Surprises of the Feminine Modes

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1010, 28 June 1930, Page 22

Surprises of the Feminine Modes

Ideas From Overseas Not since pre-war days has the feminine wardrobe been so full of surprises, and every mail brings new suggestions and quaint ideas. Once again we are to don long gloves, with the silks and satins of | evening attire, but, as if to atone for j such restraint, day frocks next sum- ! mer are to shed their long sleeves, ! and will issue forth with coy little ! elbow frills, with ribbon ties, with i old-fashioned puffs aud bindings. Fanj tastic little hows and ribbons are to I appear all over the place. Sometimes 1 an elbow sleeve will show a “cute” ribbon tie in place of a frill, or the neck of a washing silk blouse will be finished by two twisted strands of different coloured silk, passed through a loop at the back of the neck and loosely knotted in front in nautical fashion. Imagine a suit of grey and blue tweed, with a pale grey silk blouse adorned with such a necktie in grey and palest pottery blue! This method also does away with all the fuss of a collar. If you want to be ultra-smart for theatre party or ball, you will wear a little cape or short jacket of white fur over the shimmering satins and crisp tulles of your gala robe. The pure white evening gown is more popular than ever, and the tint can be either the real “chalk-white” or the more “kindly” oyster and “off-whites.” Brides are favouring the deep ivory and pearl whites, and there is a deI cided tendency to abandon the useless sweeping train, and to substitute the greater delicacy of a long tulle veil. This fashion is particularly charming when the wedding gown is cut on simple medieval lines (right down to the floor all the way round) and is of some glistening satin or brocade. The all-tulle gown in suited only to a very young girl, and, unless very carefully made, is apt to look untidy and “bunchy” when allied with a tulle veil. Capes are to be everywhere and on everything! Little sleeveless gowns may have bewitching elbow-length capes to soften the sleeveless effect, aud giye grave and movement to a plain little bodice. Some of these are plain with curved hems, and others are finely pleated; and another variety is called a “cape-sleeve,” for instead of fastening off at the throat or tying with ribbons in real cape style it merely covers the top of the arm and acts in place of a sleeve. These cape sleeves are very attractive on au informal dinner dress of black lace or georgette. A modified redlngote effect is even to be found on some of the new English street coats. These have an upper cape sleeve cut in one with the back of the coat and falling over the trim “real” sleeve almost to the elbow. Then there are tweed day frocks, with detachable capes and bewitching velvet evening wraps, with coy little capes that hang over the shoulders with graceful insouciance. Spring-time will certainly bring us many delights; not the least of these will be the plaid silk cap with 'kerchief tie to match.