IN FASHION’S REALM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3864, 3 April 1928, Page 67

IN FASHION’S REALM.

UP-TO-DATE DRESS NOTES.

By

Marguerite.

(Special for the Otago Witness.) The fashion parades are. now over at the large shops, and Easter social functions just starting. This is the time when fashionable women array themselves in their autumn' clothes. And what a gorgeous season we are promised! Afternoon gowns, evening gowns, and sports clothes disclose great originality in design and elaboration. Colour ranges are exquisite—so beautiful and varied that one hardly knows what colour to choose. All shades of brown (warm, reddish brown to golden brown), royal blue, French blue, red, navy, dove grey, gunmetal grey, sage green, grey-green, jade, coral, and peach are the colours most favoured, black and white-and-black being, of course, included. Soft velvets and crepe satins are the favoured materials for dressy occasions, the semitight bodices and draped skirts showing to advantage the sheen of these fabrics. Cream or beige lace, jewelled pins, rhinestone buckles, tiny buttons, and gold trimmings give a dazzling appearance to the choice afternoon clothes, and make truly “ a golden autumn.” The suppleness of the materials around a natural waist line and snugly fitting hip line, with flared and draped skirts, both for afternoon and evening wear, give elegance and grace. Hats, shoes, bags and gloves are part, too, of the general effect. There is nothing belonging to last winter. We • must discard gowns, costumes, sports clothes, and coats. Some women are foolish enough to buy clothes at sales. Well, such clothes are useless. The raiment of this season is new in every detail, from the tiny hats to the smart shoes with their stilted Louis heels (the higher the more fashionable) . A word about furs. It is good taste to wear black furs over a black dress, never a coloured fur or fur coat. Gray or brown is correct over coloured dresses. Velvet coats for afternoon functions are the vogue, trimmed with fox, squirrel, or yellow fur of a bright gold colour. The new millinery corresponds in shade to the dress, suit, or coat, although a black velvet or felt hat can at ail times be worn. All these little details help to give the fashionable “chic.” Even in our motor coats this matching is in evidence. The coats are of blue and beige, red and beige, sage green, grey, and black, and are made in a loose, wrapover style, with huge collars and cuffs and patch pockets, in soft checked, basketwoven woollen materials. They are designed to match the colour combination of the ear. and hats, bags, and cloves all must be of the same colour scheme.

Oriental lame and gold and silver lame, taffeta, georgette, and chiffon are the fashionable evening fabrics, lace playing an important part, especially black ‘and gold lace over georgette and lame Feather trimming on evening gowns and wraps is also in favour. The new evening gown features the corsage, cut low and in a double “ V,” outlined with crystals or rhinestones while on., the left shoulder glitters a large pendant brooch instead of flowers. The skirts are longer than last season’s. In the myriads of coloured electric lights of modern ballrooms these wonderful evening creations will indeed be picturesque. The evening wraps are of velvet or lame, with large shirred velvet or fur collars and huge sleeves. Some are left without trimmings, while others are heavily embroidered in gold and large rhinestones and crystal ornaments. Jewelled bags and jewelled shoes complete the dazzle.

As velvet takes first place in materials for the season and satin-faced marocain second, I am giving you in my full-length illustration a dress suitable far either

material. Two-tone effect is the height of fashion, so choose fine black corduroy velvet for the skirt and white or oyster for the bodice. The paler colour must always be for the bodice. The small square neck, the long surplice collar, the smocking on the shoulders, and the pouchy sleeves (cuffed about four inches from the wrist with the darker material), as .well as the draped skirt, all proclaim an exclusive gown. The smocking I would have done in black, which will just give the necessary touch of colour, and let there be a stitching of black on the square neck. The pouchy sleeves take the length from a long arm. A black buckle edged with white completes the gown. If made in satin-faced marocain it should have the skirt made with the shiny side out to show the sheen of the material to perfection, while the bodice will show the dull side. It should fit into the figure.

Here is a neat little dress for the shopper or the business girl. The shaping of the front part of ths, bodice is simple, yet makes a subtle difference from the usual slip-on dress. Carried out in sage green rep or flannel -with tiny selfcoloured or gold buttons, its mock button-

holes should be worked in silk of the same colour as the buttons. The velvet ribbon tie could be of a different colour if only one tone has been used, and at times a lace collar could be worn over the self one. The pocket and suede belt give the necessary finish.

My illustration of a. sports costume will be acceptable, I think, as we must have at least one such suit in the wardrobe this season. Some of the houses are making a feature of them. The model is in printed velveteen, showing a. small check, in the new reddish-brown colour.

Buttoning high to the neck with a small, round collar and ribbon tie, it has a little inset piece of plain velveteen finished with tiny buttons similar to those on the belt. The skirt is pleated to allow e£ the flare.

As everything for afternoon and evening wear must match, so also in sports wear. I am therefore giving you a shoe, ba& and gloves in the tone effect. One wUJ find it very expensive to match in colour everything one wears. Most

is the division between dressy apparel and sports wear, for the. trim out-of-door garments make a distinct contrast with the elaborations worn,’ for instance, at afternoon functions, and each must adhere strictly to its purpose.