London Fashion Notes

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1934, Page 7

London Fashion Notes

"''... , LONDON, February 2. This' is the! season" of the year when the fashion centres of' the world are either intrigued or shocked by news of the sensational creations being offered at the earliest Paris '' openings..»' Pajris, knowing she is expected to'Vbe sensational, never fails to _provido topics of cimversatipn, and is offering styles reminiscent of the flamboyant days of Henry the^Eighth, and, in complete contrast, others that recall the. demureness of Jane Austen and "Little Women." Canjit.be/thafeven Paris is influenced by fashions of the screen? Kttowirig that-so many of these pic-, turesque eccentricities will be modified, adapted, or entirely lost during the next few!months, the average; woman is not unduly-alarmed. These early .sensations arc for; the benefit. of- professional buyers, and especially those; of the United States and' South America, where novelty is often confused with good taste,- but where variety.and change.,.of fashion seem as necessary as the air they breathe. But ;. exclusive dress designers and fashion experts, just watch the- general - trend to find which way the straws of fashion ■are blowing. -..'■'... \ • CONTINUED VOGUE OF THE BLOUSE. There is one certainty you can count on, and that is the blouse. The coat and skirt and blouse are things that both" the smart Parisienno and -the - well-dressed Englishwoman love," and even.in winter when a fop coat is neededfor warmth, the suit and blouse is very-popular under.it. instead of a dress.

. The newest of these- show a slim skirt of :tartan with a short jacket of plain material and-a plain coloured taffetas blouse f.o ma.tch the jacket, and the effect-is extraordinarily youthful. This type of blouse ties high in tho throat with; a: scarf collar with ends looped one over.the other.. . ~,

■ The choice of blouse is so wide and there are so many kinds from the jumper of wool or. cotton to highly sophisticated afternoon blouses of lame satin and chiffon, that it is a constant temptation to buy "just one more."

But I know of few better ideas than the evening blouse so popular at the moment,. and which is being included in the present Paris collections.

■ A .long black skirt, is, of course, essential, but once possessed of this useful "garment you can ring the changes for. the evening indefinitely. This skirt may be made of velvet, dull satin, or rough crepe, and should be quite ankle length, or longer if you can have' more than one skirt. Onp can even utilise a plain black evening dress to wear under an evening blouse, or cut off the bodice and drop the skirt as long as possible. ■ < ■ ■ < ■ ■. ■ SLEEVES AND BACKS ABE SLASHED. .... "'To-be--really-'chie-'an" evening blouse should be high-necked in front, longsleeved (possibly slashed),"'and have either a low neckline at the back or be slashed, at the waist to' match the sleeves.

The two models I have sketched show all the essential features of the. evening, blpuse of the moment, but which can be.altered indefinitely as to colour and - material, making • a most useful

Spieiaily written f«r "Th» post"

and decorative addition to any wardrobe." •-■■■ ■ •" . . Every season one particular colour is stressed as the perfect accompaniment to black. Recently it was ice-blue, then pale pink, while just at present a bright yellowish: shade of green is all the rage. So that with a black day dress with scarf lined green, or a green blouse with a coat of almost any. length and a small black "halo" hat, you are up to the "minute for your first cool days. In the same way a green- and silver or green and gold lame'is ideal for an evening blouse, with plain gold'or silver slippers to add ; the additional chic. I ,have mentioned velvet and velveteen blouses before, but remember they are the rage at the moment with tweed suits, and this is another mode which.

is being "carried over" and is showing again as new in Paris.

If you have a well-loved tweed suit (and how one clings to a really good tweed), chooso a dark colour that is complementary, to the suit in either velvet or' velveteen, and 'if possible wear a little cap or pull-on hat of the same velvet,: and you will feel you have an entirely new ensemble. ■ Strange. though it sounds, there is nothing smarter than a black sweater or blouse, at the moment, but it must be high-necked, and,'if a blouse, should be of velvet or eire satin.

. .However, it is not. a fashipn that everyone can ' wear successfully, and unless one has a fairly long neck and a good complexion itdoes not flatter, but