Forecast Of Spring

Southland Times, Issue 23838, 8 June 1939, Page 14

Forecast Of Spring

What Parisians Are Wearing In the pleasant setting of Auteuil, the well-known Bois de Boulogne race track, spring fashions have just displayed the infinite variety of their novelties, says Zelie, a Parisian correspondent. Among the models “Auteuil” is a costume, made by Nina Ricci, consisting of a tightfitting hip-length vest made of moire with a pleated skirt, the buttonhole adorned with an embroidered daisy. A flared blue navy coat whose front is woollen and the back of thick satin, and a jacket in plaid, light blue and red, over a dress in black pleated cloth, with a plastron in stitched taffetas, attracted much attention. There were also a great number of light jackets, very small hats of all sorts of shapes, straw sailors, toques, berets, all very attractive and adorned with contrasting veils in wide bows, ribbons, birds, and a great amount of flowers arranged in big bouquets, and sometimes a cuff entirely covered with the same flowers. An original sailor in pink velvet with a big red rose on the front, a toque in “coulisse” taffetas with a multi-coloured bird, a black skull cap in felt ornamented with two ostrich feathers in two different blues, were also noticed, as well as a Mexican sombrero with a pointed crown. Parisian creators this year have found their inspiration in many different directions: One has taken the Second Empire period, and several have created quite modern models. All these are accompanied by a multitude of novel frillings and jewels, ancient vying with modern. Tulle ruffs with a narrow black velvet passing through a beading, ending in a bow under the chin, and with the little white straw sailor is absolutely inspired by the delicious costumes of the province of Bresse. Printed swing skirts show embroidered petticoats at the bottom. Embroideries cover sleeves and bodices, adorn waists and bottoms of coats and dresses. Bruyere, one of the leading Parisian couturiers, is inspired by Moroccan embroideries and colours, even

copying the colour of the leather belts encrusted with burnt topazes. Beside these, there are elegant redingotes made of satin, a dress in jersey draped on the front. Summer tailor-mades are in twill and Vichy linen. Lucien Lelong has been inspired by the sea and his collection has proved a great success. Every shade is one of the numerous colours of the sea; every “pleated” evokes waves either calm or in fury, and the designs of light veils are of the sea fauna—“Tropique,” with innumerable shades, “Amphitrite,” “Calpotis,” “Alizes,” which evokes the transparence of the sea in turquoise camaieu and greens. Evening dresses have their decollates in the shape of a shell. Parisian couturiers have found the most delightful creations for young girls, widely cut, in fresh colours, aerial and satin ribbons, fronces, mixed with organdie, lace and veil, innumerable “pleated,” make dainty personages of them. No less ?legant are the dresses of their elders, but sober, such as a narrow slip made of silver lame underneath a black tulle skirt finely pleated, two big roses adorning the waist in front.

Alex Maguy has a decollete cut square through which the head is passed, whose pointed revers are edged in black, an angle of the square fitting the front, another the back, and the two others forming sleeves.

The shades most in favour arc navy blue, bleu de France and pale green.