Paris in the Mirror

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 25, 30 January 1932, Page 9

Paris in the Mirror

• • PABIS, 2nd December. Paris is more cheerful just now than she has been for many months. It is at this time of the year that the shops aTe most attractive, and women feel that they must spend money, if only to celebrate the passing of the old year. Paris dress-houses have completed their collections, and all tho new sea-

son's materials are pouring into the large stores. It is a great mistake to allow yourself to Ijo tempted into buying material-without knowing exactly •what you;'want-to do with it. The wisest woman is the one who goes to as many dress-stiowa as: possible, and learns as much as she can about the new fashions, before she even thinks of buying materials by the yard ■ and having them made up. ....

■ As always, Paris offers a very wide dhoice of materials, both for evening and day frocks. Fashion has sprung many surprises on her followers. Not the least, of these ig the evening gown macle frbm^facercloth of the finest tex-

Wrltttn f»r «"!Ha »»rt" ky GwMtint.

ture, ana as light as chiffon. Voile is also in the picture where evening models are concerned, and a model in applegreen voil«, belted at its small high waist, which was exhibited1 the other day at an important dress-showing, was almost ingenue in its simplicity. A fichu wrapped the shoulders, and looked like tiny puffed sleeves over the top of the arms. To accompany this, there was a little green satin wrap and a long scarf to wind around you' in a most miraculous manner, swathing your ,waist and shoulders. No description could do. this dress justice. Most of the evening, dresses drag just a little bit in the back, and slots of the skirts are slit. The pyjama suit, even for evening wear, has come in with a big splash, and at a recent wedding all the bridesmaids wore peach-coloured satin pyjama suits.^ i > , ; . TUCK-IN BLOUSES. Tuck-in blouses, and a kind of tunic cut to a. point in front, are being worn by the Parisienn'e this season^ with a skirt. The. skirts are cut usually with a, gradual flared movement, but godets are also introduced in soft pliable materials. Contrasting yokes and tops to sleeves or cuffs ia another colour ar'e'seen on afternoon' gowns. ; The1 diagonal line, when introducing a. second colour, is used very effectively, bo \h: on day and evening gowns. Pin.tt&king,: a, • fine braid, and embroidery liijijrivid colouring are among the trimmings for afternoon dresßes. Embroidered hems appear on. some o£ the more dressy frock's: a circular piece cut oat ol the sleeve of the dress on the shoulder is used; 'iihe idea is carried out,'too, on some of the evening gowns. There are many frocks with,a -jacket -effect,,, but the little Zouave jacket; is ;a persistent fashion note ■ in>.Paris. ; Belts on a dress are o.ften cut in one with front yoke, so that they make their appearance only at the sides and back, where they buckle. .This is very successful on satin evening frocks, which are thus given_'an appearance of .most modern simplicity. ROMANTIC DETAILS IN TEE '■. ■«/ ';;>/* .MODES. All sorts of romantic details to make the modern' girl more mysterious and feminine looking are an important part of evening styles. There are flower garlands and bouquets around evening decolletees, and wide' girlish sashes of silk or velvet that many a girl will make more romantic by pinning a bouquet of flowers thereto. There are kid glovea in pastel colours, and long silk lace gloves, these helping to aid the aspect of evening fashions. Fans flourish, and are flourished" by white hands. Hair is worn in ringlets all over the head, at the nape of the neck or in quaint clusters, and the head is made more decorative by ornaments or headdresses"./ Camelias and tiny ostrichtips are sometimes worn. A. knot' of ribbon ties up one cluster of pearls, jewelled'combs hold longish locks back in place.. '

There are lace bonnets for the head for evening wear, and there are halo head-dresses with aigrettes, making rays all around, the head.- There are ruchings of taffetas to trim dancedresses of transparent materials anil velvet ..ribbon1: trimmings for the same purpose. Lace ruffles and lace bands are part of the romantic movement, so are ; turquoise jewellery—real or imitation—and basque waists. A smart way of dressing the hair is to catch a cluster of curls with a jewelled clip at the nape of the neck. EVENING SLIPPERS. The days of formal dressing are again upon, us, and women now make

a distinction between evening gowns and the more informal dinner dress. Even in details, we are conscious of this "dressing-up," which we had almost forgotten. In the foyer of the Opera the other evening, for example, one noticed the combination of matching purses and evening slippers. One of the loveliest of these new ensemble effects was in myrtle-green . crepe a© chine, the bag of the rather flat bellows type, which is still a change from the envelope. The fastening was at the bottom. of the purses, a clasp of three large creain-eolourecl pearls, toning with the frock, and a ruby-leaf. The same motif appeared at the outside of the decolleteo of the pumps, which also had-the narrowest imaginable piping of gold leather around the tops, and at the'bottom of the heel. HANDKEKCHIEFS. Handkerchiefs, immense ones, now oftener of chiffon or silk voile, than of georgette,' sometimes join this combination of bag and shoes. One, of lip-rouge;,red, .with.matching slippers and; <rbag,. had the added 'novelty of slipping over the wrist, instead of being knotted around it, as we are accustomed to seeing handkerchiefs worn. These mouchoirs are beginning to go in for real lace trimming, instead of the large monogram, which has been their sole decoration, a band all around^ or,motifs in the corner. The red one mentioned had double diagonal /bands of deep ecru insertion ,yhic'h-were::crossedito make the aper;ture vfor:the hand to slip through; NEOKLACEB AND EAEEINOS. .Necklaces and earrings were also prominent in the ensembles seen. The earrings are long while necklaces have lost all interest in the choker type, and are definitely dropping below the bustline^ and worn out at the sides of the throat, almost to the shoulder-straps.• Carved motifs of jade or coral are combined with pierced metal pieces, occasionally^ ornamented,; still further by small brilliants to:mark the carving of the metal, v 4., • -.■' "■',,:'