Bowler Hats Make Debut At Addington

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30095, 1 April 1963, Page 2

Bowler Hats Make Debut At Addington

Bowler hats made their first jaunty appearance in Christ* church at the opening day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting on Saturday. As an introduction to autumn fashion, they were worn mainly with a variety of wool suits, and sometimes sported a feather mount.

The meeting was more notable for its exciting racing than for its fashion. The recent warm spell and the possibility of another mild day confused the issue for dressing when clouds covered the sky in the morning.

Silk and cotton suits in “summer dark” shades were almost as popular as lightweight wools. Occasionally a pretty floral hat bobbed up in a group of richly hued autumn felts. Many older women, wise to chilly easterly breezes, dressed up their suits with elegant fur stoles. Sapphire blue, one of the summer’s leading colours, has reappeared in autumn-weight fabrics. Browns in all tones were, however, most prominent with the full range of mid to dark greens also very popular. Black and white was very chic in several finely checked hats and jacket suits. A flat-topped bowler in black and white checks was attractively worn with a plain black Chanel-type suit and black accessories. Most of the bowlers, however, had dented crowns. These, when trimmed

with a feather, were reminiscent of the Tyrolean hat. In Soft Fabrics A bowler does not need to look hard and too mannish. One of the most becoming of this new line was a red and white tartan silk bowler finished with a matching bow in front. It was worn with a junior navy, wool-jersey cardigan suit braided in white. Another in a very soft, golden beige felt and finished with a two-toned feather, was worn by a young English visitor who showed how feminine the bowler hat can look. A new fashion trend from overseas was the turban hat, which is more flattering to most faces than either bowlers or pillboxes. Among the many wool jersey and novelty tweed autumn suits were several silk ensembles which would have correctly taken the

wearers on to after-5 parties. One, in Spanish gold, was lavishly embroidered in the same shade on the jacket revers and cuffs and was worn with a deep black fur pillbox. Among the smartest wool suits was one in a fine check of cocoa brown and black, made with a belted jacket and slim skirt. This was worn with an upturned squirrel hat and cocoa brown accessories. Mrs J. K. Davidson, wife of the club president, wore a tailored tweed suit in a fine mixture of grey, green and brown. With it she chose a close-fitting black feather hat and black accessories. Mrs R. W. Saunders, wife of the vice-president, chose a smokey blue wool suit worn with a sapphire blue and silver lurex turban which matched her underblouse. Mrs W. M. Ollivier, wife of the immediate past-presi-dent, wore a beige wool jumper suit with donkeybrown fringe trim. With it she wore a wide-brimmed beige and brown grosgrain hat. Club’s Guests Other officials’ wives and guests included: Mesdames C. S. Thomas, G. W. Blaxall, R. E. Booker, C. E. Evans, D. McCormick, E. T. McDermott, T. H. Davis, J. W. Ardagh, L. S. Smart, A. E. Laing, A. J. Nicoll, J. Rowley, S. C. Cordner, E. F. Mercer, and J. R. M. Davidson.