PARIS IN THE LOOKINGGLASS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1924, Page 15

PARIS IN THE LOOKINGGLASS

FACTS AND FANCIES.

(Written for "The Post" by "Germaine.")

PARIS, 28th November.

SAINT CATEHRINE'S BONNET.

F6J reasons of their own, Parisian work girls, are making a change in the colour of the ribbons of the bonnet which it is the custom to don on Saint Cather-. me's eve. Saint Catherine has become the patron-saint of old maids, and in the workroom, a girl who has not married by the time she reached the age of twenty-five, is laid "on the-shelf" of old maidenism, and dons Saint' Catherine's pretty cap. ;

This has hitherto been trimmed with two ribbons, one green, the hue of hops, and the other yellow-, supposed to denote conjugal troubles and jealousies. This year, the yellow ribbon has been banned, and those who come out in the afternoon to take their usual turn on the Boulevards, dancing and singing in bands, will be seen with the amended coiffure. All dressmakers countenance this little fete, ■ and a bottle of champagne, a piano, and a dance, are often organised for the occasion in the hapdaome show-rooms of the rue de la Pa^x, and other fashionable streets occupied by the trade.

Although the Catherinettes who wear their pretty bonnets so gaily on Saint? Catherine's day, are supposed to have lost their chance of matrimony, no one believes it, and least of all the Catherinettes "While there is life, there is hope," is , their motto in all things, and after noon, when most of the big' establishments will have stopped workfor the day, they will give. full expression to the hope and zest in life that is in them, and dream, in spite of legand's decree, of a handsome husband, and of living "happy ever after." ALL-OVEE EMBROIDERIES, i All-over straw embroidery in the brightest colours, 13 one of the features of the season.. A smart sports-costume in serge is embroidered in. bright red straw, and here is a surprise for you— straw jackets are to be fashionable, especially red straw! In fact, as you know, of course, red is to be the colour of the season, and white, if you can call it a colour! For there is no doubt about white being a great feature of the season. All the dressmaker* are advising white evening gowns, and in. the matter of sports clothes,; white has everything its own way. Sporting readers, here is something that will' please you. The very short is to be with us for sports wear. The poet Bodelaire discovered slender long legs, suitable for running, hunting, golf, in fact, for air the sports which tempt you. The.ilong skirt is about to-perish, and T have never felt so pleased. .Lifting my eyes \to the little statue-of the • (Victory-: of i: Saniothrace which decorates'my 'writing table, she looks to me so'beautiful in the very short folds of her tunic, that I think it would be" desirable for'-all of'us to: resemble small Victories, even without a head!

THE.LACE DRESS.

lace will be very popular this season, and if you want to make sure of sue-; cess at any forthcoming and smart furiction, wear a lace frock. AH shades are lovely, and the lacquered laces are too beautiful for 'anything. A brown lace

Hers it a lovely wedding dress of opalescent satin, trimmed in white marabout and lightly embroidered In silver metal threads. There is a dashing ending in a small train—an original fashion note this.

frock is very distingue, and, of course, jade green and lettuce green are always uncommon.- As it i s to be a white season, however, a lace- frock in white, ivory-white, - pearl-white, opal-tinted, white and ecru; will be most up to date and attractive.

PARIS MILLINERY.

'In a certain little rose-coloured salon in the heart of Paris, are displayed many hats for the present season, and also for early spring, in a variety of enchanting fabrics,'as well as in straw and horse-hair. flowers, the symbols of sentiment, are so - eternally associated with the' beauty of women and with ro-\ mance, that it is fitting to have them adorn feminine attire at its gayest and loveliest.- -.The latest Paris fashion of tying clusters of fresh blooms round hats for town wear 'is just a: new whim, which has-caught the fancy of the real- j ly fashionable women. Every girl's hat; at one time'or another, has been decked .with wild flowers—daisies and ferns, and foliage picked during rambles in the woods. ' Now, instead of poppies, women choose orchids, fresh violets, or chrysanthemums; in place of marguerites, they choose flusters of grapes and red cheeked apples knotted with fluttering streamers of cherry ribbons. It is a, pretty, Dut expensive

vogue. - If, however, you happen to have a garden and winter flowers, endless, indeed, ate the decorative possibilities. ■ •

PRETTY FLOWER SCHEMES.

Already there are flower schemes for aftenoon and evening. Parisian women who are known to lead in these matters have shown.a penchant for white carnations and other white flowers for daywear^ and there is already'an increasing demand for neat wreaths of greenery, like the laurel weaths p£ old, for artistic gatherings, in the evening, women are wearing just two or three choice blooms in the hair, preference being given to roses, either red or white. Garlands ; of roses falling gracefully from shoulder .to waistline, and outlining panniers of tulle and lace, given a delightfully youthful prestine appearance. A gown, so simple of line and of 'colour, as to'seem ordinary, maybe almost magically transformed, by two glowing roses nestling high upon its corsage, or accented by a singular combination of white crysanthemums and pink roses, in a slender cluster at the waistline. -.'"..• „ , A peculiarly lovely effect is created on a dark brown tulle evening frock, by the use of a single large pink rose at its belt and petals caught upon the fragile tulle ruffles of the skirt as though some vagrant breeze had scattered them against it.

A NEW-OLD FASHION.

One may remark on another new-old fashion, which is certainly not a novelty, but has been resurrected once more by the couturiers this season. It is the high collar on morning street frocks, and also'on afternoon dresses. For several seasons I have remarked them among the creations of French dressmakers, and now it threatens to become the craze For this season of frost and snow it will be useful, and it may also prevent the enemy La Grippe" from catching us unawares Still, I find it ridiculous to continually hide a pretty neck solely for the caprice of fashion.