PARIS IN THE MIRROR

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 46, 1 September 1928, Page 14

PARIS IN THE MIRROR

i + (Written for "Tho Post" by "Gcrmainc") PAEIS, 4th July. Quite recently, I had the good fortuno of visiting a beautiful country home, built during the First Empire. Everything belonged to . the period— tho wonderful old furniture, simple in lines, and rather austere-looking, is still covered with its slightly faded cherry-coloured Empire velvet, the heavy curtains, and on the walls, for which my friends had found somo old silks —many delicate Empire engravings. My'friends had discovered the old place by luck, with everything in it, almost intact. And what they had found missing or too worn, they had replaced carefully in Empire style with assured and refined taste. Naturally this-old place is not in Paris, where houses and flats are uniiiidablc —even at unthinkable price's. .'• This old place lies in the Valles de la Chevreuse, and on the outskirts of the beautiful forest. But to return. Ono day, while, rummaging in an old discarded trunk in tho attic, they discovered'a dress carefully folded, and probably forgotten there. I wish you could have seen it. It must have been white once, but time had given it.a delightful yellow* ish tint. It was made of a diaphanous Stuff, and was embroidered with long stems of ferns, very green ferns. The waistline was very high, right up under the arms, in Directoire fashion, the sleeves small and the-decolletage, which was very low, bordered with the same design. And to adorn the head of the pretty wearer they found a head-dress, two curved fern leaves of enamelled gold. ..." . . I gazed in admiration at tho fragile little thing, and my thoughts went-back to tho brilliant receptions at the Tulleries, dominated by the imperious personality of Napoleon, tho languid grace

of Josephine, the beauty of Queen Hortense. Well, but those are past days, will say the reader who is getting impatient; I am sure. And this is supposed to be. ah .article on the fashions of July, 1928. . . Yes, but we always try to find something personal, a shape, a colour, a design or embroidery that our best friends will not happen to have, and for this wo have to search for inspiration everywhere. May tho exquisite little Empire dress embroidered with green fern, be, though old, a new' idea and serve to enhance the beauty of a pretty reader. And now we will leave the realm of dreams to come back to the feverishness of modern life; —for which it is most necessary to have smart dresses. SMOOTH SUMMER TURS. To smile, aud look pretty* at all times, is one of woman's duties, but she must not be extravagant. She must keep work.going and buy as far as her means allow. Let us have a look at summer furs. More and more, fur is looked on as a summer material. Qno always* ought to have something warm ready, for a damp' chilly day, and to supply something new, Paris has made a speciality of smooth . furs. Prom Africa comes a soft gazelle skin, from Persia a baby lamb closely, shaved, and there are many other charming novelties. There are wholo coats of. fur, lined with cloth, cut straight and with plenty of material to hold over in front. There are cloth skirts trimmed with fur, which have fur tops, cither coats or jumpers. This idua is well carried out in. shaded grey-baby lamb,.very, closely shaved. liJands of it trim a grey skirt, and the'eoat is of fur only, lined with grey cloth. For very .smart wear, there are velvet coats trimmed with fur. One in violet is trimmed with grey Astrakau, and lined with grey. All tho cloth coats trimmed with fur, are cut straight, the velvet coats being gathered to swing at the sides. SHOES AND STOCKINGS. ( Plain satin shoes, to match your dress, or your stockings, are the newest things to havo for evening wear. A pair of pale beige silk stockings, may have a pair of plain black satin shoes, and let me say that there aro some

cheering Aiplift to those who aro struggling up!thp "Hill of Difficulty." black dresses, richly embroidered in sparkling beads which look better when worn with black stockings and plain Maple satin shoes, adorned with sparkling; buckles of the Cromwell order. ■ The question of feet and legs is ono that,has all the time to be kept well in mind, since, they have-to bo perfectly! clad, if the dresses worn with them aro to look right. If a girl planning ;her'trousseau gives thought to shoes, it'wo pairs for cadi frock, is about tho! right number. As for stockings! It is best to buy them in dozens, and buy ;a single frock, or hat. And it is not bad policy to get in a stock of gloves. ' . • • COLLARS AND, CUFFS. The neck of a dress and" coat causes some thought to maidens and matrons, onco it is tjoo hot to wear summer furs, or slimmer ; fur-triramed, coats. A hard line to a csoat collar is trying, yet, a tailored cq^t '.can;only be softened by fur. The one' thing ,to. do is to have something soft round.tho dress of tho neck, and dpwn- tho front of the bodice. Tho plissec jabot helps; there are plenty qf little. lingerie collars, there aro collars and cuffs in all sorts of coloured'iiiaterials, from organdi to leather, and there is.also the flower for a buttonhole.* Beads are not much worn. Pearls are rather over-done, but they are always worn. Earrings help a lot. They soften hard lines between jaw and), neck.- Tho high-neck-ed chemisette with a tight collar-band of ribbon, which older women used to wear, and still do wear, are both such uncomfortable fashions, that only martyrs to appearances can wear them. The soft scarf in some bright or light chiffon, tulle, or georgette, may be a resource, but that, too, is hot. There seems nothing for age to do, but to suffer if it will look its best.