SOCIAL GOSSIP

Free Lance, Volume XIV, Issue 720, 18 April 1914, Page 14

SOCIAL GOSSIP

By Christabel.

THE fashionable silhouette is changing; there is no doubt about it. Even • in our little far-away' country we are following behind (perhaps .some distance behind) the leaders in the older countries. New goods reveal already in an emphatic degree the * feminine note that has.crept into tailormades. The majority are now. frankly -admitted as the work of-tailooresses, who, while 'especially trained to the essentials of the work, are yet able to infuse a softness of aspect to coats- and skirts which it is the decree shall snow be worn. Moreover, with the turn of the season, we shall see a revival of the coatee, scarcely more than bolero length, v6gues that are making their appearance fast in England and were seen on the Riviera during the just past season. ' * .''*. ' •'■* •''*'.' These "will continue to emphasise the ultra feminine feeling which is creeping back in fashions. In some cases, rather formless little nests of linen are introduced that at the top resolve into highstanding roll collars of the Empire period. But the decollete throat has obvi=•ously a long career still to run, although it : is certainly most', pleasantly t tempered "by these upstanding back collars. The slightly wired Medicis of tulle or ' fine lace, and the collars of delicate batiste,' with drawn thread border, lend a note of distinction at once to the simplest corsage, and another style which is being large adopted is the Napoleon collar. Women who have been, unable to carrv off the decollete throat successfully will most assuredly welcome this new neck treatment, which promises to work still another revolution in the present appi'oved silhouette. . While the Medici finds its happiest expression in lace and

transparent fabrics, the Napoleon, on the contrary, exacts more sturdy stuffs, and is therefore likely to be in considerable evidence in taffetasy crepe-de-chene and thick silk, and they are being made for the coming summer in England in linen and even in casement cloth. Some French blouses shown not long ago had a charming combination of these two collars, for the material stood ur> at the back of the neck and the lace was lightly stitched to this, thus softening, the effect.

The crowded audience which filled-the Grand Opera House last Saturday may have been disappointed with the fare provided. for it, but most people had gone to see the new theatre as much as to see the -play, and in that they could not be disappointed. The blue on the walls is : sufficient'y bright not to give the occupants that colourless look that the dress circle patrons of the old Ooera House wore, and. what is still better, the whole house is* uniformly decorated. The large entrance hall is delightful to the patrons of the stalls, who can slip upstai?-s into the lounge and mingle with the dress circle crowd during the interval, and almost feel that they- are occupants of that part of the house. As for the circle itself, it is delightfully spacious, and the boxes almost make one feel oneself in London or some other large metropolis. Even the occupants of the gallery are satisfied, for their seats have backs, and no longer will it be necessary to risk cramp and other horrors when one's pocket ma'ked one perforce ; rriount to the highest seats in the house. Among the first night's audience I noticed the Mavo- arid Mrs. Luke, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Robertson, toeether with Miss ShirtclifFe and Dr. Robertson, Mr. and Mrs. Derry' (Auckland), Miss Beauchamp, Mr. and Mrs. Digges Smith; Mrs. and the Misses Clark, Mr, and. Miss Haybittle. Miss- Gray, Mr. and Mrs. Levvey, Mrs, and Miss Devine; Mrs. Bridge. Miss Simpson. Miss MiTs. Miss Nash. Mys. Kennedy Macdonald, and Mr. and Miss Barber. .

Tuesday last, the dav after, the holidays, was chosen by Miss Olive Ellison for her wedding with Mr. Douglas Little, which took place in St. Mark's Church. The bride is a''daughter of Mr. J. "W. Ellison, Superintendent of Police, and the bridegroom the son of Mr. Alfred Little, # also of this city. The bride wore a trained, satin grown, with lace, pearls, and the usual .tulle and floral cessories % Her gift from the bridegroom' was a diamond and opal ring. She was

attended by four bridesmaids,,-the-Misses ijilian Hillison, Agnes Leopond, Kate Ellison, andDulcie Neilson (niece). - The first two maids wore pink-crepe-de-chene with brown fur and lace, and white panne hats with fur. and roses. Miss Kate Ellison was in white crepe-de-ehene and white hat, and' the little maid- in white'laee and a mob cap.. Mr. J. Harrison was best man, and"Messrs. P.- Mason and E. Burr were groomsmen. The bridesmaids received pearl earrings from the bridegroom, and a gold bangle was the little girl's present. After .the ceremony the bride's parents held a .reception at their home in' Mrs. EJlison receiving; in a mole coloured silk crown and velvet plumed hat. ,

(Continued from page 14.) Miss May Moss's wedding to Mr. Brodie, which has been much looked forward to, duly eventuated on Wednesday. It took place' at St. Mary's Church, Karori, which still wore its Easter decorations,'and the ceremony was performed by the Rev. Mr. Hansell, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Innes-Jones, of Feilding, who is an uncle of the bride, and whose little daughter was a bridesmaid. The bride, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Moss, of Karori, was robed in the conventional white, a brocaded charmeuse, hanging very softly, with tunic and draperies of lovely lace, caught with orange blossoms. A tulle veil fastened with the same flowers, and a bouquet of white roses, finished the bridal attire. The bride was given away by her father, and attended by three bridesmaids —her sister, Miss Rita Moss, Miss Rhoda Bristowe. and Miss Ruth Innes-Jones. The two elder girls wore very pretty frocks of maize coloured brocaded crepe-de-chene, with sashes of a deep blue shade, the bodices veiled with ninon and a large blue rose caught the fullness in front of the deep belt, a necessary touch just now. Their hats were of black velvet, with tall mounts and a touch of blue. The youngest- maid wore a_ frock of shadow lace veiled in maize coloured ninon, and all carried sheaves of golden brown chrysanthemums and autumn leaves. The bridegroom, who is a son of Mr. James Brodie. of Blackheath, London, was attended by Mr. Blackley, and Mr. Peter Howden. * * * * After the ceremony the guests drove to the home of the bride's parents at .Karori, where Mrs. Moss received them, wearing a gown of white satin, draped with black ninon and shadow lace, with blue belt and a white velours hat with blue plumes. She carried a bouquet of hydrangeas and delphiniums., also carrying out the note of blue. All the rooms were decorated with flowers, beautiful roses, hydrangeas, and hadlias, for which Karori gardens are famous, and a marquee erected on the lawn had white cosmeas. daisies, and roses. Here the healths were drunk, and lon- life and happiness wished the young couple. * * * * . Among the guests were the bride's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. G. Moss, the latter wearing black silk and a violet bonnet, Mrs. Dyer (her aunt) in grey crepe-de-chene and black feathered hat, Mrs. George Didsbury in a black silk coat and skirt and black and white hat, Mrs. A. L. Herdman in saxe blue costume and hat to match, Mrs. Bristowe in a black and white gown and hat with a touch of cerise. Mr. and Mrs. F. Didsbury Mrs. J. Didsbury and Miss Eileen Didsbury, Miss Beryl Innes-Jones, Mrs. Walter Johnston. Mr. Bristowe, Mr. and Mrs. E Blundell, Mrs. W. Blundell, Dr. and Miss McLean, Mrs. and Miss Miles, Mrs. Guy Fulton, the Hon. C. Johnston, the Hon. A. L. Herdman (who proposed the health of the bride's parents and grandparents), Dr. and Mrs. Webster, Miss Z. Nathan, Miss F. D'Oyley, Mrs. and Miss Gavin, Dr. Platts-Mills and Mr. J. Mills. Among the many beautiful -Dresents, enough to stock two or more bridal establishments, was a set of electrical house appliances from Mr. Brodie s office staff, while from the bridegroom himself the bride received a diamond ring, a fur coat, and a fitted dressing bag, the last two most useful for the wedding tour. The going-away eown was a fawn coat and skirt, with blue collar and a fawn and blue hat. Mr. and Mrs. Brodie will live in Aurora-ter-race on their return from their honeymoon. * * * * Councillor John Fuller is wrenching himself away from his civic and private duties by this week'B Sydney boat on a well-earned holiday. When he reaches Australia he may probably extend his jaunt to a cruise across the Pacific to San Francisco, making a six to eight weeks' trip of it. He will be accompanied his sister, Mrs. Boddam, of New Plymouth. * * * * A pretty wedding was solemnised at All Saints' Church of England, Palmerston North, on Easter Monday, when Miss Mabel Hands, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Hands, was wedded to Mr. Roy Jordan, only son of Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Jordan, Christchurch (formerly of Wellington). The bride wore a white cloth costume trimmed with white fur, and hat of white pailette silk trimmed with "white fur and feathers. The bride was attended by her sister, Miss Althea Hands, and Miss Aileen Jordan (sister of the bridegroom), who were attired in navy and white costumes and tango velours hats. The bride and her maids carried white prayer books with white ribbons and flowers (the gift of the bridegroom's mother). The bridegroom's gift to the bride was a ruby pendant and chain, the bridesmaids receiving quaint pearl and platinum brooches. V© bridegroom was attended by Mr. J. 13. Jordan (Wellington) as best man, and Mr. Wilfred Homersham (Christchurch) as groomsman. The bride's mother wore

a navy costume and black panne velvet hat with black mount, Mrs. Jordan the mother of the bridegroom, wearing a dress of black charmeuse and black tagel hat trimmed with panne velvet and feathers. After the ceremony the guests assembled at the residence of the bride's parents, where afternoon tea was served. The happy couple, who were the recipients of a great many valuable presents, including several cheques, left for their home amid showers of confetti and good wishes. * * * * It was an exceedingly kind _ thought of the Mayor and Mayoress to invite all the Carnival workers to a dance, a pleasant re-union after all their hard work, in the Concert Chamber on Wednesday evening. The hall, which has a, much better dancing floor than the big Town Hall, was at its best, and was prettily and yet simply decorated for the occasion. An excellent > supper was served on four tables in the corridor. Dancing went with a swing, as why would it not. when the host and hostess worked with a will to make all' their guests enjoy themselves, and" were ably seconded bv their daughter. There were musical and elocutionary items interspersed between dances, those contributing being Miss Evans, Miss Harvey, and Messrs. Bernard Page, G. W. Eiley, 0. C. Mazengarb, and K. Shorney. * * * * Mrs. Luke wore a gown of grey charmeuse, trimmed with silk embroideries; Miss Luke was in pink silk and ninon; Mrs. A. L. Herdman, white satin, with overdress of black embroidred ninon_ and green belt; Mrs. C. M. Luke, junr. (Auckland), black crepe-de-chene; Mrs. Morton, pale pink charmeuse, with biscuit coloured ninon and lace; Mrs. O'Shea, rose pink satin and lace overdress. Among the guests also were: Mr. J. Mills and Dr. Mills, the Hon. A. L. Herdman, Mr. and Mrs. David McLaren Mr. and Mrs. R. Fletcher, Mr. and Mrs. Barber, Mr. and Mrs. Buddie, Dr. and Mrs. Whyte. Mr. M. Luckie, Mrs. Townsend, Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Salek, Mrs. Whitelaw, Mrs. and Miss Bock, Miss Davis, Miss F. Butts, Miss L. Clark, Miss Fossette, Mrs. ±*ascoe, Mr. Marquis and Mr. Amos. * * > * * The marriage of Miss Kathleen Millar to Mr. Norman McLean takes nlace in St. Aidan's Church, Remuera, Auckland, nxt Thursday afternoon. And afterwards the Hon. J. A. and Mrs. Millar are giving a reception at Wingatui, "Victoria-avenue, Remuera. * * # * An Australian girl, seeing the sights of Paris for the first time, has had her eyes opened. She went to the races in the Gay City. Listen to what she says in a letter to a friend:—"Talk about stvle at race meetings. We went there on Sunday. I wish you could have seen the women. Their ospreys cost hundreds of thousands of pounds all told; and the furs —there must have been over a million's worth there. As regards the dresses, some had their skirts split up past the knees, showing diamond buckle garter and four inches of—other garments. Others had tights on, the dresses snlit up to the waist, and shadow lace let in. Nothing in the way of underskirt, of course, and paint and powder by the ton. < Their lips were not red —they were vivid crimson; and their faces seemed to be done up to match their gowns." * * * # Our young citizens have taken the tango craze badly, for this season at any rate, and the main question will be, "Do you tang?" Already one teacher alone has half a dozen classes for learning this fascinating dance, and several tango parties have already taken place. Just a dozen or so enthusiasts, of course, only those who have learnt the same steps, and practice takes place most assiduously. This will mean, is we tango at all, that one's partners will be restricted to two or three out of a ballroom, and when the same young people begin dancing some six or eierht dances with one partner, what will the chaperones say? ' ■ * * * * Well, really, has it come to this—that slashes on evening skirts are doomed, and that the infinitesimal wisp of material usually used for_ the bodice is the very piece that is going to fill the p-ap? It looks extremelv likeit, writes a, Melbourne correspondent. A lady recently seen in the stalls at the Melbourne Theatre Royal is the pioneer _ of the new mode. ' Instead of a bodice, she wore

what appeared to be a rising billow of tulle that hungr to her figure, by what means only she and her dressmaker alone know. Not the vestige of a sleeve, not the pretence of a shoulder-strap to mark the spot where a bodice might reasonably be expected to have some association with its wearer. Toilette authorities tell us that trousers are surely coming for women's wear, but at the present pace it looks as though precious little is coming, but most things vanishing from the feminine wardrobe. * * * * A friend visiting the London shops inveighs thusly against the present fashion in evening gowns she sees there : — "When one comes seriously to consider the new evening gowns, it would seem almost as though the work of describing them had been reduced by about onehalf. Lovely as the fabrics are which are being employed for the more or less —but generally more—elaborate evening skirts of the moment, the bodices with which these skirts will be worn have been reduced, as an arithmetician might say. to the lowest possible denomination. With strings of pearls or a light trellis work of fine diamante arranged as shouldre straps, even the merest apology for a sleeve has taken to itself wings and flown away. And for the rest —well, there is hardly any rest worth mentioning. Just a little light veiling of transparent tulle or chiffon, ai handkerchief square of lace, a touch, but no more, of glittering embroidery, and with_ the inevitable giant flower at the waist—and you have the evening bodice which is considered, in Paris at all events, as the embodiment of all that is ultra chic. * » * * "It. was only to be expected, after all, at a time when morning and afternoon gowns are worn in the street with decollete necks and transparent sleeves that in order to differentiate them from evening -frocks, the latter should be arranged with bodices which have been reduced almost to vanishing point; but some kind of check is certainly needed to the 'disrobing' tendency of the present mode. If things go- from bad to worse, as they seem likely to do, there might be some chance perhaps this Lent for Father Bernard Yaughan to play the part of a modern Savonarola. In that delightful garden space surrounding the church of the Jesuit Fathers in Farmstreet. there would be plenty of room to burn hundreds of the latest Paris model evening crowns, one of which, or so the story goes, can now be folded into an ordinary glove-box!"

! ' • Quite a.rush of weddings occurred last • iweek just before the faster holidays. ,;Miss Betty Purdom and Mr. J. Culford Bell' were quietly married at St. Peter's Church, so quietly that the occasion al- ; most savoured of a Gretna Green elope- • merit. After the knot-tying ceremony • the happy pair hurried off to enjoy 'themselves at Rotorua. Then at St. • Mark's Church, 'Miss M. Temple Brown, once of the Wellington Hospital nursing staff, was married to Dr. Lindon, of Dunedin, the Rev. A. L. Askew •Securing the/ nuptial knot. Also, at St. Peter's Church, Miss Gertie Schpch was married to Mr. Andrew Craig Taylor, only son of Mr. and Mrs. James Taylor. The bride has been an employee of the New Zealand Express Company, and received a presentation from the rest of the office staff on leaving to be married. Mrs. Schoch, her mother, an official, visitor at the Mental Hospital, was the first secretary of the ."Women's Political Reform League in its baby days. She gave her daughter away, and Miss Ella Taylor was bridesmaid, and Mr. P. Mulhane best man. Undeterred by the fear of cold weather, lie bride and bridegroom went off 'honeymooning' to the southern lakes. * * * * Of the very quiet nature, too, was the ■wedding of Miss Hilda Batchelor to Mr. Fred Edwards, both Nelsonitesj who "were married on Saturday morning at :;St. • Paul's pro-Cathedral. Mr. Leo. Buckeridge, the bridegroom's brother-in-law, gave away the bride, and afterwards acted in loco parentis ' at the wedding ! feast held at his house. Mr. W. Espia gs best man attended the bridegroom. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards left directly afterwards for Picton, where they will spend a short holiday. * * * * A yery pretty Easter wedding was that •of Miss Ethel Devine, elder daughter of Mrs. J. J. Devirie, Wellington, which took 'place at St. Mary of the Angels, " Boulcott-street, on Easter Monday morning, the bridegroom being Mr. Edward ' Joseph Prendergast, of the legal firm of . Devore, Martin, and Prendergast, Auck r land. The Rev. Dean Regnault and Archbishop O'Shea, assisted by Archdeacon Devoy, conducted the ceremony and the nuptial mass which followed. The bride was given away by ■her .eldest brother, Mr. B. J. Devine, and wore a bridal gown of ivory brocade, draped and trimmed with lace, and a white hat with large ostrich plumes. She carried a bouquet of white . -flowerß. * * * * Miss Kathleen Devine was bridesmaid, and wore a blue costume and white figured waistcoat with lace collar, and a black velours hat, trimmed with blue feathers, and her bouquet was of blue shaded flowers. Mr. W. W. Cook attended the bridegroom. Mrs. Devine rwore a navy blue gown trimmed with lace, and a black panne hat with black and white feathers, and she a / "bouquet of pink roses. Only relatives and a few yery personal friends were S resent at the wedding breakfast at Irs. Devine's house on the Terrace, after which Mr. and Mrs. Prendergast started by motor on their journey north, the bride wearing ai navy serpre coat and skirt, and a lone fur coat and fur cap. The motor car the happy couple left in was the bride's own; it # was a present to her from the bridegroom, who also gave her a diamond ring. The "bridesmaid's present from the same source was a gold bangle. * * * * Mr. A. L. Lankshear, son of Mr. W. J. Lankshear, was married last week to Miss G. E. Chinchen, daughter of Mr. R. A. Chinchen, of Island Bay. The -ceremony was performed by "the Rev. J. Ward, in the Trinity Methodist Church, which the bride's girl friends had decorated prettily with flowers. The bridal robe was the usual white _ satin and accessories, a court train being worn. The "" bridesmaids, Miss Phyllis Chinchen and Miss Ellen Lankshear, wore frocks of white striped eolienne and black hats trimmed with ermine. Their bouquets were of golden brown cactus dahlias,

and their gift 6 were gold bangles. Mr. F. Rogers was best man, and Mr. B. R. Lankshear groomsman. * * * * Quite a budget of small tea parties transpired about the middle of last week. Lady Findlay r who left en route to England on Thursday night, was farewelled just before by Lady Stout, and also by Miss Dalziell; the same day Mrs. Dall has a small tea party for her daughter, and Mrs. F. Samuel invited a few friends to farewell Mrs. C. B. Russell and her daughter, who also left for Sydney .on Thursday. . This last was a particularly happy little function, for sickness has prevented Mrs. Russell from seeing her friends for many months. The guest of honour was wearing a charming frock. of black crepe de chene, with collar and gathered revere of white shadow lace veiled in black ninon, and a white plume adorned her black hat.