PARIS IN THE LOOKINGGLASS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 85, 10 April 1926, Page 15

PARIS IN THE LOOKINGGLASS

FASHIONS AND FANCIES.

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

PARIS,.'IOth February.

The French paperß just now are criticising the modern. French girl. At what age may she walk out alone? A son of Mars suggests that she should only be allowed to do so when she leaves off paint, powder, and cosmetics. Motheis of the old; school, Boyalist gentlemen, and the followers of Leon Daudet —the fiery editor of the "Action Francaise" —would still have'(laughters attended by a maid, until they marry, go into a convent, or die.. The modern mother Is somewhat of the same mind, although she may strike out the convent. In the meantime,. Parisian maidens go their own way undisturbed, sometimes with, sometimes without companion or attendant. Most of the time, too, is spent in trying not to , get run over, and the Boulevard pest, who. used to murmur soft nothings into the ears of innocent young women gazing into shop windows —in the thunder of the traffic, has to shout anything he may have to propose —a safeguard in, itself. The Parisian girl, though, is not now the apparently x innocent young creature who could be forced into a marriage against her will. She may be persuaded into doing so by the offer of a flat with modern convenience^ —what wouldn 't one do for such a tempting offer? —but she has tew illusions about man and his ways. . . . . .; : BCCENTBIOITrES ABOUND. Eccentricities for evening wear abound. Parisiennesare painting their faces to match their costumes. And the wearing of artificial beauty : spots is becoming increasingly the vogue in certain circles. They are •' still shaving their eyebrows and leaving about a quarter of ; them< over each eye. They are wearing white "wigs with white dresses, and silver and golden wigs with gold and silver tulle • dresses. She is a changeable creature the Parisienne. She has flung her-winter cosmetics to the winds, arid changed: her colouring. For the spring season she is having her pretty dark hair, bleached to a delicate lemon blonde, covering her face with' white and pink .powders, with a touen of resida-green for the shadows thrown by electric light. Cherry lips that do not turn pale at a cigarette are now a feature in her make-up. Her eyelashes make her the central point of any gathering. So long are they, that when she looks down they literally sweep her cheek, like a long silken fringe of black,, and when she glances up the eyelashes mingle with her eyebrows. What is the secret? I will tell you. .But don't be scandalised! The lashes are sewn into the edges of the lids. After three weekj. they take root, and there is therefore no "chance of the new beauty feature getting lost ,or mislaid, either by laughter or tears. The system involves a little fine needlework and seclusion for twenty-one days, and then ' the heroine of this truly terrible operation can shine with striking lustre wherever she' goes. . ..... PARISIAN DEBSSMAKEBS EXHIBIT SPRING STYLES. ; The.fashion season is now on in full force in Paris, and the dressmakers are having their spring "openings," both by day and night. I have been present at most of these gatherings, and if the entire season is to be judged by these first shows, there should.be no 'complaints, either in;.the matter of the styles themselves, or in the materials and colours chosen. There are no very great changes. The skirts are shorter, but otherwise the lines, are much the same aa they have been. The waistline is somewhat higher, although the "normal" has certainly , not yet been reached. Bodices are still flat, and the decolletage has-still enough force to carry on. On the other hand, details are just

enough changed to make the woman who insists upon the very last notch in smartness, want a new lot of dresses. NOVELTIES. There are many novelties, and all the style.features shown for i the last seasons seem to go just a step further. The Egyptian influence is pronounced. These dresses are short and straight, and not only snugly-fitted to the figure, but, absolutely tight, any appearance of fullness being in detachable parts of the skirt. Drapery is often employed, both in afternoon and evening dresses, but nevnr to the extent of departing one incfc" from the perfectly straight silhouette fee skirts are perhaps more complicate*, yttieircut tNc*fe«y have

.been. Many of them have still aprons attached, either to the front or 'the back. If the front is trimmed, neither with apron or flounces, the back is perfectly plain and straight, and the rule is reversed. Skirts of three tiers often appear. But the tiers are only across the front or back. GAY BOUTONNIERES. Gay boutonnieres, and large single flowers,, add the necessary touch of colour to cloth coats and. tailleurs. Geraniums and: chrysanthemums m their natural colours, and gardenias in all shades and tints are sponsored, and the tendency towards natural colouring is more noted than ever before. In this respect, the feather flowers have an advantage ov.er the others because of their adaptability to dyes and their petal-like texturb. ■ A lovely example of a feather flower is to be had in a large magnolia of a pinkish white with a soft purple centre and foliage of green. One of these is sufficient trimming on a velvet gown for evening wear. Double flowers perched on the outer-edge of the shoulder with stem hanging in front, or back, may be used to finish an otherwise plain neckline. The one new thing about flowers is their placing. This ' season, they will repose close lo the*neck, preferably on the lino with the ear. BLOUSES AND TUNICS. Blouses and tunics of many styles are shown. They ore worn belted in, after the manner, of the Eussian peasant. Different sorts of belts are used for the over-blouses and mark the normal waistline more definitely than any curve in the cut of the gown or bodice could do, but they: do.not make for symmetry or grace. The longer tunics, ending betwsen the hip and knee, are held by any one of the flexible belt girdles or swathing sasheß. This fashion has caught the fancy of many Parisiecnes.