PARIS IN THE LOOKINGGLASS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 3, 3 July 1926, Page 16

PARIS IN THE LOOKINGGLASS

FASHIONS AND FANCIES.

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

PABIS, sth May

In mild, pleasant sunshine, Parisians wont varnishing yesterday, filling the Salon dcs Artists Francais with movement and gaiety, and forming endless causeries around the artists, v/ho hold their usual receptions in the neighbourhood of their works. Prance Hals, Pierre Bounard, and J.M. Bert are all represented here by some of their best ■works, and Van Dongen—tho foremost painted of smart!}1- dressed women in Paris—exhibits some interesting canvasßes. In this exhibition, he has revealed himself a master of colour . m words, as well as with the brush. He. has a picture of tho nouvollo rieni; woman of Deauvillc, which is screamingly funny. He has the knack not only of making the spectator chuckle at the verity, but also of pleasing the subject. His estimate of tho modern fashionable woman is that sho is a cocktail product—that is, a brightly coloured mixture. As his most successful pictures have been due to a mysterycreating mingling of strange shaves, this is an apt description of tho inspiration. In the images created by Van Dongen, woman is represented as a long, slender creature, supple of line, witli great eyes fringed with long lashes, a satiny skin, together with the reflections of satins or velvets, the cosy warmth of furs. Van Dongen says that all women have their charm, i Ho does not believe that a really ugly woman exists! There is always some '"beauty" point to be found in woman, some strange charm, some peculiar colour in the complexion—Van Dongen finds mysterious shades in women's complexion, such as arsenic green, lavender, ochre. DRESSES SEEK AT THE SALON DES ARTISTES PBANCAISE. All the artists had donned their high-buttoned tunics or flowing capes, with the big felt hat and long cravate, and wide, wide trousers fastening close at the ankles. Their boots were long and pointed, and altogether they certainly looked rather strange and peculiar. The great sculpture hall, which looks a little like a cemetery at the first glance, with its monuments to lately deceased distinguished persons, its figures of weeping women, was eheerfnl enough at the tea-hour, when most of the tables in the transept beneath the stairs were occupied. Among the notabilities present I noticed that pretty actress, Yvonne Printemps, with her husband, Sacha Gaitry. She was wearing a pretty ensemble in- rosebeige kasha; the Comtesso de Eothschild in a dress of chiffon, the colour the exact pattern of leopard skin, topped in a dark brown coat; tho "Dolly Sisters," both dressed in grassgreen tailleurs, with hats to match aiul smart buttonholes. Maud Loty was there, of course; she was dressed all in white, with white furs, a little white felt hat, and white shoes and stockings. This get-up suited her "miguoune" beauty to perfection. A COLOUR SEASON—SCARVES. The prophecy that this season is *o be one of colour; is to bo fulfilled. Shops are busy turning out evening drgsses for galas, and Parisiennes are going in for pfte^hades of the stronges L. colours. In fact the gay city soems to .bo exploring every possible shade that pink, mauve, blue, and red

can provide. It is not a season of bright, violent, and strong colours.

It is becoming more and more the vogue to wear n chiffon scarf to match the dress for evening and afternoon. This scarf is tied and hangs at the back of the neck. The latest idea is to trim the scarf with fringe in uniformity with the dress. The squarecut scarf, which has lately made its appearance, has been put to another use by the Parisienne. At a the dansant this week I saw an ingenious dancer in a tight black dress wearing a'black and red scarf in capo manner. ■ The .two ends were tied round the neck, and the scarf hung as a perfect square, short cape. Scarves aro still many coloured and fantastic. The Batik pattern is still very popular.

NEW FASHION HINTS KEBB AND

THERE,

During the past few -weeks many interesting features have been brought out for spring and summer wear. Skirts aro definitely shorter, many of them coming only to the bend of the knee. Some models aro even shorter than this.

The lingerie frock will be much seen this summer, and with many interesting innovations in design. Chiffons, alpacas, printed silks, georgette, kasha, flue poplins, and satin aro all scon. Taffetas is starring. The new taffetas is far more supple than that shown earlier in the year, and is to bo had in all sorts of pastel colourings, but the prettiest are in. the shot, variety. And they are "shot," usually in three colours.

• Sleeves are varied, and the long sleeve for summer wear is predicted. Narrow panels and tabs swing from the backs of many evening dresses; short panels fall from the shoulders, and the "suivez-moi" libbon bow at-

tached to the shoulder and in many' colours is very enthralling. DISTINCTION, STYLE, CHARM, CHIC. "Where there's :i will, there's a way," and Paris ways are different. It may only be tho tilt of a hat, tho lnt of ribbon strung around Miladi's throat, an unusual headdress, the dash of a scavf. And the result! Distinction, style, cliarni, chic! Tullo is much seen in tho scarf world; scarves of all colours are gracefully flung over ovorjj type of evening gown, from the smart lame sports type to tho diaphanous evening gown. Fine embroideries in beads of all colours, in silks, in gold and silver threads, in strass, in pearls, give to many sleeves a jewelled appearance. Whether they happen to bo lengths of exquisite lace} visions of rare Batik, snappy tweed or silk .accessories, drapings, or insets of these, appear en dresses in a galaxy of fascinating colours and interesting designs.