SPEAKING OF STYLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 16 March 1939, Page 2

SPEAKING OF STYLE

(By Eleanor Gunn I STYLES OF QUEEN VICTORIA’S ERA SET ROMANTIC MODE FOR 1939. NEW YORK—Noonewould have been more surprised than Queen Victoria herself to know that she was responsible for many of the 1939 fashions. You may choose to be Early Victorian, Mid Victorian, or Late Victorian, but which ever mode you decide on, you’ll be fashionable. When you remember that Victoria was queen for 64 years, it is easy to understand why fashions that are wide-skirted and others that are slimmer-skirted are both accurately referred to as “Victorian.” This is interesting to bear in mind this season when you see the crinolines that are 1 Victorian of the earlier years of the period, while the less voluminous skirts date the terminating years. JEWELLERY IS WORN And it is these latter, reflecting 1898 specifically, that provide the background of many of the fashions for Autumn, such as the narrow, tightlyfitted silhouette with narrow shoulders; leg o’ mutton sleeves; high necklines; fitted, small waists; long sleeves, square yokes, embroideries and braids; small hats that plunge forward on highcombed hair, quilted taffeta and glittering jewellery. Hats such as these are delighting those who can wear them and are the despair of those who can’t. At the moment, fashions of 1900 seem most appropriate for present day usage. As a matter of fact, it is amusing in this democratic era to find the fashion world so completely gaga over queens. They are making, as you will recall, a tremendous furore over Marie Antoinette costume types, and most recently lovely Alexandra hqs been mentioned. This reference to the wife of King Edward VII, whose reign followed Victoria’s, was made in the hats which the chic Duchess of Kent has lately been wearing, bringing again into focus the persistence of the late Victorian and Edwardian periods in the current fashions. TOUCH OF SCOTCH No need to remind you that Queen Elizabeth of England is responsible for the Scottish flavour one detects here and there. PARIS —Catherine Parell offers town coats in light coloured woollens, such as almond or pale greyish green. These have large fur collars, and the coats are worn over brown dresses. Other types shown are slim, supple evening gowns in black crepe with coloured and silver incrustations. Black afternoon dresses of woollens or pebbly silk crepes are trimmed with tassels and motifs of coloured metal. Novel themes in veilings and in made veils are paramount. Colour is highly important, particularly the cyclamen or fuchsia colouring; the blue and wine family, deepening to purple. Often these are used together in huge chenille dots on a fine mesh, or in other patterns to made veils. The combination scheme is also noted in what is termed here “hand-painted” effects in veiling by the yard. This is 54 inches wide, and is available as fuschia, green and beige. Shadow and open meshes are shown, and there is a tendency to use Chantilly lace appliques in borders to allover designs. Tiny flowers are appliqued on borders for colour, or tiny self-colour birds are scattered over the meshes. LIDS THAT LAUNDER Putting a hat into the washtub sounds like something the Mad Duchess of Alice’s Wonderland might do. Yet many of the smartest millinery modes are designed for quick sudsing and rinsing and easy ironing. After a thorough workout with the rest of the family laundry they have the bandbox look that has become a prime essential of high style. ** * * If you get caught in the rain when you are wearing your fur coat don’t try to dry it too quickly. Let it dry slowly in a warm room, not near the fire. Then brush it gently with a soft brush or shake it well.