CHRISTMAS PARTIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20792, 7 February 1931, Page 6 (Supplement)

CHRISTMAS PARTIES.

HEIGHT OF THE LONDON SEASON * , BRILLIANTLY DECORATED SHOPS. [SPECIAL TO N.Z. HERALD.—COrVBIGHT.] LONDON. Dec. 27. 3D30. Parlies, large and small, are adding to the gaiety of this last busy week before Christmas, and London seems as full of visitors as during the height of the social season. Cousins from the country for shopping and the hordes of returned school children give an added air of festivity to the brilliantly decorated shops, which are crowded with beautiful gifts to satisfy the mosfc fastidious taste. The most important hostess of the week was Queen Mary, when she gave of her charming tea parties at Buckingham Palace to the wives of the Indian Princes attending the Pound Table Conference. It is the informal character of these entertainments which appeals moro than anything else to the favoured guest, for the Queen, as is her custom at these parties, appears hat'less to welcome her guests. A regal figure in red velvet, with ruby and diamond ornaments, Queen Mary won all hearts by personally showing her guests, round her private apartments, pointing out particularly cherished treasures amorig her pictures and china. The arrival of little Princess Elizabeth in a frilly frock of palest pink added to the delight of the distinguished guests, who were charmed with the frank courtesy of this delightfully natural child. Charity balls have been nightly occurrences this week, and the Silver Rose Ball, with its bevy of beauteous maidens in white frocks and silver wreaths in their hair, selling silver roses that contained gifts, was one of the most successful money-raising efforts in the cause of charity. Some of the bunches changed hands for twenty and even thirty pounds, although the standard price was ten shillings. Such is the power of beauty—and good salesmanship! Every season one notices that there are one or two things that even Fashion seems to have no power to push out of favour—the beret, the cardigan, the three-piece suit, and, lastly, the coatee. The smartest dressmakers this season have tried to dispense with the coatee, introducing scarf-capes and fichu-like wraps with their exclusive models, but they have failed to oust the coatee, which is much more convenient than any of these other new arrangements. The i" little coat" has come to stay for many a season, I think, and in one form or another we shall find it figuring on day and evening gowns, and in all kinds of material.

The most ordinary frock can be given an air of gaiety for the evening by the addition of a coatee (it must be short to be smart) of love-in-the-mist blue and silyer lame or rose and silver, according to one's colouring. The sleeves may be just long and slim, or they may have amusing cuffs or hang wide from the elbows, or, again, a sleeve that is tight to the elbow, flaring into a puff, and then shaped into the wrist, is very smart. ' Coloured velvet coats add to the attraction of any house frock, while plain coloured crepe coatees look delightful with flowered silk frocks or plain white or beige dresses.

Tho light coat and blouse worn with a dark skirb is showing as a novelty for the Riviera, which means a new fashion for our coming spring.

The frock I have sketched is a Paris model with the skirt of red and the blouse and coat and cap of baby pink. This is an unusual colour combination, but is considered the last word in Riviera chic. A red coat will be worn, over a pink dress, or a red and pink spotted dress will have fichu and cuffs of palest pink crepe or chiffon. '

The revival of hand knitting for jumpers, scarves, cardigans, etc., has had the result of bringing knitted fabrics into the front rank oi fashion, for sports and informal wear.

Plain knitted fabrics are being shown for coats and skirts and top coats. These include many combinations of colours, but the weave resembles plain knitting. Lace wool is one of the loveliest of these new fabrics, and this can be had in innumerable designs of stripes, plaids and checks, in a very wide range of colourings. For sunny days this lace wool can be had in white and delicate shades of green, rose, blue, mauve, and oyster beige, and it is equally successful for blouses as it is when used to fashion whole dresses. The dress I have sketches! shows this knitted lace wool in shades*of green and white, with a scarf of plain jersey in green one side and white the other. The little basques on the sleeves to match the one at the waist are featured on many sports gowns and add a finish to the appearance of a dress when worn without a coat.

Scarves seem more useful than ever, now that everything need not match, so often they supply the link between the hat and coat, and in the"' case of evening scarves may become the most attractive feature.

One of the nicest presents to find on one's plate on Christmas morning would be a huge vivid-coloured scarf, for they are fascinating to wear and attract so much attention that no one notices if the frock is one they have seen many times before.

The square scarf can be of chiffon velvet, scalloped all round, and in any bright colour. The turquoise scarf worn with black or white will soon bo too popular, but one in cherry red or jade green would look lovely, while one in black on a white frock is intensely smart. '

These scarves are usually worn with the point down the front and the ends crossing or tied down the back of the shoulders, a string of beads or large earrings to match adding a picturesquo touch.