London Fashion Notes

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 147, 24 June 1933, Page 19

London Fashion Notes

Specially Written for "Th» Post."

LONDON, April 28,

The private view at the Royal Academy this morning marked the opening of the London season. Getting- caught up in the abnormal traffic jam which this function always causes sot mo wondering—what will happen in a few years' time if traffic problems inoreaso as rapidly as they have recently? Insido Burlington Houso ono exchanged the crush of vehicles for one of humanity in its most interesting form. Artists and models and Bohemian youth merged with social hostesses and debutantes, and high lights of the law, diplomacy, and the stage. Here one sees fashions of yesterday mingle with the last-minute fashions of today, forming a kaleidoscope of colour and design against a blurred background of flowers and pictures. Ono of my strongest impressions drawn from this interesting gathering is that individuality in dress does not produce a smart crowd, and the most distinguished figures were those v^ho had chosen chic simplicity. Reception and garden party clothes should be reserved for private functions, when the standard of dressing will be more uniform. That is a pretty good tip to follow when choosing a dress for a special occasion. If the Teeeption is one to which the general public may receive invitations, keep your appearance exquisitely neat, well groomed, and soignee, and you will stand out like a jewel amongst a lot of synthetic pearls. . ' ■ , And now for a few of the smartest outfits. I particularly liked Lady Lavcry's black tailored suit of short jacket and -slim skirt, with a blouse of ruffled white organdie, the frills of which stood up round the neck and showed below the cuffs at the wrists, and a real white gardenia was pinned on the lapel of her coat. A small black hat, with flat crown and brim, was tilted slightly forward showing her Titian-red hair, trimmed .only with a carved silver ornament in front. Lady Edward Hay, who is blonde and beautiful, looked charming in a dark brown coat dress, tied high at the throat, with caped sleeves, edged with five inch bands of white ermine, and long, tight brown under-sleeves round tho wrists. A f. .sail brown, hat and white gloves completed a chic ensemble. Lady Melchett, who is extraordinarily like Greta Garbo, was in a very smart black dress, also having caped sleeves. The long tight under-sleeves, and small yoke were of golden velour velvet, and exactly matching her hair, which she wears long and rather picturesquely hanging each side of her face, with a soft, droopy-brimmed black hat quite untrimmed. .. . A navy blue coat frock, opening over a white and blue striped under-dress of heavy crepe-and clasped at the waist with silver ornaments, was another simple but attractive outfit. A tiny brimmed hat of navy straw, tied with bine and white striped ribbon, and a silver fox fnr. slung on one shoulder, n:id heavy white doeskin gauntlet gloves completed this. ..-.., Apart from my,favourite black and white, blue and white, brown and white, there was a good deal of red worn; also the delightful eggshell blue which is so flattering., A dress of black, white, and rose-red striped silk jvas/wprn with . a long colle'rlaes ' coat' of deep rose red velvet, ami a forage cap of the same silk as the .remi. Rose red wool crepe made a dress and three-quarter coat, which had a loose halter collar of dark brown fox tied with red crepo at the back' of tho neck and hanging over one shoulder. Small, br.own, hat and. brown ,shoes, stockings and gloves made a good colour scheme. ■ This I saw repeated in a jacket suit of rose rod with high stand-up collar of bTown fur, and matching red georgette blouse. Earlier in the week, I'attended the showing of the Molyneux" mid-season collection, and found his models ex- - quiaite but ultra simple. A lovely dress of .soft beige woollen crepe had . full mngyar sleeves that tapered off tight to the wrists, the drapery of the bodice tied at the neck and waist and the skirt flared slightly about the hem. With r this was worn a brown crepe threequarter coat lined beige, and the scarf collar lined beige, and a small forage cap, of beige to match the dress. A charming navy blue woollen crepe

had cape 3 over the tops of the arms edged with deep shaped pieces of white organdie with narrow frills at the bottom., A small navy hat tied with a narrow sash and bow of white organdie was tho essence of simplicity. Unusual touches of colour appeared in a dress of blue-grey crepe that had a coral pink belt. Also a plaid material

of black and green on a white ground looked well with a similar touch of coral pink. A lovely afternoon ensemble showed a dress with tiny cape to match in palest -pink heavy crepe (the pink that has a lot of cream in it, like face powder,pink). A bow of brown organdie was tied under the chin, and similar twist round the*waist and on a pale pink felt hat. This colour scheme looked lovely in ■an evening gown of the same pink georgette crepe, witli' a; cluster of brown soft silk roses fastened in the front of the bodice, and an end of brown chiffon coming from the decolletage at the waist down the' back to the edge of the* skirt. A dark blue jaekct-suit had a blouse of duck-egg blue crepe with forage cap to match. Thisl consider'a much more flattering combination of -blues than dark blue with saxe or even hyacinth. One more simple dTess that everyone admired showed a dress of black wool crepe with cape sleeves, tho edges scolloped to match •the hem, and a tiny yoke of white organdie, and large organdie bow at the waist. With this went a three-quarter collarless coat, scolloped round all the edges, and a small black cap. As you will see', all the best dresses are simple in the extreme. The greatest successes are those which combine a beautiful material, clever cutting and fittings, and colour, combination, with just some individual touch that makes it your own special gown. RUTH SIBLEY. ;