THE EVENING DRESS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 193, 10 May 1924, Page 15

THE EVENING DRESS

A YOUTHFUL SILHOUETTE The silhouette of the average evening dress is exceedingly youthful—more youthful than during the winter. It is rather shorter, and the gored skirt gives a very youthful bounce to the bottom of the skirt. This bounce is further emphasised by a second piece of ostrich trimming. This is set, on in a wide band, sometimes round the edge of the skirt, sometimes an inch or two higher up, which makes the skirt look still shorter (writes the Paris correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian”). Now and again the feather is laid on in narrow bands over a colour different from that of the main part of the skirt.

Sleeves are still at a discount, unless they go to tho other extreme and are very long and close fitting. In this case it is a little difficult to say what distinguishes tho dinner from the afternoon dress. Sometimes it is the neck, which is very low behind, if not in front. Sometimes it is the combination of materials; sometimes the lavish use of feather trimming. Necks vary a good deal. There is the bateau neck, which i.s rounder or straighter according to taste. Some very pretty little round necks are worn with the loose sleeveless bodices. There is tho very long V in front, filled in with the same material as that of the dress. There is the neck which curves down from the two shoulder points and is varied by the scarf which is attached to at least one of these points and is then wrapped closely round the neck. Trains are seen, but the more informal dresses—dresses which. approximate the tcagoivn. The train sometimes bangs straight from the shoulders. is confined to the waist, and * 3 then allowed to fall freely on the ground. It is simply a straight piece of material. Occasionally it starts from the waist and trails on. the ground. A rather pretty fashion is the panel, which starts from the r.eck and hangs straightly to tho -waist, where it is looped in. Usually it contrasts in colour with tho skirt, and is used a little as though it were a pinafore. That is to say, the front of the dress is sometimes a straight panel which continues over the shoulders half-way down the back. This is worn over an underskirt of contrasting colour, of which a little is visible in front. A good deal of black is used for evening dresses, including bcjth velvet and chiffon. Except in the case of black satin, it is rare to we it uncombined with a good deal of colour. Black chiffons with coloured flowers all over it are used a, good deal, and. very often with long sleeves. Petunia colour is fashionable. By itself it still continues to be rather hideous; on certain dark women it looks exceedingly well. Different shades of brown and beige nre also combined with black, especially where lace is used. As a whole, evening dresses may be divided, into two categories. In the 0118 thev aro childish, light, short, almost unimportant except for the beauty of their materials and the jew-

elling perhaps of their shoulder straps and side ornament, where drapery is used. In the other they .are formal, almost uniform. The heavily embroidered satins are cut very simply and classically. They are folded over each other again and again in subtle colour combinations, which are particularly effective.