FASHION NOTES FROM LONDON

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 14

FASHION NOTES FROM LONDON

(Specially Written for "The Post.") LONDON,' 4th May. If one had. any doubts of the arrival of tho London season, tho. crush of cars this, morning in Piccadilly speedily dispelled them. The Private View of the Iloyal Academy is as much a s fashion parade as an exhibition of pic-' tures, and ono certainly sees the type of clothes usually reserved for Ascot or Eanelagh, especially when the weather is as brilliantly sunshiny as to-day. Having just returned from a tour of the pictures and a survey of the visitors' frocks, I am glad I did tho pictures first, during tho luncheon pause, when the crowd thinned, and ono really could get a good view. Later in the afternoon, personalities and petticoats proved so absorbing that I forgot all about the pictures. It is always fascinating to watch the

originals who coino to \'iew their portraits. Dame Madge Kondal, who was eighty last week, made a picturesque entry surrounded by a bevy of admir- 1 ers. Sir William'Orpcu has ' painted an attractive portrait of her, "but the original'lookcd even younger,-and what :i merry laugh she has! . Surely, this is the keynote to her perpetual youth— her wonderful sympathy aml sense'of humour. Of course, in her clothes she is a law unto liorsolf.'Hor black velvet costume, with short, loose coat opening over a.coloured vest that matehod the clusters of anemones in her quaint Stuart bonnet tied witli tulle strings, iill seem part of a-picturesque personality. . Every type of femininity seemed to be represented.in the throng, .from the immaculate tailor-made girl to the colobratcd ■ artist, Laura Knight, in her Spanish-looking hat'of black felt and ombroidercd-Chinese coat, worn with ashort pleated. skirt of gold and green stripes. . ■ As usual, Lady Alexander—who always focuses attention, however smart

Sport and General, Hioto.

the gathering—achieved success in. a lovely painted chiffon frock in black, beige and pink, worn with .a taffeta coat that'exactly matched. Her mass of snowy hair was crowned 'by a large b.lack picture hat t!iat vhad two.Enormous paradise plumps in; softest forget-me-not blue. ' Palest,beigo sudd gloves

and stockings and pearl-tinted kid shoes completed as charming a picture as any that graced the walls of Burlington House. Osprcys have certainly returned to favour, and it is many years since I have seen so many at one gathering. One hat in black had the entire crown covered with black" ospreys that were tipped with beige colour and worn wi,th a black and beige flowered chiffon frock. Yet another hat, also in black and rather bonnet shape, had one enormous black osprey standing out at one side. One of the feather toques caused a good deal of speculation. The wearer was all in grey, sho<&, stockings, coatfrock, and hair or hat?—that was what many people crossed the gallery to find out. She was wearing one of tho plumage caps that fit the head like a wig in shaded grey. If. there had not boon an ornament on one side I really believe people would have taken to feeling it to be convinced it was* a hat at all. Bod, bright, flashing, daring, was much in evidence, especially that brilliant lacquer .red that somehow does not look hot on the hottest day. One, I particularly liked was a rod and white spotted frock, with a coat of, plain red crepe, and a ' large red crinoline hat simply trimmed with a band of matching ribbon velvet that encircled the crown, was threaded through the brim and twisted round tho wearer's throat, one long end falling to the waist—a wonderful get-up for a beautiful brunette. One other red ensemble had just one huge black flower, and a narrow, black belt to relieve it. . Many very " vely black toilettes challenged the brilliant throng, for black is beautifully done just now. A lovely frock of plain, dull georgette crope had a . coat of black ratine trimm-ed with narrow bands "of ermine round tho throat and down the front, worn with a three-string pearl necklace and tiny Bangkok hat, "rimmed with gross-grain ribbon and jewelled pin. • Striking but almost morbid, was the black ensemble of a very pallid lady. She was in dull black to the chin, scarlet lips, and lumps of coral in her. ears, and absolutely no other colour on hat or frock. A black satin tailor-made pleased me, for dt was the sort of thing to bring out the best in any of us. Chic little pleated skirt, .short . straight-hanging coat and long tight slooves, it opened over a jumper of palest pink satin; had a huge cluster of feather flowers to match pinned on the coat, and her wide black hat was trimmed with grossgrain ribbon in.black and; pink. The pink formed an uuder-brim. that east a gracious bloom over the complexion, ''while sunburn stockings and patent shoos with enormous paste buckles completed this pretty and practical costume. .An . added note of chic was given by her handbag of black with petit-point embroideries in shaded pink roses. > ■ ' , : • ' Hats are getting larger, in. tho same linoveu way that skirts arc .getting longer. Fashion seems •to bo compromising with. fickle woman— : sho lengthens a skirt at one point, and pulls it up. at another; then dips a hat brim on one side /and cuts it short on the other. Tho close cap is still fashionable, but oil sunny clays one may wear a brim, and infinitely becoming they are. ; Gloves and shoes arc a study unto themselves. Perfect in cut and iin-macn-latc in condition, they must give to an ensemble that look of perfect finish which to-day counts for so much. Bags arc less conspicuous than they were—chiefly bbcauso it is correct for them to mjjtch the dress, and although they are still condemned to carry a gl-eat deal they are not so strikingly largd. —KUTH SIBLEY.