IN FASHION’S REALM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3510, 21 June 1921, Page 55

IN FASHION’S REALM.

THE PLEASURES OF BUSH RAMBLES. r>csr Esther. —1 find 1 cannot- include niy»s..f amongst; those favoured with a hobby, yet from time to time I believe the delightful hours I snatch from the verv often overfilled clays of work, to spend along woodland straeks, up sunny slopes and in through the heart of nature, might easily be classed as a hobby. Here amongst these is the home Or enchantment when cue has lingered long to watch the tide of colour ebb from the upper sky away m the west, the sea of sunken fire draws back and the sweet set.g oi tiie birds sounds fainter, and gradually dies away; the amount of time one ran pass away in the midst of these scenes is surprising. J have often felt, returning from one of these quiet rambles and a quiet chat while sitting cn mcssccvcrtd logs, that I had been indeed for a whne away from the world of every-day calcs, these rambles leave a place in memory tiiat no 1 rung else can cover; one also learns ? ach » !o - from nature along these unfrequented tracks. The various shades of Lie 1-ich ar.d rare ferns, the many different bus:; shrubs—l find myself unable to find words and names to 'sufficiently describe tm:r wondrous beauty: the different lights as a soft beam travels to the fern covert lir.der giant pine trees leaves an impression ci: die mind fo carry through ail time. , 1 ha J e T; f ted beautiful public gardens, vet l W*' C °r-* S 1 Ve i more move(l »>y the Wes M “ !< i nS a . background of soft green 7 f nn, ‘ “y»t«y about the work of nature that no hand-work can •"“***• .against. In the early spring to * S ‘P ht , I:k t * r «' -U ;i set of Wh * ,F '. ;Si ° p,iKS - * ives ’• et’ftuess c. tmich to a natural picture that no artist this^rmf 1 " 1 ' < 1 “ U - vc " v - " ;ii «Ot think U rb.rt“.l 0 ‘ a hobby paper, Esther, but fc ° bb - V , 1 bfi'-e ever found lime to inoulgc ln . B :.d I must admit I ha.e gained much joy and benefit hr s U cli emse contact with dreaming woods and the wishes. SpaCCS ° f ‘ he bmh ' S very boat Vm and Eve agree in your , 6 fronl everyday cares’ l. -l. r, '; } l", ! . !r , sympathise with you i -I-re TI •! ' "'“d 4 111 communion with be for . maklr! & an effort to p.tthis meeting. ESTHER.

WEEKLY UP-TO-DATE DRESS NOTES,

By

Marguerite.

The winter fashions are distinguished for their comfortableness of look and wear together. 'lhe freedom of fit, which still prevails and. is iikc.y to prevail for some time, is half the battle in an effective costume, and being free it admits of ever so much more in the way of becoming embellishment. Thus no end of pretty stitc-hery, sometimes wool, generally hi bright colours, and invariably bold as to design. Yelveteen, while not queen among-mater-ials quite, is still the most charming, and, needless to say, is highly favoured in consequence. '1 he plain velveteens with a chiffon finish are simply lovely—velveteens that appear in half-a-dozen or more shades, and a.i choice Then the corded velveteens make up splendidly, a selection that may run from a few shillings to a good many and yet lie cheap at the price. Tho velours are again delightful-—clothes that suit a good deal more than dresses, with their superb finish and their range of colours out-vieing nature as well as representing her. As for serge, all that is necessary to say is this: That it is out and away the first choice. A good serge, black, but preferably navy, always makes up well, and gives pleasure to the wearer r l he pretty tweeds supplement, plain, striped and otherwise patterned, leave nothing to be desired. And as for the silks, their heyday is when viewed in the light of an embellishment, albeit they arc often “the whole thing.” With respect to hats, I think I am right when I say that the day has come with millinery that has long existed with dresses —the clay when the ready-to-wear rules. I believe that any milliner would say that, for one who has a hat made, three take theirs home as they are—all ready for die donning. The shapes are becoming more standardised, and so it is possible to re-

mark that, taken as a whole, millinery is low crowned rather than high, with the tendency with trimming to depress rather than elevate. The example herewith will show you what I mean —a simple enough shape when all is said, but with the attraction in the feathers, which, as you will observe, are thrown over the sides. Opportunity generally allowing with a hat to give something else I have, in this case, chosen a collar. It is because I saw it on a serge costume as plain almost as a dressing gown with a cord girdle. I remember the day when, if asked the question when is a coat, meaning, this time, a top coat, a dress? the answer would be never. To-day, as regards fit, finish and elegance, it is more properly ever. Winter needs a coat of this kind, but that is not to say that it is imperative; this time it is imperative if you want to say that your wardrobe is equipped. The coats in mind are truly superb, some being belted, some not; coats wiih wrap collars and ample cuffs; coats with pleats and without pleats; and coats where the pleats are sometimes beautifully stitched, when, of course, something else more will be seen on tho collar and cuffs. But the top coat is sometimes enriched with fur; albeit, in my opinion, furs are always more economical when distinct. Thus fur collars make certain top coats things of beauty and joys for quite long enough; and tho size of those collars ;s usually largo, sometimes very large, and occasionally immense. Returning to the question when is a coat a dress I may ask another: When is a coat a wrap? The answer to this is when it. is, and here is the illustration of it. As the glance will show it is a beautiful wrap with a feature 1 have just mentioned—a tin- at the hip to break the monotony, ‘his being in the form of a frill. A good deal of stitchery is employed, circles of it simulating anything yon like — flowers if you like, fruit if you like, any-

thing that congregate in clusters. With it I- show a beautiful three-piece in the way of furs, and with all a rather fine liar, which illustrates again the drooping treatment in millinery.

Some knitted coats are decidedly ambitious, this applying to the design—coats with long roll collar, belt, turned back cuffs, in fine and ribbed effects and in glorious shades, or again with these features with tho collar in contrasting stripes. I mention one in particular, because it embodies so much —a very handsome coat in fine plain stitch with brushed wool collar, girdle with tassel, hem binding, etc., in a combination shade of golden brown and mastic. Incidentally mothers may take note that knitted goods are in great vogue for children —knifed coats with double breast effect and belt, and again jumpers in nlain and fancy, which are always cosy looking and also to feel. 1 add to this glance at, coats iwo examples drawn to as far as it is necessary to give them. The one out of panel is distinguished for its pretty semi-coat break

and the equally pretty cross “belt” that goes with it, and for hs glorious collar,

this applying to the -izo. The one in panel will serve a.- a limit as for the possibilities with the self collar, part anil parcel thereof, or detachable. Both sketches give some idea of the value in a generous cuff. Returning to hats, velvet holds pride of place, with plush a good second, and fur, either wholly cr in part, more often the latter, at a reasonable distance. The velvet hats include all shapes, many with narrow brims, as one such of powder blue complexion with a full crown and finished with swathed sash and splash bow and tail. The essential with a narrow brim, is smartness, with a btoid grace. As for the ! plush, not all like them, and speaking for myself, 1 should prefer velvet any day. But they are there and fashionable, and after all that is the main thing. These hats meet all requirements in that it is quite unnecessary to go to the trouble of having one made. So far 1 have confined myself to day wear. When if tomes to evening it is a fairyland sterv. NT vrr have the evening frocks been more lovely with their strange mixture of what i- oc idental and oriental. This little sketch will serve to illustrate one cf the prevailing conceits a frill fweir the waist, but extended. I call it a iri.l.

will serve as a limit; as for the possibilities whereas it is more properly a flounce. For the rest the bodice shows what may be

done with beads, tho decol'ietage is what those who like it so will have it, and there is ihe liait, bobbed as usual, tilth a Grecian filet. A dance room in these days is worth locking at with a hundred or more girls got up in fashion’s latest decrees. Another pretty conceit- where evening frocks are concerned, for the slight girl m her ti ens or over, is what I call the ’ leat effect style. A silk slip with deep f ern, with an overdress of net or tulle—all shades of green are favoured—very full with bouffant hips and deeply scalloped or va.ndyked at hem. It suggeu.t drooning leaves instantly, and is one of the very prqiiiest as well as smartest designs recently introduced. For debutantes, white silk, net or tullo over, bunched in the same way, and finished with clusters of lilies-of-tlie-valloy. or other suitable flower at waist or on oorsago, a girdle imitating “stalks’ linked together with a few blossoms depending, same idea “banding tho hair is just fascinating. The ami of tins style of frock is to simulate "lnciness” and “scantiness’’ without actually being so.