FEMININE FANCIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20058, 22 September 1928, Page 6 (Supplement)

FEMININE FANCIES.

31 BUTTERFLIES OF FASHION. 1 | A HANDKERCHIEF SEASON. ll 3 POPULARITY OF BELTS. S 3 2 [SPECIAL TO N.Z. HEIULD.— COrriilGHT.] i LONDON, Aug. 7. Already the .social season is on the wane, and the butterflies of fashion arc preparing to flit from London and Paris \ m search ot holidays by the sea. Some *4 to enjoy the simple pleasures of boating, ij bathing, tennis and golf; others to join in tho hectic round of pleasure at 0110 'j of tho many fashionable places, which i often involves such constant change of •I dress as to become a toil. •I Sales are tho order of tho day in practii callv every shopping centre, and lovely, i fragile frocks that languished unchoscu < because of our unpromising spring, are being, snapped up by thrifty buyers, who consider themselves blessed to secure such I bargains now that wo aro enjoying tropical weather. Nothing very new is to bo gleaned from the shops, but I have a dotailed report from the latest- mid-season collection in Paris, which gives somo illuminating ! glimpses of future styles. 1 " You would not think there was anything ! new to be said about neck handkerchiefs—but. you aro wrong. According to the i coutourics, this might well be culled tho ■ ! handkerchief season, for Paris jauntily places a scarf or handkerchief round every feminine neck. At the milliner's it is the same. A hat is used for a background for innumerable styles, achieved with a plain or patterned handkerchief or scarf, i Many of these scarves aro sold in sets, ! and the famous house of Worth is making bag? and handkerchief scarves of spotted silk in red and blue, or black and white, or blue, and beige, and will add another " mouchoir" for you to put round your hat. A very new scarf is made from strips of crepe do chine in several colours, and these arc very often used on plain black frocks. I have chosen two very new frocks for mv sketches this week, which illustrate the vogue for stripes and scarves. The long collar at tho back is quite the last word, and is achieved by a scarf made by joining pieces of crepe de chine in various colours. The longer scarf of the second sketch is made of the same material as the gown, with contrasting colours insc-t at each end. Both dresses have the full-flowing line of skirt, which is characteristic of this season's mode. At many of the recent fashionable wed- . diners I have noticed that long lengths of filmy tulle in black or some colour matching the gown have become tremendously popular with the older women, and infinitely becoming thev are to all ages. The large bunch of tulle tied under one ear—which wo used to call a "chonx"—with one long end, trailing down the back, is another becoming revival. Short hair seems to demand something at the back of the neck, and in spite of much talk, women arc keeping their hair short, for the present, ot least. A celebrated coiffeur remarked to me: "How can women change—even if they would for milliners conspire to keep h-\ids small and smooth, and hats just as close-fitting in the head, even ii they allow us a little more brim. Before T nuite leave the subiect of the handkerchief, I must tell you that several of the best dressmakers are using them for belts, sometimes tied with a little knot in front, or a larger one on the j hips. "The " mouchoir" skirt is a great novelty. An immense handkerchief is folded in a iriarts'e. and forms the whole | side of a skirt, and is tied on tho oppo- j site hip. A charming midnight-blue evening gown, made in many sections, each one iike the point of a folded handkerchief, has had a great success.: Midnight blue is a vcrv satisfactory colour for evening. It is serviceable and slendering, and yet not "iust another black frock." Belts, whieh have been such an im- ■ porfant of the mode for some time past, r - ' r r ff'nrod in the newest models seen. F;or> Pans comes a new belt for sports frock®. Narrow, and made of two strins of leather in two co'ours—one being in blue and yellow. In tho front, where , vou would expect to see a buckle, yon have a flat shield of (he two colours, and ] a fat metal buckle in (he back. _ I There are some new suede belts, quite i wide and softly crushed together. One in black suede, seen on a black lacc gown, while another, in palest grey suede, was used to circle a frock of urev chiffon. . Lanvin the picturesque is still faithful to her wide-stitched material or leather belts, and to her patch pockets. As the season advances the floral patterns, already overdone, are gjvimr place io small geometric designs and effects in squares and spots. Quite the most unique pattern was worn by a guest at a smart tea the other afternoon. Tier frock was of dark blue with tiny beige rabbits sitting up on their haunches in row 3 round and round (lie entire dress. This frock had a scarf of- the same material tied at the neck and waist, and one of the new double hats completed (lie ensemble. I have put one of these double hats on one of my sketches—they usually consist of a ticrht-fitting cap of linen, lame, or velvet, with a hat of over-brim added.