimmed and others decorated with leather and buttons. The coats had luxurious collars. A number of tailored suits were to be seen, and these also were in a variety of weaves. Most women favoured hats with the pointed crowns, though they had worthy competition with others who chose jaunty berets and close-fitting toques.