OUR CLOTHES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 6 (Supplement)

OUR CLOTHES.

CHARM AND GRACE TO WOMEN. A NEW FIGURE DIET. [special to n.z. herald. —corvniciiT.] LONDON, May 23. Clothes this season are adding charm and grace to the feminine figure. The long clinging lines are so graceful that they cither cover the sins of the shapeless leg or allow only a glimpse of the superb outline of a perfect pair. Long skirts—at any rate, for the evening—are here to stay. Their advent has given the younger generation a wonderful " dress '' thrill, while the more mature women welcome the return of draperies that disguise any lapses of figure or form. It is the womanly woman who scores today. although every designer seems to have a different way of demonstrating her charms.

One or two aro accentuating the hips by circular flounces, others keep the hips slim and waist small, to draw attention to the dainty curves of a soft, rounded bust. Others" favour tho coquettish bustle effect by means of large taffeta bows at tho back. The long glovo, which is a special feature of the most exclusive house, add to the dainty helpless charm, and if you have them the same colour as tho gown —which is tho acme of chic—they aro expensive e lough to become exclusive. In tho day timo the summer girl will havo reverted to tho " Magazine Cover Beauty," with (lowered chiffon and voiles, bright coloured linens and crisp delicate organdies to fashion her frilled and flounced frocks. Many of these frocks havo short or elbow length sleeves, and these allied to a broad-brimmed hat of straw, framing a face just touched with pink and cream make-up and baby red lips, will spell destruction to tho susceptible male, who secretly adores tho clinging type of woman. For the recent ltoy.il Courts tho charm of I lie new fashions was especially welcome. No longer do tho regulations make it necessary to have a special gown. The fortunate debutantes this season havo only to unfasten their train to havo a perfect ball gown, for tho Court gowns to-day are a rolled ion of all the newest not ions in evening wear. The revival of tho Empire bodice, with its high-waist and tiny puff sleeves, is almost as surprising as tho Grecian swathings, with their classic simplicity accentuating a beautiful figure. £o long as your evening frock is long and full round tho ankles you can safely cliooso tho stylo that suits your own individuality best Keep tho hem line fairly even, and beware of the straggling draperies with which we compromised last year, when unable to reconcile ourselves to the sudden length. Satin is one of the most fashionable materials of tho moment. This applies to afternoon gowns, blouses for tailored suits as well as tho more important evening gowns. In black, white and the delicate pastel tones or orchid, cyclamen and aquamarine it is tho chosen material for some of the most elegant gowns in every collection. Recently I was shown an evening ensemble of long gown cut and draped by tin: hand of an artist in oyster white satin, with only a diamond clasp on the shoulder for trimming. The wrap was of the cape variety that is hugged round the figure, and this had an 'enormous upstanding collar of blue fox. Blue fox. I.y the way. i.-> not blue at all. but a soft rnushroomy beige shade, and this unusual colour was chosen for shoes and stockings and long gloves that wrinkled well ovc: tho elbows.

A wedding gown in aquamarine blue satin rut with a V-shaped neck and a long tight sleeve moulded the figure to the knees, and then spread nut round the feet, and trailed at the. back to form a train.

The gown I have sketched had the skirt of black satin and the top in a warm pun limenf shade that is infinitely hecom.ng, especially when diamonds and pearls are the only ornaments. This would look equally well in black and palest pink, for pink is considered one of the season's loveliest colours, and is used a great deal in conjunction with black or navv for dav frocks.

Curls and rolls at the nape of the neck are some of the newest ways of letting the short bob grow to a feminine length, while other women twist false braids round their heads.

Partings are smart, very low on one side or in the middle; the top ot the head, sleek and flat, is water-waved into upturning curls at one side, and a low curled fingers roll at the back. Undoubtedly the fashion for short hair is rapidly on the wane, and recently at a debutantes' ball at the famous Brook House many of the girls were wearing their hair just shoulder length, beautifully curled and waved, and ready for the next stage of turning it up.