London Fashion Notes

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 35, 9 August 1930, Page 19

London Fashion Notes

LONDON, 20Ui June. . London itself is more, or less deserted by the social world this week, the racing ut Ascot being the excuse-for num crous house parties in the surrounding country. Even those who-are-, not in private houses ■ are putting up at. the j various hotels, and small inns are importantly announcing the-fact that'they aro entirely full up for the week. The Military Tattoo" at A'.dershot -is providing evening .entertainment, and racegoers are saved the long late journey back to-town after this-magnificent show, which .must bo seen to ;bo properly appreciated.' , " ' Ascot Week is the. crowning, point of the social season, and; nowhere in the world is there such a perfect union of sport and ..fashion as this .famous meeting furnishes, year after year. Of all the many pleasant, sights that England has to show none is so completely satisfying as the Royal procession down this beautiful racecourse. Ascot is as,feminine as Newmarket is masculine, and is,'as I •.heard iit ■'wittily described, " the best-tempered dress parade N in the world, _only slightly interfered with by' racing. " Brilliant weather marked the opening of the meeting when the women's frocks included all tho picturesque elements which tho dressmakers had told us would be worn. Flowered chiffons in great variety turned the beautiful lawns into a flower garden, but the newest effects were created in plain organdie, muslin, chiffon, or silk net, with contrasting coatees or capes of flowered taffeta, or plain silks and crepes. Tho general impression. was that all the dresses reached the ankles, but there was a sufficient number of moderate length . dresses to ; ensure ' their wearers being inconspicuous. One typo of frock was so numerous that although it was carried ■ out •in many materials it was.'almost a uniform. " Tins' was a tight-fitting bodice of muslin, ■' organdie, spotted net, or chiffon, with a skirt, that was either a mass of frills from the waist to the hem-or- elso gathered at the -waist and flowing outwards in full masses round tho ankles. i ; - - ,■-•'. Quaint little taffeta'coats, nipped in to tho waist;and flaring on. tho hips— some with ruches,' Others, with ■■£sillsadded to the old world effect. . , Picture hats were: tho.. rule, of the day with very wide brims , -that flopped round the face.- Others werosct up on bandeaux of ribbon or. roses, ftnd some were frankly Victorian bonnets of gathered muslin or silk. The contrast was struck .by some smart gowns that were . close-fitting nearly to'the knee, with much.fullness fi-om there to the ankles.: Although the second day, threatened showers, no.one; was-prepared, for the devastating which broke over tho course when, the .Royal Hunt Cup race had just-started. In a few moments tho; beautyl of. Ascot was changed into a scene of damp disaster. The paddock became a lake, many women lost their shoes in tho mud, and cvciv those whp had come prepared, with mackintoshes and umbrellas found them totally inadequate, in.face of,the worst storm ever known in tho,history of any race meeting.: . . , Tho 1930, Ascot started out -' as , the

most beautiful of all race meetings, but I fear it is tho ! storm which will* be tallied of long after the women's gowns havo faded , from' memory.

Tho f ashionablo blue ,in • all shades, both dark and light, was well represented on the lawns. One gown of cornflower blue crepe had hat, shoes, bag, parasol to match, a huge blue hanky pulled through her bag, and her gallant escort wore a cornflower boutonnier.

Specially Written for "The Post."

The ensemble 1 have sketched was prepared for a very smart society woman for Gold Cup day, and was of-blue and white printed crepe, !the capes of the wrap and'thc skirt being lined with the-same colour blue. It. is typical of the capo. ensemble mode and suitable both for other materials and occasions. After all, even with us Ascot is only one week in the whole-year, and. Ascot clothes cannot always bo thoso picturesque garments that are unsuitable for normal life. . ■ ■

Tailored and jacket suits of silk and satin, with soft blouses of chiffon, crepe, or delicate organdie, are. the type of

clothes that look 'right', almost -anywhere, and particularly when in black and white or black and pink.- ■ ■ With theso suits a'flower is correct that matches something iii .the suit, and the newest blooms imitate carnations, roses, violets, snowdrops, or'any- small flower that will not look stiff. '; ' White- gloves are' very much' worn again, both with black and'white and coloured ensembles. White kid stitched with black or black stitched with white, and the washing suede; or chamois glove in pale beige is always right. 'Straight gloves are worn over the: coat, folded to look like gauntlets, -or wrinkled over the sleeve of an afternoon gown. Hats are both large and small, the style of the dress decides which. -Some dresses need' a brim, while- others look better with a beret, but the plain helmet is dead, thank goodness! ■ RUTH SIBLEY.