Evening Frocks

Southland Times, Issue 20661, 17 April 1929, Page 13

Evening Frocks

(From Our Correspondent.) London. Evening gowns may be divided into two classes —the fluttering type and the formal design. But most designs are sheath-like, developing into a multitude of panels just above the knees —the more elaborate models finishing in a train of by no means meagre proportions. Necklines are extremely decollete, the corsage being held in place with shoulder straps of diamante or self-material. A straight front, and a deep V behind is the most fashionable line. Models in lighter material are made with a cape effect, resembling a monk’s cowl. Lace, satin, tulle, and patterned chiffon are the favourite materials for evening frocks. Sprigged taffeta is also marie up into some unusual designs. A magnificent skin-tight vermilion lace model broke into a collection of handkerchief points of uneven length half-way down the slim skirt. A double scarf collar fell, into twin trains behind. Black lace made with a tiered skirt is invariably finished with a bolero or a short loose coatee to match.

Three-quarter length lace coats accompany lace dinner frocks. This matching long coat is in vogue this season. A black taffeta dinner frock, trimmed with a flexible gold belt, was worn under a matching coat, while a green-arid-white speckled chiffon design boasted of a long coat collared with stiffened flowers of similar material. Satin designs are completed with matching chiffon coatees. A strawberry satin was covered with a pink chiffon coat, weighted with silver beads.

Tulle is used in a variety of fashions. The bodices are tight and high-waisted, and the skirts arc long and full -many being of the handkerchief point persuasion.

An alternative to this is a sheath-like tunic consisting of diagonal intersecting flat, pleats, oddly similar in their arrangement to a fish’s scales. Tulle ensembles arc seen, but the majority of these filmy frocks are covered with a stouter material. An emerald tulle frock, trimmed with a basque of silver and gold sequins—these jewelled basques arc smart-, a navy frock was trimmed with one in navy sequins—was worn under a moire coat to match. A gold brocade coat accompanied a fawn tulle frock.

Tulle coats embroidered with sequins in a geometrical design are seen, and they look slim and elegant.

Beads are mostly confined to bugles. The corsage is thickly encrusted in diagonal lines, and the full flared skirt falls practically to the ground. Both white dresses and black follow this fashion. A black tulle was thickly embroidered with jet. bugles and was worn with a short tailored jacket, thickly jet-embroidered to match.

One rarely sees an ensemble identically matching frock and coat, this season. Velvet covers chiffon designs, and capes are smarter than coats. These are made with flared hems—slightly longer behind —and heavyflowered collars.

Flower trimmings are smart again, while frocks for the jeune fille are made with full skirts covered with silk petals. Great success is undoubtedly achieved with patterned chiffons. A 'white chiffon, heavily splashed with black flowers, was made with a flat tiered skirt slit on one side with falling panels. It was finished with a bolero and a deep scarf collar. z\ blurred carmine and almond design—a glory of super-imposed petals—was made with a peacock train behind, on to which were applied petals of a smaller design. More beautiful still was a scarlet and emerald striped chiffon, composed of many flat diagonal panels. With the more elaborate models the mannequins carried fans, and more than one jewelled design was shown with a tightlyfitting jewelled cap to match.