FASHION’S REALM.

Gisborne Times, Volume LII, Issue 5463, 26 April 1920, Page 7

FASHION’S REALM.

Cl VY FROCKS AT II AND WICK RACES.

QUAINT STYLES IN SKIRTS

“Civilisation’s masterpiece: a fiftrjsh woman iu furs.” Every daughter of Eve looks her best, in furs, hut the collection of peltry usually seen at an autumn meeting was absent to-day. Here and there a fur coat and cape was carried, but for the most part scarves and shoulder wraps were worn. The vogue of the popular two-piece, is still at its height, with the addition of all 'the variations invented bv a woman’s freakish fgnev, and is the one mod© that is always correct. Even the ultra-smart dresser, when in that doubt which does occur sometimes, knows that she is always right m a suit, and to-day’s race gathering gave No. 1 preference vote to tailormades in serge and dureton, garlierdine, and tricotin, and fine cloths in a wonderful collection of sombre colors. Here and there a beautiful tailored suit oi black satin was noticed. The open front of mv lady’s costume can no longer claim the superlative of “latest,” and many feminine. race devotees took the collars of their coats up to keep their ears warm, and kept one guessing and speculating as to tlie beauty or otherwise of the covered chin. Those costumes which still retained the open coat, compromised with a high collar of some contrasting or toning material round tlie neck. There collars reached well up to the ears, and in many cases almost touched the small put-on hats affected by the wearer.

There is no set rule nowadays that a threatening sky means that every woman must necessarily don clothes to match an unexpected downpour. Every member of femininity’s worldwide band reserves to herself the right to please herself and do just as she pleases. Consequently every fabric made for beauty’s adornment was seen in front of tlie tote, on the lawn, or climbing the spiral staircase on to the roof of the grandstand. Georgettes jostled woollen velvours in tlie crush and ninon pronounced “nec-nong” with a delicate nasal intonation) rublied shoulders with serge in the scramble from the hotting posts to secure a position to view the race. Silken gloves—glittering earlier in the sunshine—lost much of their splendor in the crush, and one girl suffered hadlv. Her frock of taffetas and gorgette was ripped, half-way down the ' skirt in the jostling crowd. But many of these silken frocks were in beautiful colors reflective of autumn—rich browns, and reds, and purples tinted with black.

One speaks of the new sehnnette, but, actually speaking, there isn’t one. There are hundreds', and all arc different and individual. At Randwick this afternoon there were skirts that were barrel-shaped, bell-shaped, harem-hemmed, skirts longer in the front than at the back (intentionally, of course!) skirts scalloped! and slashed, skirts made to conform to all tho ideas that originate for the benefit of making my lady’s frock quite exclusive. Individuality in skirts is one way of being different, and as the day is not so much a day of frocks as a clay of accessories it is by the embroideries and finishings'- that a woman gets that filial touch which proclaims her distinctive. Embroidery is one of tho smartest trimmings, and striking designs of brushed woof, beads, braid, thread in gold, and silver were seen, and not only in frocks and hats. One woman was conspicuous with gold and! blue thread embroidery on a frock of acquamarine blue, and embroidery being repeated on the turban and the' white silk stockings. , Gold tracery distinguished many smart one-piece navy frocks, and the becomingnoss of beach velvet relieved with bright colors was realised by many women. Brocaded bugs, beautiful veils, reaching often halfway down the back, splendid shoes, and gorgeous headgear, completed the perfection of toilettes on the lawn The hats were of every conceivable variety, made in every material and in every shape. The swathed turban held pride of place, and in many instances 1 the beauty of the hats completely 'dvershndowedi the frock worn with it. Closely-fitting skull caps of bright plumage looked; particularly fetching when worn with, fancy veils, hut great pleasure was to be obtained from the mere contemplation of exquisite gold and colored brocade lints, made to rival in shape and beauty Aladdin’s cap, or tho turbaned headgear of somle Eastern potenatc. Other hats of inoufflin—‘warm and snug—velvet, the eternal straw, very often 0 f the same material as the frock, and) the trimmings ran the whole gamut from beads and! poises to drenched feathers and silken tassels. One hat adored by many envious women was completely covered with flat feathers 1 , then covered again with transparent tissue in all the colors of the rainbow. Another smart and unusual shape was made of brick-red duvetyn, with a one-sid-ed brim, the wide edge being adorned with feathers in the same shade of red.