Niki of Paris Says... Fringe "Does the Trick"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23103, 30 July 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

Niki of Paris Says... Fringe "Does the Trick"

r pHERE is nothing more becoming, more slenderising or more flattering to any figure than a frock which, by some means or other, produces the effect of myriads of lines running vertically up and down. Stripes, pleats, drapery, tucks and fringe all achieve this purpose with a full measure of success and, of them all, fringe in its many tones and textures "does the trick" in the very newest manner. Not even in its pre-war heyday did the vogue of fringe have greater prominence than now, for it has returned with its liquid lines and sheeny splendour to beautify the dark little daytime dress and the sophisticated evening gown alike. In narrow widths it is used to trim jackets and bodices, and when worked in rows diagonally over the figure in a novel herringbone formation it is a very handy way of renovating an old garment. Long strips that may completely compose a skirt or overskirt give some evening gowns a lovely symmetry. Tiers of deep silk fringe are also employed for skirts on formal little short frocks, and these have all the glamour of a South Sea maiden's swishing hula skirt. Sometimes long flanges of fringe loop round armholes or are draped in fluid scrolls across the severity of an otherwise plain dress. Basques and peplums, sleeves and hemline flounces, all respond to fringe. It is not always of the same colour as the foundation beneath, and lovely colour combinations can be worked out. Thus a frock of Grecian simplicity such as the model at the top of the sketch may rely for dramatic effect on the rainbow-lined shading of the fringe, or on the wiled effect of a pastel-toned fringe over a contrasting

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