IN FASHION’S REALM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3911, 26 February 1929, Page 64

IN FASHION’S REALM.

UP-TO-DATE DRESS NOTES.

By

Marguerite.

(Special for the Otago Witness.) It is the time for dancing and evening enjoyment. Our autumn evening frocks, like our day-time frocks, will be made of velvet —for young girls chiffon, tulle, and lace, and for adults plain satin or ring velvet. A new ring velvet which is nearly as light as chiffon and almost as transparent, shows a pattern in spots, irregular in size, and with ragged edges. Black Shows these little spots in grey and cerise, but the plain ring velvet will probably be the most used. A very delicate, soft, transparent silk velvet is being shown with the pattern printed on the wrong side of the material to show through the sheen of the pile. There is also a novel shadow velvet. These velvets will be used for exclusive gowns and wraps. Now, here is a hint to the bargain-hunter and for those desiring a velvet a wee bit heavier for wear later on. Search the furniture departments where the furnishing drapery is sold. In such regions useful inexpensive lengths of upholstering velvet, not too thick for frocks and wraps, may be discovered. Npw you can choose an unlimited number of frocks and wraps for every occasion, and you may be tempted to buy some of the exquisite pieces of brocade, for which you will be sure to find some use later on. The beaded gowns have not been forgotten. In all the ballrooms amongst the tulle, lace, and velvet frocks, the glittering new beaded frocks will be worn by a number of the dancers. I say “ new ” because your last season’s beaded frock cannot do service this winter. The tiny round bead is not used at all. A long sort of bead is for this year. Some of the beads are like reeds, and are sewn on in lines. Crystal and silver are much used, as well as a very attractive reecl bead which looks like lacquered gunmetal. These gunmetal beads are used on black ninon. Another fabric which will be as popular is moire taffeta. Frocks showing the new pannier effect on the hips are at their best when taffeta is used. The new evening gowns have tiers. Very few of the gowns show trimmings, but have three or more tiers, most of which are flat flounces which cling to the hips and float out into graceful fullness. As with our day-time frocks, the fullness is generally in the centre of the back. Some frockg have petalled flounces with the borders a deeper tone, others are cut up in sections. It is really the cut and line of these gowns which makes them so lovely. The bodices are longer, fitted, and backless. Not for many seasons have the necklines been so very low in the back as they are this year. The low back decolletage is the one point which marks these evening gowns. Laurin has designed many models, all with a bodice split to the waist in the back, but not otherwise open. ■ So if you want to be fashionable and still modest, you will have to put a layer of nude chiffon beneath that slit.

This illustrates one of the newest evening gowns, with petalled flounces which go up in the front, and flutter out towards the centre of the back, giving a graceful dipping hemline. This beautiful frock is of moire taffeta combined with faille taffeta, shading from peach to a

deep coral. The low decolletage has golden roses across one shoulder, the frock otherwise being untriinmed.. Another new fashion is a “ bar ” of flowers across the front of the dress, or the back just at the base of the decolletage. It is a very pretty fashion. Real flowers are being worn in Paris. A “ bar ” made of winter flowers would look charming. Scarlet flowers add brightness to a black dress,

and red and white, with leaves just showing would look well.

For the theatre, card parties, and in between dances you wear a little jacket over your evening frock, perhaps a velvet or georgette or chiffon one, to match the dress. Some are made entirely of sequins. These hip-length jackets give just sufficient warmth. They are unlined, and look chic. Some velvet ones are patterned in nearwhite. Velvet slippers have also been introduced, and when wearing the jacket of velvet the slippers are of the exact same colour. Black velvet ones will be most popular with gleaming paste buckles or motifs worked in diamante. These slippers wear well, so they will be more practical than satin ones which rub so easily. However, you will not want to have all your evening slippers of velvet.

Here is an afternoon frock of all-over wool lace and satin, or of all-satin, or printed and plain velvet. Have the wool lace in an apricot shade and the satin of a deeper tone. If you wear this with a velvet coat in the deepest tone patterned in near-white the effect will be beautiful for any function. You can line the lace

bodice with the deeper toned satin, but it is unnecessary with the added warmth of the velvet coat. The satin trimming band on the bodice is continued at the back in the same way. The fullness of the skirt is drawn together with ribbon ties. The sleeves can be made detachable, as I described some time ago.

Here is one of the latest suits in printed velvet. Velvet, too. is most popular for suits. The skirt can be of woollen material if preferred, and will be quite in the front row of fashion with the coat of plain or printed velvet. The skirt will be box-pleated. You will -wear a beret hat of the woollen or printed fabric, but it must match one of the materials.

And your scarf with facings of the velvet, and a simple flat hand-bag in pouchette shape, you will make of the printed velvet. A distinctive effect will be the result. The designers have given us printed velvet to be used in all sorts of ways. So. if your suite are of wool you will use printed velvet for be! 1 and facings to make your ensemble modern: and shoes —well, I will tell you about the new

sports shoes for spectators next time I write. My column goes on, and you will be told all eventually.

To return to our evening wear —we must have a coat to match. Velvet, of course, comes first. Next, a beautiful beaded or embroidered wrap —our coats are elaborate and trimmed. Quite often in the new co ate most of thb trimming is given to the lining, and the lining is finished with appliquOs of velvet and handsome brocade. This is where those remnants of brocade picked up in the furnishing drapery department will be found useful. Fur is also used lavishly, and always looks rich. The coats are cav" K t up to give an uneven effect, and are full, as a straight coat does not hang well on a dress which has an uneven hem line. Some of the latest go up in the front and down at the back, like the frocks on which they are worn. Numbers are made from patterned velvet.

A bonnet shape felt hat is here. The new bonnet shape is certainly one of the results of the feminine trend during the past few seasons. This style of brim is pretty and becoming to a youthful- face, and shows the eyes, although they are shadowed; the cloche fashion often hid

what is often woman's most beautiful feature — ; her eyes. This bonnet brim is full but narrow, widening towards the cars, and slanting down on to the back of the neck. The model has self trimming. One pretty fashion about the bonnet brims will be trimming “under the brim.” The crowns, in keeping with the style of hat, are low.

A smart step-in afternoon shoe has a tiny touch of matching lizard finishing the black suede, while a small brilliant buckle adds the glistening touch. Just a trimming of reptile is used on afternoon shoes. It harmonises with the dull kid and suede, in black and coloured footwear. Shoes are simple in design, step-ins being the most popular, with plain heels which look more dressy than covered ones, made as the high or lower type of French heel. A pair of black python I saw had black lacquered heels. . Dark blue suede have blue lacquered heels in the darkest tone. They shine as the wearer walks, and are easily kept clean.