GAY ACCESSORIES

Southland Times, Issue 22913, 11 June 1936, Page 15

GAY ACCESSORIES

Flower and Feather Sprays An attractive effect is achieved by a new alliance of flower and feather. Casino caps in a fanciful transparent fabric show a side crown and brim adorned with pink or yellow silken roses. The outer petals consist of ostrich feather frogs, and sometimes whole tips of ostrich are added to a cluster of roses. Brown and green shades in feathers mix with red roses and also with violets and other spring flowers. These newer and far more becoming caps and berets make their debut in 1936, (states a fashion writer in The London Daily Telegraph). Velvet and silk roses mingled with feathers will not only be seen on early millinery. Garlands or bright blossoms bordered with coloured ostrich make large corsage bouquets, shoulder-straps and trails for the skirts of dinner and ball frocks. Feathers were featured in the earlier autumn and every make of flower has been used for parties, but this alliance of two charming accessories will provide a cheerful break in between-seasons modes. From Cannes comes a beret composed of white double violets with tufts of black ostrich between each flower, and over the back and side a short curtain veil of transparent black horsehair veiling. Black velvet frosted roses were attractively allied with white and silver ostrich feathers for a cinema hat worn on one side like a forage cap With this there was also a capelet of roses and feathers. Sometimes feather-work, is inserted into coloured belts that match the blouse top or capelet of a frock. Matching bracelets are among other amusing accessories. There is a vogue for a few very glamorous dress details just now, largely because dress is so simple in cut and style, and black, white or dark shades are the more usual selection.

Extremely effective was a five to twelve o’clock dress in a dull-faced grey knitted silk. This was cut slightly low at the neck and sleeveless, and had a gorgeous girdle of plaited turquoisevelvet intercepted with threads of silver and grey silk. With matching sandal shoes it made a charming dinner dress.

It could, however, be quickly turned into a cocktail costume by the addition of along-sleeved bolero of silver lame, shot with blue and laced with blue velvet. This was crowned by a charming cinema cap of silver roses and grey ostrich feathers.

The wardrobe to-day can be kept quite small by a woman of taste and discretion. It is useless going on shopping tours with no fixed ideas as to the real requirements. Modern dress accessories are very helpful. They can convert day dresses into evening ones, for instance. The flower and feather craze is, in this case, the most decorative choice.

Gloves of varying colours and charm are not so universally useful, as they are not much worn for informal parties. The hey-day of the coloured glove is over. Elaborate shoes, on the other hand, are more interesting than ever. The selection of ultra-smart sandals varies from gold and silver to the shade of the frock itself. The style and height of a heel can largely determine the use of the toilette.

Belts can be made more interesting by the new items in dress-jewellery and heavy metal chains and clasps. Earrings and diadems in gilt and pearl suggest the Empire period for evening. Young girls look wonderfully well with this heavier type of jewellery worn with plain satin frocks, slightly higher in the waist-line. _ Jewellery in this case is the only trimming. Dress jewellery is often the sole decoration for a simple afternoon dress in wool or crepe. A thick crepon in brown has the neckdrapery caught with’a heavy gold and turquoise ring and a buckle of the same at the waist to match heavy bracelets that decorate the sleeves.

Pewter bracelets of a bold openwork design finish long sleeves of dull black satin, the halter collar of black

being caught by smaller clips of the same. Pewter is a favourite colour, being brighter and newer than gun-metal. Oriental styles in teagowns and pyjamas are worn with these queer, heavy ornaments. Large, loose sleeves are held at the wrist by thick metal, gem-stud-ded bands and large plaques or clips catch belt and collar.