Racing Fashions Disappointing

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31655, 16 April 1968, Page 2

Racing Fashions Disappointing

A race meeting seems no longer to be the stamping ground of the clothes of tomorrow, but rather for the concepts of yesterday. Little was seen at Riccarton yesterday that was not on view two years ago.

The young kept to a respectable and appealing two to three inches above the knee and mature women have yielded barely half an inch of skirt. Before Mary Quant and her young followers changed the face of fashion a woman with taste could leave her juniors in the shade. But for the last few years young patrons at Riccarton have caught the eye. No matter how expensive, conservative clothes can hardly escape the label “stuffy” these days, although this is not to say they cannot look nice, as many did yesterday. Bright sunshine brought the crowds early to the first day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting- Suits were appropriate for the day and the short capes worn with slim skirts were the newest thing on the course. A bright orange style, fastened with gilt buttons and teamed with a navy stetson stood out. Long Jackets Long jackets with mannish tailoring details were still favoured by young patrons. Older women remained faithful to the single-breasted, hiplength style worn with a straight skirt. Back interest has been revived, and inverted pleats and half belts were the most noticeable variation in detailing from previous years. Zipped styles were less common, and welting seaming was not so predominant A subdued ginger tone coloured a close-fitting model with leather trim on the lapels and down the single breasted closing of a young patron’s coat

A mature woman looked smart in a tangerine and brown check style. It was single breasted and the inverted pleat at the back was held with a buttoned belt. The return of the waistline, so much heralded by fashion writers, showed few signs of arriving at Riccarton. The occasional suit was cinched

with a belt, and a silver grey wool coat with breast and hip patch pockets was tied with a narrow, grey leather belt. Walking Suits Walking suits (with threequarter or seven-eighth length jackets) were particularly popular with mature patrons, providing a little extra warmth without the covered look of a coat. The trend for dresses and coat-dresses to replace suits and coats in the wardrobes of the young was well illustrated. Red and navy were the colour combinations of two pretty examples. Both were longsleeved—one had navy on its stand-up collar, sleeves and hemline, while the other had white cuffs and collar piped with navy and a navy bow at the throat—and both were fastened in the front with tiny navy buttons. Wool Coat Mrs D. W. J. Gould, wife of the club’s chairman, wore a

wool coat boldly checked In turquoise and coral. The single - breasted buttoning fastened to the neck and an inverted pleat at the back fell from a belt Her brown beret was beaver, and her accessories were also brown. Mrs P. D. Hall, wife of the club’s treasurer, chose a chocolate brown, single-breast-ed suit, teamed with brown accessories and a beige and brown toque with rouleau trim.

The guest list included Sir John Ormond and Lady Ormond (Hawke’s Bay); Mr and Mrs N. A. Neilson (Wanganui); Mr and Mrs C. B. Wake (Wanganui); Mr and Mrs H. G. McLeod (Dunedin); Dr D. A. Hogg and Mrs Hogg (Wellington); Mr and Mrs C. R. Smith (Wellington); Mr and Mrs P. J. Cameron (Levin); Mr and Mrs E. W. Symes (Hastings); Miss M. J. Bull (Hunterville); Mr and Mrs E. Lynn (Australia).