LONDON FASHION NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15551, 7 March 1914, Page 6 (Supplement)

LONDON FASHION NOTES.

CISOII OTO OWN correspondent.!} , London, January 20. New Charms. According to the Cri de Paris, the latest Parisian craze in the way of charms and amulets is a ladybird or a white mouse. In order to be really lucky the ladybird must, have seven spots on its wing-cases seven being a lucky and prophetic number. The white mouse lias found much esteem as a New Year trinket, embedded in its perfumed case or sachet, bearing the legend " I bring luck to all who carry me." The ladybird is also found as an ornament on cigarette cases, purses, brooches, and various useful things which are to be found upon every well-equipped writing-table. Ladybird sleeve-links, set in gold, are attractive. The enamels of which them charms art* made are not set flatly in the ordinary way, Out are given a raised effect, so that the greatest amount of light is reflected in them, giving tlie fullest possible brilliancy of colour. Some of the trinkets have a foundation of varying metals—gold, silver, platinum, and so on. Enamelled pendants and brooches are in small demand over-popularity and comparatively indifferent workmanship at small prices have had something to do with their decline in favour. But there are! still many charming engine-turned enamelled watches ornamented with delicate marcassite setting earned out in fine steel and silver work, making a pleasing union. These take the form round plaque pendants, on the centre of which are set watches of the thickness of a florin, their I beautiful coloured enamelled backs imparting a vivid splash of bnaiant colour. Suspended by delicate enamelled linked chains these watch pendants are the latest fad, adopted by every smart woman one meets. There are still a good many enamelled ball watches to be had set in floral-adorned cases on a white background, reminiscent of the most charming examples of old Battersea enamel designs. * A Hew Dollar. , Our wraps and tailored coats and dresses and blouses and coatees seem incomplete now unless the.® is some kind of collar as a finish. Hence there is the medici for those who like the upstanding effect, the flat sailor collar for those who like a finish on the shoulders, the high military pat tern with a turn over top for those who like to be snug round the throat. And these collars are made of every conceivable fabric from transparent wired tulle, almost invisible lace, to brocaded silks and velvets. But the sensation of the moment is the collar—so-called—that has been inspired by the ecclesiastical cape. There. is not much of it in front, bat there is a great deal behind, or, without any pretence to fit, it comes well up the back of the neck, widens out on the shoulders, and then by degrees is mitred off to a point which iB finished with a long taesel which falls for some distance down the back._ There are cuffs of important dimensions sold to correspond. No one who is acquainted with the cape will be much enamoured of the idea of this collar, for it gives its male wearers a high and round-shouldered effect, and no doubt the same undesirable appearance will be imparted to women and girls who decide to try it. The main trouble is the absence of fit at the back of the neck.

a Many jewels of the semi-precious order and of much originality, are used at the moment in very, long strings— jade, cornelian, amber, lapis lazuli, crystal, and many other varieties, are to be seen. Sometimes the -string of amber—large beads of clouded variety—is tied once at the taroat and then falls ail the way to the very hem of the wearer's dress, witn ornaments at intervals to break the monotony—ornaments of gold or crystal, or turquoise. Beads of pierced ivory make handsome necklets, and some fine specimens are to be seen, 1 ..

The summer sales offer a very good opportunity of buying dress lengths of lovely damask and other materials suitable for the picturesque frock illustrated here. The colour is Gobelin blue with draperies drawn beneath a fur and silken sash of gold tissue caught through a huge gold ltudded silk buckle on the right hip. "