FASHION'S FRAIL FANCIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19732, 3 September 1927, Page 6 (Supplement)

FASHION'S FRAIL FANCIES.

THE V-SHAPED NECK.

LOVELY BOUFFANT SKIRTS.

MILADY'S BEADED HANDBAG

[SPECIAL TO N.Z. HERALD. —COPYRIGHT.] 3, LONDON. July 25. 1927. Goodness, what a week! How can one view pretty clothes when the elements will persist in making mackintoshes so ' necessaary; Thunder, lightning, a delugo of" rain every few minutes and then tropical heat; of course wo know—or, at least wo hopeit cannot last. Nothing lasts except the longing for dainty frocks, but our all too brief season for wearing them is rushing on at such a perilous rate, that we could weep for our lost opportunities if there were not already far too mnch moisture in tho air! Paris has fared as badly as London, so that many Parisiennes have lingered longer in tho city than usual—it is hard to make up

one's mind to rusticate by the sea or in the country when the very necessary sunshine seems such an uncertain quantity. However, we all need change of ; scene, so .gather as much excitement as possible over holiday clothes, for if one goes to the fashionable Deauville, the tiny beach report, or shooting in Scotland, one must have bathing suits, sports suits, and wonderful evening gowns. I was shown a holiday trousseau selected by a well-known society woman who flits from one fashionable resort to another, and so has to select a fairly varied collection of clothes. One little frock. was simplicity itself design, but bristling with costly details. Made of old rose silk, it had a bioused top, and a cunningly pleated skirj. the pleats practically hidden under narrow panels. There were bigf pockets on each side with flaps that buttoned over a suede bell The buttons themselves were things of beauty, being of pink quartz and rimmed with marquisate, while a row of similar buttons ran down the front. This frogk had a coat of powder blue tussore lined with the same silk as the frock and collared with powder blue ermine, and the colour combination was delightful. Another frock was in " candy striped" shantung silk with a belt of chased silver, and a coat of carnation red shantung, the exact shade of the deepest stripe in ;the dress silk. This jumper had the very new V-shaped neck which is steadily gaining ground. There was a lovely evening frock in pale lemon chicon dotted all over with flowers embroidered jn orange silks and diamante work. Such a daring colour scheme for a blonde with a pale complexion. It was abnormally short in front and at the right side, with a loose panel swinging from the left hip, which ended in a diamond tassel that trailed the ground. Cleverly attached to v a diamond shoulder strap was another panel which was thrown round the neck scarf fashion. A dashing little bathing suit was made in two coloured jersey cloth, rather after the fashion of a football shirt, and the accompanying wrap was a cape with a monk's hood collar of the pale shade, lined with waterproof taffeta the. same colour as the deeper tone in the jersey suit.- 5 The modern woman refuses to be hampered by any rules or regulations as to just what she may not wear, and so dress is delightfully varied. By day she may look trim and boyish in a slim skirt, Angora sweater, and well cut tweed coat. The afternoon will see her still straight and slim, but in the daintiest of lace or chiffon frocks, while in the evening she may break out into quite a different silhouette by appearing in a long bouffant skirt, probably flounced from waist to hem, and almost sweeping the 'ground at the back, but daintily lifted in front, allowing perfect freedom, for she will not allow any fashion to interfere with convenience. Milliners are delighted with the advance information that all hats are to be trimmed next season. No doubt we shall feel strange at first, and 'shall probably need more hats, for the plain little felts suited, so many frocks and moods. We shall have just a little trimming gently insinuated on to the early autumn models, such as a plaque of flowers placed right over one ear on a close fitting hat and which looks tremendously smart. Then thesov are the little hats of black horse hair, or taffeta with their tiny eye veils of lace: These are awfully kind to the woman who is past her first youth, casting a gracious shadow round tired eyes. Turbans are returning to favour which is welcome news, for of al! the really tight fitting hats these are the most becoming, and one can get an infinite variety of the same style. The skull cap is* far too difficult to wear, and I am sure it will never survive another season. Handbags are becoming quite ornate again, and many elaborate types of bead hags are appearing. This is usually the case when 'frocks and hats become more dressy.