Fashion Abroad Shows Slim Skirl Styles

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 62, 15 March 1938, Page 11

Fashion Abroad Shows Slim Skirl Styles

LIPSTICK COLOURS POPULAR Short and pencil-slim skirts are indicated for the new season. Necklines are high and waistlines indefinite for the moment, though the most popular style seems to be the high Empire effect. Afternoon styles are severe, but mads of soft materials such as lace and the flimsy fabrics and are often decorated by heavy jewellery of barbaric design. A broach at the neckline often has its twin at the side. Coats have two silhouettes, both owhich are rather short. In ono skirts are full and bodices tightly fitting; the other in the wrap-over style of 10 years ago. Most coats are collarless and the only fur used is on the front panels, or around the hem. The classic suit is not so popular. The newest styles are waisted, softly tailored, and more jaunty and youthful. Jackets follow the curves of the figure with soft but not crisp revers. Skirts are short and tend to drain-pipe lines. The soft wools, both in fancy figued and plain handknit, are very much to the fore and the stitches vary from flat herringbone chevrons to diagonal stripes, tweed effects, fancy ribbing and honeycomb. Contrasts in amber yellows and smart greens are a good choice for country wear or town morning suits accessories usually conforming to the contrast. Pale pink is still smart with navy, while grey and navy is another good combination. The removable coat that .is not removed still makes the favourite evening tailornmde, one example of which remains necessary for every smart wardrobe. Patou has a smart dinner suit in thin black -wool, with tailored bolero, the front of the dress embroidered in bright gold metal, some hanging loose and being repeated on the sleeves. Piguet has a little stand-up collar to some boleros, sometimes of black velvet.

Metal Mesh Gowns For afternoon and evening parties, * silver, copper, steel and gold metal mesh make brilliant gowns, often in diagonal stripes. High necks, long sleeves and copious fur trimmings give the dinner gowns a very slender line. Bonnet caps go with them. Among Norman Hartnell’s newest evening models ins a dinner gown in raspberry red lace, with sqcare decolletage and long tight sleeves. It is finished with a huge sash in ice-blue satin and tho same material forms an edging to the decolletage. Another gown in white satin, is backless, except for narrow shoulder straps, and has a sash turned over at the centre-front. The ensemble is completed by a kneo-longth capo of white fox. Another dress in white crepe, called Juno, makes its wearer look like a Greek statue come to life. A dress called “Whitewash” is in white rosalba, cut on long clinging lines, with groups of vertical pin tucking, divided by tucks 3in wide. Sixty per cent of the evening dresses are white. One of the leading evening dresses is the “cagoule” or hood, lately introduced by Paris houses as a comment on events. On long fur capes, hoods are lined with vivid contrasting colours to the ensemble or with metal brocades. Also popular is the black velvet smoking jacket embroidered with arabespues in glittering sequins. Stockings are to be dark this season, and it is prophesied that legs ■ will be mushroom coloured, It' the j proviso that the hose must be thin. 1 Reddish stockings - ill also make their

appearance, -nd white or dark blue shoe leather is predicted, together with some deep wine tones, related to the wool, silk and stocking ranges, and a suede which is a deep, almost black, mauve.

The British Colour Council says that we shall wear dresses and suits and coats in lipstick red or turf green or goldglint. They also announce six tones of purple, from clover to clematis.