THE NEW FASHIONS

Evening Star, Issue 20591, 17 September 1930, Page 13

THE NEW FASHIONS

Not for many years has there been such a decided change in the fashions as at the present. This fact makes the situation more difficult for those who contemplate the adjusting of last year’s frocks to the requirements of the coming season. To begin with, thp very short skirt now belongs to the past. The correct length for the coming season is midway between knee ancf ankle. This rule is fairly exacting for tailored suits and for dresses and coats made of woollen and heavy silken texture. In frocks of more fanciful fabrics, such as chiffon, voile, and pale tinted crepes do chine, tho skirts tall even longer. At present it does not appear as if wo were to be tempted to wear the trailing draperies which were worn witii disastrous results at the Royal Ascot race meeting in England. Such impracticable extremes of fashion are kept in New Zealand for drawing rooms and ball rooms. The next notable change is in the piac.ng of tho waistline, which is now in its normal position. Girls with slender, lissom figures, find that the change suits them to perfection. Those of sturdier build, as well as women whoso figures are more or less set, are able to find among the varied styles a slightly longer waistline. Only those to whom Nature has given a short waist realise how kind nave been the fashions of tho last ten years or more. One of the advantages of the new season’s materials is that figured or interwoven textures such as light-weight tweeds are the most popular. Such materials are more economical than those with plain surfaces. A mixed or patterned texture withstands hard wear better than a self-coloured one, neither does it fade nor are marks upon it so evident. Particularly attractive arc the new snowflake textures. For tho most part these are light-weight woollens interwoven with white or coloured thread of irregular thickness. The claims of crepe do chine and georgette both for wear and comfort, are well known. This year they are obtainable with a patterned surface, and among the popular designs are spots ranging from tiny points to others of more pronounced size. Ir-regular-shaped spots are also included in this most popular pattern. Tho most approved colours this season are black, navy blue, bottle green, and brown. These for the most part are patterned with white.

In tho silks, in which there is an almost unbounded range of colour and weave, figured crepe do chine comes easily first, for it is not very expensive; its wearing qualities are as a rule excellent, and it is safe wearing in cool and hot weather. The patterns this year are as a rule small in size and are closely placed, two points which are in favour of the wearer.