MAIRFAIR MODES.

Matamata Record, Volume X, Issue 875, 10 November 1927, Page 2

MAIRFAIR MODES.

COLOURS FASHIONABLE. (By Diana Dane.) The little season opened with a display of colours that might have left the Queen of Sheba gasping! Fortunately for every woman, almost every colour is fashonable; it only remains for her to select her own and wear it for all she is worth during the next few months. The faiT girl is specially well catered for, blue in various shades being very much in evidence. Turquoise blue, which has been ‘out’ for many months, is right in front again; so is sapphire, and the well-beloved midnight blue that looks so well in chiffon for evening wear. Turquoise blue, by the way, is chosen by one famous designer for some of her most charming stockinette sports suits —smart little creations that are quite as much at home in the street as on the links. In the new kind of stockinette which shows fine flecks of white or beige in its make-up, turquoise is sufficiently fascinating to lure even the woman of ‘in-between ’ colouring!

For the nut-brown maid are many lovely shades. The nasturtium tones, of which I wrote a few weeks ago, are still in the mode, and even more beautiful tints have been evolved by the manufacturers. Rich and glowing, these shades are to be commended to the brunette and equally to the‘mousy girl, who finds her indefinite colouring a little trying at times. In this range is our old friend beige, which has now developed into a delicious honey-brown; and there is a marigold tone which, m tulle or chiffon for a ‘picture’ dance dress is very hard to beat. All the new frocks cover the knees! Even the sports Which is a move in the right direction. And unless a gown is rendered picturesque by means of numerous elaborate flounces and frills, it is very, very simple. No half-measures this season! You have to study your own type, and, having decided what it is, you have to dress to it more firmly .than ever! This applies ■partieularly, of course, to afternoon and evening clothes. Eor sports and mornihc uniform of one-piece, belted frock, or jumper suit. But in the evening you must cither be very picturesque or very prim! The picture frocks have been described so often that everyone

must know their charm by heart: but the prim little dance dress that looks tailor-made, and is expressed in moire silk, or in rich satin, charmeuse, or ring velvet, is something quite new. Beautifully modelled, with tailor pressed seams, and a.suggestion of ‘fitting’ that used to be associated with princess gowns, the trim little dress is sleeveless, with a square, Y-shaped or oval corsage (never a round one), an almost normal waistline, and a skirt reaching just below the knees. This skirt, by the way, is so perfectly cut that it has all the appearance of a godet-skirt without one single godet being put in it; it is, in fact, something like the umbrella skirt, without all the clumsy fulness of that ancient friend. The double-brimmed hat is a novelty in Paris, and is rapiu'y finding its way to London. One brim turns up. and the other turns down, n'ld each is made of a different material in a different colour. Extremely effective is the model With the under brim of wired net which casts a pretty shade over the eyes. But even more attractive is the chapeau with a very narrow down-turned brim and an eyc-veil. Crowns are more amenable, and can be quite low, of medium height, or quite high, whichever best becomes you. In any case the stiff, hard crown has disappeared —and so have headaches! Talking of veils, it is a pretty fashion to have one dropping only a couple of inches over the brim in front and at one side, gradually increasing in width towards the back until quite a Little cascade of lace or embroidered net falls over the opposite shoulder. Other models show a similar notion, but with the veil drooping low at the back making a charming frame for the face!