FACETS OF FASHION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 6 (Supplement)

FACETS OF FASHION.

INDIVIDUALITY. DECORATIVE EMBROIDERY. [srECIAL TO N.Z. HERALD.—COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, Feb. 22. With snowstorms and "blizzards, bitter winds and frozen rivers, spring fashions in Europo are rather at a discount. Still most of us have reached the stage ■when everything in tho wardrobe is looking dashed and threadbare, especially day clothes. Tho pretty printed velvets which wo all chose so eagerly at the beginning of the winter are somewhat passe—you can have too much oven of a good thing, and we are just the tiniest bit tired of them. 'I ho newest frocks show a tendency to plain materials, getting the effects by strong contrasting colours or two materials. But wo have not yet finished with printed materials,' for many designs in satin are being made up for immediate wear. Fashion in frocks are marking time at the moment, but everywhere 1 notice a great tendency toward the higher waist line. It is not quite the;normal line, just a little below it, and therefore does not " cut up " a short-waistcd woman so much. This .will bo a season of greater individuality than wo have had for years. One finds little distinctive touches on the frocks that stamp each one as different from its neighbour, and tho return of the little dressmaker is foreshadowed. It may be the neck line or sleeves, or the arrangement of tuck trimming, or a scrap of needlework—just something that takes on the personality of its wearer. I have mentioned before the return of the blouse. This has been chiefly seen with tailor-mades, but now comes the afternoon blouse as part of tho dress itself. The one I have sketched shows how becoming this can be, and tho sash-like waist line is a favourite with tho dressmakers just now. This was in black satin skirt with white satin top. Tho neck line is very new and attractive, and it was worn with a tiny black hat and black fox furs, and pull-ou white suede gloves with black points. Decorative embroidery is only one of the many touches which emphasise the increased feminity of gowns for the coming season, but it is also being put on coats both for day and evening wear. Tho coat I have sketched is one of the newest models received from Paris, and shows a black velvet coat with sleeves covered with embroidery and cuffs and collar of beige fur. This coat would make a lovely ensemble with the little blouse frock, if the embroidery carried out the colour scheme of tho blouse. An evening coat had the yoke and huge sleeves cut in one and covered entirely with embroidery in silver and gold thread. Hats are embroidered; bags are embroidered; shoes have tho same fashion, so that it looks as if the gentle art of fine stitchery were returning to fashion. To cut or not to cut? That was the question not so long ago /when women wero first enjoying tho freedom of short tresses. Now the problem is " to grow or not to grow?" Fashion's pendulum is swinging in tho opposite direction, and hair of all lengths is now in fashion. One of the hardest things about letting tho hair grow is making tho decision, and then sticking to it. Just as you develop a sizeable length, along comes a party or a dance, and off comes the hair! Then the process has to be begun all over again, and the agony of the between stage is doubled. If you have worn short hair for several years—be prepared for disappointment when you grow it. Probably both the colour and texture will have changed. This would have happened any way with the passing years—but it is less noticeable with short hair. But the woman who is past her first vouth, but who has shed her years with 'her falling locks, will probably decide to remain faithful to the neat, shingled head which gave her back not only her looks, but the spirit of youth. Ono tiling is certain : if the majority of women decide to wear long hair once moie, then the milliners will have to enlarge our hats. At the moment heads need constantly clipping to get our hats on at all, and there is 'certainly no room for " buns " or clusters of curls-—except outside the hat, which looks hideous.