What Will be Worn

Southland Times, Issue 21560, 25 November 1931, Page 5

What Will be Worn

FASHIONS AT HOME. (By a Londoner). Now that the christening ceremonies are over, women overseas find it most exciting to buy a bat with a name. Instead of going in to buy merely "a hat” and trying to describe what they want, they ask to see a Robin Hood, a Shepherdess, a shrapnel helmet—a name which well describes the model—a Marie Stuart, Charlotte Corday or a Wooden Soldier. Darker Colours. Heavier materials—satins, velvets, and taffetas, as they will be easier to handle for the new drape fusions —and darker colours (the inevitable swing-over from pastel shades), particularly black, purple, and brown, are being talked of for the new evening frocks. One of the most arresting gowns at one of the showings in Paris was of-heavy gold lace over gold lame, with a short bolero tied carelessly in front and a slight train. Trains appeared on many of the models, sometimes in contrasting colours as for instance, pink chiffon on black. A beautiful cut deep brown taffeta frock, which would suit an auburn haired girl and look lovely with either jade, turquoise or amber ornaments, was outsanding. “All-White” Party. An amusing party has just taken place. It was an all-white affair, all the women coming in white frocks, and the men wearing white suits. The servants were in white linen uniforms, and as no one was supposed to buy anything new for it, it was one of the first of the economy entertainments. Sausages of the tiny variety on sticks were served hot, while veal and ham pies, and beer were among the modest refreshments. English Modes Prevail. Novelties of many ingenious kinds are being shown at the London dress parades, where far fewer French models are in evidence, and the designers attached to the best houses are exhibiting their own work. There is a big economy campaign directed to bringing down the prices of both dresses and millinery. At one show novel capes were featured on evening dresses. Some of these were in the form of detachable berthas, that took on and off, and converted an evening gown, in a moment, into an afternoon frock. They were used on frocks in georgette and romaine, and, when in use could be draped back over the shoulders giving a “cowl” effect. Complexions to Match. With the promise of every attractive shade of brown—from beige to bracken and a deeper tone that is almost black, being well favoured on next season’s colour list, beauty experts overseas have got to work on some new preparations. They have a colour list of their own and the new powders and lotions are cafe au lait — ideal for the sports girl who chooses brown clothes, while the newest lipstick is an innocent rose pink. After dark, rouge and lipstick must be chosen even more carefully so they do not clash with the popular dark red and plum colours, while for the others fashionable shades—particularly honey beige which is outsing white, a special puce pink rouge has been blended. New Hair Tones. Blondes are rather out of fashion. Better change it to dark red—is the advice from London. Changing is an easy matter now, I thanks to the hairdressers of 1931, and is taken so casually that “what coloured hair are you having this season often creeps into conversation. No longer can rivals be sure of a sensation when they whisper maliciously, "She dyes her hair,” for it is all open and over board these days. It has been suggested that those book heroines who went “white in a night,” would be most envied just now. The Hemline. Deauville at the finish of the big race meeting had a word to say about that ever interesting topic—dress lengths. People with a mathematical eye judged that the average lengths were from eight to ten inches from the ground—only one wellknown woman being seen in a longer skirt, while sports types were about eleven inches. Though the weather was bad, there were many white and pastel frocks worn, usually pin-tucked or with designs in fagotting. The instep length is quoted for evening wear. The Old Fashioned Ruche. Ruches are in great favour as a trimming on evening gowns. They hem circular skirts and trim bodices and are used to outline apron draperies. The favourite movement in back draperies is the apron; the front of the skirt can be made with a high or low apron drapery and then brought to the back where it falls in various ways, flounced, niched, frilled or in plain folds, according to the material. Some black dresses made in this way have a colour folded in, which is repeated on the bodice. The New Blue. Not only did a Bradford mill manufacture some silk morocain for Queen Mary, but it christened it in true British style—Guardman blue. This made its first ' appearance at the imperial Industries Fair in Bradford, and it was noted that it was a shade lighter than Lido blue. Sleeves Novelties. Sleeves are still atrra'cting attention, not . the least the leg o’ mutton, which a well- , known Continental actress called “stuffed ; ham sleeves” in an overseas fashion inter- - view. There is no end to sleeve novelties, . either bishop, puff, or very complicated ones with slashings, while the newest thing j for day dresses are sleeves of velvet with , frocks of crepy materials. I