LONDON FASHION NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16026, 18 September 1915, Page 6 (Supplement)

LONDON FASHION NOTES.

Whoever it- is who is responsible for the fashions, they have certainly succeeded this year in stamping 1915 on all the newmodels. It is impossible to wear laet season's frock with the pleasing consciousnets that, owing to its freshness, it might pass for a new grown, for the discerning eye will at once detect its date. It is infinitely more important to have pretty, dainty, becoming clothes than merely fashionable ones. It is possible to look very fashionable, yet exceedingly unprepossessing. Too great a straining after originality is also a mistake. At one time people dressed far too much all alike, and did not seem to have any ideas of their own. Now they sometimes seem to plunge into the other extreme and to have but one aim before them in choosing a garment, namely, to have something no one else has. If they stopped to consider they might sometimes come to the conclusion that the reason their particular choice had been avoided Trae because it was too sin- • gular to suit the good taste of the majority.

Original Notions.

Those who have original notions will find that as a rule it is best to reserve them for the details of the toilette, and not exercise them on the broad outlines of the design. In this way one's, garments do not strike the eye of the observer in a way that is quite as likely to be unpleasing as pleasing, but convey a sense of good taste and general harmony. One woman seen in London recently had a navy blue coat and skirt, the former made full and distinguished from mediocrity by the wide patent- leather belt which loosely encircled the waist. At the back this was buttoned at either side un to the coat by three black bone buttons. The simple hat was also very smart, a sailor shape of navy taffetas with tjje brim piped with lime green, and the band encircling the crown similarly edged at the top.

A Pique Vest. Another suit was made extremely stylish by reason of a white pique vest, buttoned down the front with a close row of white bone buttons. While a third coat and skirt, this time in Shantung, owed its chic to the three amber buttons which fastened the coat. This was quite plain and very slightly curved to a blunt point at the back. It occurs to me that any of these ideas could be applied to garments already in the possession of a reader.

In gowns, also, one noticed that it was j frequently some detail that attracted one ! towards the wearer and made one think ' how nice she looked. A ladv simplv J gowned in black seemed particularly well | turned out, and, on closer inspection, one ! came to the conclusion that it was the j collar of her frock which gave it its char- j acter. It was of ivory net with a high j Napoleonic effect at the back, the turn-; over part having a line of Jin wide black velvet placed near the lower edge. Stripes in Fashion. Fashion seems determined that we shall be seen in stripes. Nearly all the most alluring cottons and muslins are etriped, and it cannot but be admitted that the narrow stripes are. more than charmingWhite, with a narrow black stripe. is very much wornthe skirt not too full, and the coatee (if it is made as a two- ; piece costume) rather short, with wide I spiky "reverse, and a spiky collar, and a j soft lawn or linen blouse of a different ■ colour. These last are very pretty, and | give a welcome note of change. Also, as I they are simply made, without any superfluous trimming, thev are quite "easy to wash at home. In fact, it is far better to give them this personal care. Flounces are being cut in Vandykes, and very pretty they look.- A perfectly. lovely spotted muslin was seen the other day, with three of these flounces arranged beneath a sort ox pointed apron. -