OUR FASHION LETTER.

Matamata Record, Volume X, Issue 884, 19 December 1927, Page 2

OUR FASHION LETTER.

NEW MODES AND NOVELTIES. (By Diana Dane.) Instead of silk, designers are now using “five-ounce fabrics " for some of their daytime models. “Five-ounce fabric'' means, literally, that five ounces of wool go to each yard of material. This is a comforting thought in the present day of grace when the feminine slogan is: Light-weight garments and complete freedom! Since only about three yards of material are required for the modern gown, the onepound limit is barely reached. Incidentally, these new fabrics take on various attractive guises; you can have one that looks like covert cloth, another with all the appearance of supple repp, and still another that'pretends to be twill. All are soft and pliable, and can be gathered, tucked, pleated, or gauged with complete success. They make excellent travelling toilettes.

Thore is no end to the variety in which printed silks and crepes are to be obtained. Dots, darts and diamonds, blurred flower patterns, plaids, checks and “China'' designs —these last reproducing faithfully the patterns affecteij by old china tea-cups —are equally in the mode, and make delightful house and rest gowns. '

Another novelty is the silk voile with raised dots in velvet of a contrasting colour. Tissues are likewise treated with designs in transparent velvet, while chiffon and ninon lend themselves admirably to similar embellishment. These fabrics are ideal- for the picturesque dance frocks of the moment/ An attractive compromise between two popular colours —bois de rose and beige —has been reachod in the new shade known as rose-beige. As its name suggests, it possesses most of the r of the former, toned down by the move subdued charms of the latter. A very engaging little frock in this tint was shown to me recently; it was developed in crepon, very simply cut on jumper-suit lines and finished with starched white linen collar and cuffs. * Another shade that promises to be popular this season is “Moon-jade,'' a pretty name for a very pretty colour. It is a cross between night blue and jade green, and when it definitely appears in the salons it cannot fail to find a large following amongst women who prefer slightly darker and more 'hardwearing' colours. The neckline affected by the newest daytime models will prove a source of joy to women who do not care for too much shoulder display. Some are cut to fit snugly round the base of the throat; some arc gathered into lialter collars of self-material: others are finished with adorable little lingerie col-

lars edged with fine lace, or lightly embroidered; others again have small roll collars, which reach almost to the point of the shingle at the back, fit closely to the neck at the sides and leave open a deep V in front, which is filled in with a lace or chiffon vestee.