MADAME DE CISNEROS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 71, 20 September 1912, Page 9

MADAME DE CISNEROS

Madame de Cisneros, in spite of her strenuous life just now, gave me a most fascinating little talk on gowns — a topic every Wellington woman who has seen her wonderful frocks will readily admit she is able to discuss with authority. She was wearing, when i talked with her, a black velvet short princess gown, with a deep sailor collar of dull black silk and a little vest, and undersleeves of beautiful lace. It was astonishing to learn she was only sft 9in and a bit, but the reason of her appearing taller is that she utilises all her height and holds her head high. To Madame Paquin it must be a joy to dress so regal a figure, and that artist takes a deep interest m her. All Madame's gowns are made by Madame Paquin. They meet for a consultation of ideas, and then, in four or five days, with the aid of a mannequin made like ifladame, the first stage is reached, and then comes the wearisome fitting, which in these days of draoed gowns takes long. Tho Paquin atelier has an immense room lined > with mirrors and fitted with electric lights, so- as to see every point of an evenitjg gown. The great modiste herself is an attractive little woman, with the face of a child, grey blond hair, and blue eyes. Of course, the cost of these gowns is great. A simple tailormade costs £26, and now that so much hand embroideries are used, an evening gown way run into hundreds. To show the perfection of detail of Madame Paquin's work, the crystals that' were sewn .on Madame de Cisneros's blue gown were dyed eight times to match the tone of the satin. The frock worn at the first concept was designed from a flame harmony, and the chiffon was not grey, as many people thought it, but the blue one sees in a leaping flame, While the foot of the gown was the crimson glow that is in the heart of embers. Madame's idea about jewellery,, of which she has worn none at her concerts, is that it detracts from the beauty of the gown. Gloves on the concert platform she considers inartistic, the black or white line cutting into the beautiful harmonies of a gown ; and, indeed, those who have watched her graceful hands and arms should feel thankful for this. It is heart-breaking to trail these lovely frocks over a dusty stage, and an evil nail the other evening— not in Wellington— tore the exquisite embroideries woefully. As for the inartistic background— last night's Was a particularly hideous yellow and red wallpaper—Madame does not look afc it. She dares not, for otherwise she might not be able to sing, She loves both operatic and concert singing, but the latter because she has to create an atmosphere Without any of the necessary surroundings, and concentrate emotion, is, of course, more difficult. Her frock she wears to-night is pearl coral, tho charTneuse over-dress falling over an underskirt of gold tissue, and the embroideries are allof corals, while it. tooj in corsage draperies and gold-tasselled scarf, has the effective note of black that Madame Paquin loves.