RACE FROCKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 155, 29 December 1936, Page 11

RACE FROCKS

SUMMER AT ELLERSLIE

VOGUE FOR SHORTER SKIRTS

Ideal weather, the attractive setting of the Ellerslie gardens, and exciting races gave ample enjoyment to the large number who attended the first day of the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting on Saturday, and even fuller enjoyment was given to the women, who were able to appear in lovely race frocks and hats without having to glance anxiously^ at the sky in fear of rain, states the "New Zealand Herald."

A noticeable feature of the frocfcirig was the vogue for shorter skirts. Although there were many ankle-length filmy frocks, reminiscent of Ascot, the greater majority of the women chose frocks from Bin to lOin from the ground. They were generally made in a simple but smartly tailored style, and had also the advantage of giving greater freedom of movement than the picture frocks. There was a bewildering array of patterned materials, of which the stiffer types, such as crepe, linen, and pique, lent themselves admirably to the new fashion of modified leg-of-mutton sleeves.

Apart from the primary colours, which give life and character to any large gathering of people, there were also the .softer pastel shades, colours which never fail to tone in with their environment in a.way that the more vigorous shades cannot do. These were particularly attractive in the picture frocks, which need soft tones to be really effective. The two colour combinations which it seems will never lose their popularity are black and white and navy and white. These shades, combined in spots, stripes, or floral designs, are definitely smart as well as becoming, and were chosen by a large number of racegoers on Saturday. Various paler shades of blue were also favoured, while the new Marina colour, so easily worn by fair women, was again a popular choice.

It was in the hats that ' Dame Fashion's whimsicalities chiefly showed themselves. Hats covered a ■ wide range of variety, from the picture hat, which looked very youthful and charming, to the pancake beret, the Foreign Legion hat, ,the stitched tailored models, and other shapes and types which practically . defy description. Some go to the Tyrolean Alps for their style, others to the shores of Brittany, and some even to an age far back. The shovel hat, with very little crown and finishing in front with a squared-off brim, is surprisingly easy to wear and there were some most attractive examples of this type of hat to be seen on Saturday in either soft straw or felt.

Among those present were Mrs. H M. Rogerson, who wore a frock of navy blue craquelle with a cherry straw hat; the Lady Angela Dawnay, in a hyacinth blue diagonally-tucked crepe frock and a navy blue eire straw hat; Lady Robertson, navy blue romaine frock and a navy hat; Mrs. Ernest Davis, brown and white fine-striped frock; Mrs. Veal (London), grey printed chiffon frock and a leaf green picture hat; Mrs. T. H. Lowry (Hawke's Bay), mulberry and beige patterned frock and straw hat to match; Mrs. Hubert Nathan (Wellington), black tunic frock patterned in green and white and small white straw hat; Mrs. Pearson (Wellington), marine blue faille ensemble; Mrs. Ernest Bucholz (Wellington), black georgette ensemble and a black crinoline hat trimmed with field flowers; Mrs. J. T. Spears (Wellington), navy blue silk frock and small hat; Mrs. W. J. Gray (Wellington), navy blue' silk suit relieved with white and a navy blue tailored hat; Mrs. Peter Savage, pastel pink corded silk frock and a matching pink ballibuntal straw hat; Miss Betty Rhind (Wellington), fawn silk tailored frock and a naturaltoned straw hat; Miss Joy Pearson (Wellington), navy floral crepe frock and navy halo hat; Miss Joyce Nathan (Wellington), hyacinth blue cloque suit with matching blue turban hat relieved with navy blue flowers.