PARIS FASHIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 305, 24 November 1937, Page 13

PARIS FASHIONS.

“I am ba-c-lc in Paris after a stay at an English seaside resort, where I was surprised not to see more attractive bathing and beach costumes. Women arc the chief adornment of a French seaside resort and consider themselves as such, and never fail to honour the beautiful setting by wearing beautiful bright and gay beach wear,” says a French woman. “Now let us return to the great capital and see what Paris has planned for the autumn season. New materials, every year, are more and more beautiful. The Pa'ace of Tissues at the International Exhibition presents magnificent fabrics for dresses. The famous Lyons silks are perhaps the most remarkable. All are high-hung on a sort of unfolded screen, their innumerable lames make them look like cascades of gold, silver and many other colours. Some are patterned with Persian designs, very bright threads run through, glittering like precious stones. Others are patterned with large embroidered flowers of lovely shades. Original silks are covered with printed views of France, Chinese scenes and symmetrical .designs in relief. Paris is the big motif of an original black silk, written in broad italic characters, the capital P embroidered in blue, the other letters in yellow. Woollen fabrics are very soft; their texture is quite different this year, threads have been skilfully i handled, multiplied and knotted. The main colours are Burgundy red, rasp-' berry, crow blue, brown like burnt bread, havana. khaki. Green, too, is in favour. Scotland seems to have influenced Paris considerably these two years, for plaid material is still very, fashionable, as well as checkered tissues. “Drapmouche” is a new, beautiful, thin and soft cloth which will be most in favour for dresses this coming season.

“Here are now general details about dresses, coats and hats. Frocks are largely of princess style, with ample skirt, and trimmed with motives made of strass or silvered embroideries. They are made up of two sorts of materials, muslin and velvet. Broad draped close-fitting belts are sometimes the only ornament of a dress. One belt is entirely made of sequins. Evening gowns have the. waist very accentuated and are very ample at the hem. Gathering at the bodice in every way is a. novelty. Ribbons and flowers adorn them. Many dresses have no belt. Tailor-mades present a great variety. One tight-fitting at the waist and a gauged piece of material forming a basque at the back is reminiscent of 1880. Another hsi.s a long jacket, close-fitting at the waist as well as at the flips, and is trimmed with two bands of astrakhan fur and fastens with a zip. Coats have the redingote style. Some are made of two sorts of materials; for instance, doth and velvet, and though they are trimmed with fur thev often have motives made of one of the two fabrics. Hats are very bold, crowns very high for day ‘wear and of different, shapes. They are trimmed with feathers, flowers and ribbons well set in front. They are worn very forward, and the general tendency is a forward slope. On the whole, hats and trimmings are of contrasting colours. The broad turned up velvet of ‘taupe’ (bright and hairy felt) brimmed hats are in great favour for evening wear.”