SUMMER FASHIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17955, 3 December 1921, Page 4 (Supplement)

SUMMER FASHIONS.

V{e are nothing if not Oriental in the fashions of our rest gowns, for which garments and also for the latest teagowns and even dinner frocks we have turned appreciative eyes on Egypt. But it is quite a Parisianised view of Egypt; straight draperies covered with mystorious designs which might, if' tlie imagination be sufficiently elastic, bo called hieroglyphics, the material semi-transpar-ent, and the designs stamped in metal or worked in metallic threads and beads. One might achieve an .admirable restgowii of this order with the- aid of coarse silk net, or voile de soie, and one of those metallic scarves which are sold in all the pseudo-Oriental shops. The important thing is that the upper draperies should be glittering and heavy enough to fall in absolutely straight folds. All the best rest-gowns of to-day are made on exaggeratedly simple lines, even though they often look very elaborate and oven ornate. There is a shaped,, hut not tight, underdress and a sack overdress, which, more often than nut, has a narrow, square Irain at the back. This " sack " is caught in rather low down over the hips with u handsomo girdle and—there you arc. Nothing to crush or get out of place; just the loveliest and most comfortable lest or tea gown a woman could possess. To emphasise the Egyptian idea, the hair is cleverly twisted up lo give something of a bobbed effect, and flat bands of velvet or metallic ribbon strewn with coloured stones are passed round the head and invisibly fastened. Millinery Notes. Waxed flowers are the very newest— and, incidentally, the most expensivetrimming for summer millinery. They are quite lovely; but then you know that bridal wreaths of orange blossoms are always things of real and rare beauty, and these other (lowers are made In exactly the samo way. Sometimos just a single Camellia or a great magnolia blossom will bo set at Iho side of a plain black satin toque; and then again a whole bunch of amazingly natural azaleas will be fastened in front of the high crown of a straw hat, while dangling below on the brim will be some frankly unnatural cherries, varnished into brilliant blackness. Enormous ear-rings formed of two circlets of jet are now being bung—not from tlio ears (so the weightincss of the ornaments need not worry you), but. from the inner circle of the hat-brim, where they are so placed that ttiey sway and shino just beneath the ears, or rather the curve of hair which hides every self-respecting ear these daya and nights. The new large hats are very, very large—positively an old " Merry Widow" model could take shelter behind ono of them and novev be seen at all! But tho other fashion-favoured extreme to their daring picturesqueness is a demure-looking, small shape, in, for example, grey crepe de chino with, a grey feather fastened in front of the crown by a full-blown delicately-pink rose. The New Sleeves. Sleeves, slashed, Van Dycked, long, short, and slit, are the vogue of the hour. The angel sleeves and the long, loose sleeves with wide cuffs shown in several variations are worn, usually on outer garments. A new sleeve, open once from shoulder to wrist, with a white arm slipping through the soft folds of the silk, is quite lovely. For years the sleeve has been neglected, having killed all human interests in itself by the monstrosities of balloon and leg o' mutton, but the grace of the new sleeve, softly draping, so that one feels, when one does not see, the arm beneath it, promises it a brilliant future. It is a lovely thing of brilliant silks., dripping with'fringe, pricked with pearls if you will, embroidered and soutached, and is really the most important part of the. dress. Collarsof large roses finish smart afternoon or evening cloaks. Lace is a great favourite for smart dresses for afternoon or evening wear, and some beautiful models have been evolved with black Chantilly. Waxed muslins and waxed taffetas and satins are still immensely worn. A muslin frock in a greenish-yellow shade is girdled with black varnished leather — these little girdles are very much the fad just now in red, green, or black.