FASHION NOTES FROM LONDON

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1927, Page 26

FASHION NOTES FROM LONDON

(Specially Written for "The Post.") LONDON, 17th January. At this season of the year all the centres of fashion are hives of activity —each one hastening to put the finishing touches to their creations for the early spring. One of the earliest and most intriguing dress shows was held at the new Devonshire Restaurant, Piccadilly, which is part of the palatial building just completed on the historic site of Devonshire House. The looms in which the parade is held are the last word in gracious luxury—all the decorations and lighting effects being a perfect foil to the slim and haughty mannequins as they flitted by in dainty frocks. We were a cheery luncheon party, and the discussion arose as to which type of woman "was the most attractive —the plain and chic or the beautiful but dowdy. While the nice men who had never wandered far.from their own fireside were emphatic in their choice of the beautiful woman, no .matter how frumpily dressed, the travelled ones, and, of course, all the cosmopolitans plumped hard for the chic and plain, for to them, chic is charm. Drawing my attention to one woman in the room who was such a splendid example of their theory, I had to agree. She was slii*. and dark, but, oh, so perfectly groomed! Her small head swathed in a gold turban, her almost-skin-tight frock of wine-coloured crepe draped immaculately round her tiny figure long slinky sleeves well over the bands) and one long ruby earring, a tight string of rubies round her creamy throat, one huge single ruby on her finger, shoes, and stockings of gold-tinted beige. Can you imagine anything more attractive? One never "noticed that her nose was too tip-tilted or her mouth too wide. She was the personification of charm and allure.

In these day's of simple lines it is the attention to detail that stamps one's individuality on one's clothes. Having had many peeps at the early spring fashions, I trust you are all keeping fairly slim—for those of generous proportions seem to have been left out in the new modes—with their little jumper-like tops and abbreviated skirts, but methinks- so few of us have re-ally nice knees that we shall have to add a couple of inches just to cover them.

Amongst the dresses shown for the -Riviera there is a perfect rage for heavy crepe de chine, which supple material is ideal for frocks, of the new bloused order. This blouscd waistline

is a delightful change, and so infinitely becoming to all types of figures seeming to round the too slim and drape the too heavy with equal success. It was reported a short while ago that beige colour had gone out, but a now shade tint has sprang up. A beige of a slightly puce tint that promises to be the colour for the spring— for both frocks and tailor-mades. There is quite a lot of navy, and red is still with us in all its fascinating tones. I saw a coat of navy velour cloth that was bioused all the way round over a grey suede steel-studded belt, lined grey crepe do chine, and collared with groy fox. This was destined to be worn over a. navy crepe de chine frock with pleated shirt and Quaker-like grey collars and cuffs.

We are still shivering in London, so furs are not merely ornamental, and in spite of the dressmakers wanting us to exchange our cosy coats for their airy garments we are playing safe these days, deciding that "comfort is the better part of valour."

Usually the all-fur coat has hold pride of place, especially if one does not need to study expense, but it has been com plt'toly ousted this season for the fur trimmed ciat. In many cases, in long shawl collars that continue right down' the front, and-some with deep-hems of fur us well as huge collars and cuffs. Late in the season or early in spring comes the new T fnncy tur siinky coats of smooth skins, some hi beige shaded pony cloth, and, what is even newer and mo.ro daring, "unborn calf." These coats in black with white splotches "or in brown and white are really "it" just now. It makes one begin to wonder if there is-any animal left whose skin has not been laid an the altar of Dame Fashion in some disguise or jther. The fur coat 1 have sketched for you this week you will find extremely useful for in between seasons. It is one of the newest types, being made in beige shaded pony skin and three-quar-ter-length, worn over a jumper suit made of beige and burgundy crepe or kasha. The lines are so slim "and youthful, am. the colouring so infinitely becoming, that I feel it will make a strong appeal' to all ages.—Ruth Sibley.