ACCENT ON COLOUR

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31329, 28 March 1967, Page 2

ACCENT ON COLOUR

Fashions At

Riccarton

Young patrons at the first day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Easter meeting yesterday wore today’s youth-fully-accented styles with an elegance seldom surpassed by their seniors.

But older women are coming to terms with fashion’s changed emphasis on youth and those who discarded the conventions of past years and wore lively fashions adapted to their age and type gave race day fashions an interest which has been lacking recently. The scene was the brightest for years. Even the weather, ideal Easter conditions, was in favour of fashion. Smartly styled woollen suits came into their own, and brilliant colour combinations which could have been borrowed from the jockeys lit the course. Colours included a tent coat of magenta, orange in a mili-tary-style overcoat, Kelly green from head to hemline, cheery tartans in hats and suits, and pinks of every hue, particularly in hats. Navy was a basic shade often combined with checks and stripes. Grey and cream, predominant shades for the last few seasons, were less evident. Female racegoers evidently have a more relaxed approach to fashion these days. The era of a race outfit fit for a cocktail party has passed. Comfort and country-style elegance seem to be the accepted dress for cooler days “on the turf.” Hats reflected this trend yesterday. There were fewer petalled and floral varieties, although straw retained its popularity. Many young patrons looked ready to ride in a variety of “racy” caps. The riding hat style, with stiff brim and deep

crown, replaced the Dutchboy models popular last winter.

Scarf hats, strictly “unhatty” and often inexpensive, graced several smart outfits. Silks, velvets, satins, and patterned and plain linens were moulded into a variety of shapes. Classic suits and ensembles mingled with this season’s trend setter, the hacking suit. Wrist-length jackets, double or single breasted, with large lapels, side vents, waist shaping, and often belted, were worn over short, straight skirts. Polo-necked jerseys, sporty hats and shoulder bags were fitting accessories. Checks, ranging from neat Tattersall to wide window pane, made a come-back, But basic shades, the perfect foil for an eye-catching hat, were the choice of most patrons.

Guests were as follows.— Mr and Mrs J. A. Higgs (Wellington); Mr and Mrs P. S. Georgeson (Dunedin); Mr and Mrs L. M. McKenzie (Invercargill); Mr and Mrs A. Chisholm (Invercargill); Mr and Mrs A. N. Smith (Dunedin); Mr and Mrs W. H. G. Stewart (Kumara); Dr. and Mrs Church and Miss Cholmely (New Plymouth); Mr and Mrs T. W. Thomas (Blenheim); Mr and Mrs D. McCulloch (Oamaru); Mr and Mrs R. R. Jordan (Timaru); Mr and Mrs A. R. Waugh (Timaru); Mr and Mrs A. J. Parris (Timaru).

Dominican Colleges* Ex-pupils Association.—President, Mrs K. Curnow; vice-presidents, Mesdames A. H. T. Rose, M. Evans, P. Murray, G. Pollock. B. Cleary; ex-officio members, Mrs H. Fraer, Mrs R. Boswell; secretary, Mrs S. T. Day; committee, Mesdames J. Keenan, P. Davis, L. Hobbs, M. Griffin, L. Bennetts, E. Polson, C. Fogarty, M. Kissil and Miss D. Donovan.