FASHION TRENDS IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27493, 29 October 1954, Page 2

FASHION TRENDS IN BRITAIN

“Sensation Created By ‘H-Look’ ” IMPRESSIONS OF MRS D. ROSE “Christian Dior’s ‘H-look* has certainly created a sensation in Britain because of its revolutionary line,” said Mrs D. Rose, of Gloucester street west, in an interview in Christchurch last evening. “The women appeared to be interested, but it has not had time to prove its popularity yet,” she added. Mrs Rose has just returned from an eight months’ holiday visit spent mostly in Britain. She was accompanied by her'daughter, Miss Margaret Rose, who is expected to return to Christchurch in a week’s time by way of Australia.

Mrs Rose, who is keenly interested in fashions for women, attended fashion parades given by the “top 12” designers, who include Norman Hartnell, Michael, Jacques Fath, Christian Dior, John Cavanagh, Hardy Amies, and Mattli. •

Most of parades were held in the. designers' own London fashion houses, said Mrs Rose. They were on an extremely lavish scale, with leading English models as mannequins. Export Group’s Parades The parades held in several of the leading hotels in London during the “Fashion Fortnight” were also of particular interest to Mrs Rose. They were given by the Export Group of Great Britain, and the latest trends in styles for English tailored coats, suits, frocks and millinery were on display. Mrs Rose said these parades, like those of the “top 12,” were patronised largely by overseas buyers, who included a large number of Americans and Canadians. The latest colours being promoted for4he coming season were coral, cognac, sapphire blue, green in all tonings, winter white, and ruby red.

Hats at the London parades featured turbans, and small side-tilted styles often, trimmed with brocade, feathers, pearls and rhinestones, said Mrs Rose. The materials most favoured for frocks and suits were tweed-finished woollens and wool jersey. For evening wear, nylon brocade and a new crystal material were the popular choice. “Coral jewellery is right up to the minute in Paris,” Mrs Rose said. “Multiple strings of beads of selfcolours and also pearls of varying shades are highlights of the city’s fashion in necklaces.

“The average woman in Britain still favours suits in anthracite grey or black in worsted and novelty tweed, small close-fitting hats, and the everlasting long-handled, slender rolled umbrellas which were most useful during the wet summer weather,” said Mrs Rose. “I feel that they are better dressed than New Zealand women, and take more care in the choice of accessories.” Casual Wear For sports and casuaLwear, matador trousers, mostly in black, tartan, and small check designs, and worn with black or white polo-neck sweaters, the “shortie” or duffle style coat in varying gay colours, and flat-heeled black shoes, were the current fashjon for young women in London, Mrs Rose said.

In London, Mrs Rose said, she felt that the fashions for men were more noticeable to the stranger than those followed by the women. In addition to those who still wore extremely well-tailored black coats, striped trousers and hard “knocker” hats, and carried rolled umbrellas, many men were wearing coloured waistcoats in wine, dark green, yellow, and several shades of fawn.

Mrs Rose visited the East End of London, and saw much of the welfare work which is being carried out by the local authorities, who are building modem blocks of flats in bombed areas. She was among the large crowd that welcomed the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh home after their Commonwealth tour. She also saxy other members of the Royal Family, including Princess Alexandra, whom she described as “a very beautiful young girl.” Summing up impressions of her trip, Mrs Rose said: “New Zealand has much to offer young settlers, especially those who have families.”

ORPHEUS CHOIR

The Orpheus Choir, of about 36 members, last evening entertained many friends at its annual guest recital, at which a very pleasing prom«e, was Presented. The chairman (Mr Robert, Allison) welcomed the visitors and introduced the choir’s new conductor, Mr Carl Smith, who assumed office only a few months ago.

The choir and the soloists enjoyed most sympathetic support from their pianist (Mrs J. E. Mason), who accornpanied all the numbers. The soloists were Mrs Gwynneth Dorrans Mr Smith, and Mr- Gilbert Wybers who is a nephew of Mr Allison. The Choir sang an ambitious work with which a Christchurch man, Mr Owen Leeming. won the Christchurch Civic Music Council’s competition for composition. The accompaniment was on ’ w 9 Pjanos by Mrs Mason and Miss Marjorie Scott. The presentation was very well received by the audience, as were the other sones y? ry amusin S recitations by Mrs Mr n w ee r w ? rI ? I3 L applauded. Mr D. W. Lyall thanked the choir and the soloists.