TREND OF MODERN FASHION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19608, 9 April 1927, Page 6 (Supplement)

TREND OF MODERN FASHION.

THE AQUAMARINE CRAZE. NOTES FROM LONDON AND PARIS. (BPECIA.Ii TO S.Z. HEIJAXD. —COPYRIGHT. > LONDON. February 21. What a lot of " Sunburn" powder must be stacked away on shelves, for it is fashionable to be pale in Paris these days. If one did not know that the mannequins are spoiled and petted by everyone, you would imagine that long hours in stuffy rooms was the cause of that mysterious air of delicacy. I think it must have been acquired to wear with the fashionable aquamarine.

There is a perfect rage for these wistful blue stones, and,you see them everywhere. Gleaming on white throats and

The velvet tailor-made is one of the season's novelties. The one sketched is carried out in a lovely shadß of maroon velvet for the coat over skirt and waistcoat of {fine cloth in a paler shade of brown and ishirt of deep ivory crepe.

fingers, hanging on a ribbon fob, at the shoulder or hip, forming huge buckles on belts, or holdiifg a curl in place on the temple. Women who wear them seem to acquire such an intriguing I m not very strong" look that one feels dowdy and almost inclined to apologise for really good health. If you take your pearl necklace to Paris you will find it quite out of fashion. Pearls have left our necks, and trim our dresses, for literally millions of all sizes and colours are being used. Pearl boleros swing above pink satin skirts, which are in turn swaying with pearl fringes, for the mode is very jewelled. Coloured bracelets are worn matching the embroidery on a dress. A necklet composed of three graduated rows of flexible gold put into one clasp, with a dozen or more on each wrist, is a popular craze. Blondes wear them on black frocks, and brunette:; have the same in silver. You congratulate yourself on having discovered a cheap but very effective fashion, until, after screwing ones courage high enough to inquire the price of a disdainful mannequin, she murmurs " A thousand francs a set." So you hurriedly turn your interest to jewelled braid, which is being sewn in narrow rows round tight sleeves. It is patterned like the bracelets and in many cases studded with stones that glitter realistically. One of the novelties of the Paris shows this season is for several mannequins to appear together, wearing the same model carried out in different colours. "Mother" md " Daughter" wearing precisely the same frock, but whereas " Daughter" wears a chain of aquamarines round her throat, and softly waving coiffure, " Mother" has a straight shingle, only faintly waved at the tips, and a choker necklet of amber. Such is the subtle simplicity of the mode that both look suitably gowned. Colours are lovely this season, especially some of the blues, which take on all the shades of a delphinium bed, and the delicate greens of bud and young leaf.

In spite of this there is a very strong fancy. for black, and black and white, for afternoon and evening wear in town, and it is very hard to beat fcr smart simplicity. Materials are trul}' beautiful, and the most noticeable difference is that the vast majority of designs are quite small. Such a contrast to last season's bold and dashing designs. We have had snake, lizard, and crocodile skins for our shoes and handbags, and now they have made yelvet, silks, and lame to exactly represent these reptile skins, even reproducing them in ribbons and chiffon scarves. You should be receiving them in New Zealand by now, and will find they look particularly well with navy blue and soft green, I saw a delightful ensemble of navy velvour and lizard skin crepe. The jumper was entirely made of the lizard skin, with V neck, wrists and waist finished with narrow belt 3 of the navy fastened with small steel buckles, over a navy velour skirt that had three flat box pleats across the front. The slim coat of navy was lined with lizard silk and collared with soft grey fox. Lizard skin shoes, and a navy felt hat with a simple band of real lizard skin fastened with steel buckles completed the picture. Some of the top coats are made of lovely checks and plaids in such original shadings, and these plaids are being used a great deal for skirts with odd coloured coats. The plaiJ being generally repeated on the collar and revers, or scarf collar. This " odd-coloured top" is very prevalent in the case of coats, dresses and jumpers, and the latest fad is to make the top the darker colour. Little velvet coats with cloth skirts or dresses are much worn, and often elaborated with collars and cuffs of a short-haired fur. To stamp a garment this season take the fur ail down the front of the coat, even on short coats.

The ensemble dress and long coat is to be worn as much as ever. It seems an absolute necessity to the smart woman nowadays, and does not look like going out of fashion for a long time. However, the short coat is going to be both smart and popular. Some designers hang these little coats straight from the shoulders while others mould them a little more closely to the natural figure. They certainly have a jaunty air with the short skirt, and look awfully well in coloured velvets over contrasting dresses. I have sketched one for you this week which is an ideal suit for the early winter days. Carried out in a lovely shade of marron velvet for the coat, over a skirt and waistcoat of fine cloth two tones of lighter brown, with a jumper of deep creme crepe. A brown velvet "topper" to match with two shades of gros grain ribbon at the side. The second sketch is one of the newest top 'coats of a lovely plaid of wine and beige shades, the deep shawl collar of natural badger continuing all down the front, and cuffs to match.—Siblia.