PARIS FASHIONS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 145, 25 July 1914, Page 6

PARIS FASHIONS.

FASCINATING NAPOUEON HATS.

Original in design is the very fascinating NapoleOJi hat illustrated this week. This shape is going to be very popular in the fall. It has been launched by Mme, Carlier, and already several of the smartest ParisieDnes in a specially exclusive circle have appeared at the races in hats of this-type. The model sketched was made of royal blue chip and chiffon in the same shade, the chiffon forming the

crown and ifitiiug of the upturned brim. An original little military oVnament appeared on the ffotat of the hat, holding down; ;th£; brush mount. • Thi* ornament was made of cord in three colour^,fed, white r . and blue, with a toich of gold. Hats of this order will be very much worn in the autumn with the new highwayman's coat, which is ». distinct novelty. These coats have immense collar and triple capes which fall oyer the shoulders. The coats themselves are threequarter length and semw tight. They will be made of faced cloth in rich, rather bright colours and lined with Liberty satin or with printed Martine. silk. I have already seen coats of this order at the races; (writes the New York "Sun" correspondent), made of Liberty satin and of whipeord, but the real thing, which, is going to be one of the leading novelties of the fall season, will.be made of firm faced cloth. Some of >he advance models of the highwayman coat have elaborate eordings, in metallic threads, mingled with black silk,, on the border of the collar, capes, and gauntlet cuffs,. Others 'are nrachine stitched at the borders, and one capital model in royal blue cloth was piped" with black taffeta. .

With the return of eighteenth century fashions we have the ultra long cane, in coloured wood, again. These eanes are amazingly decorative. • They are not for every woman; they require to be carried in a special way, with a slightly impertinent, coquettish air, which seems to say: "'What do you think of me" ■ They are in great favour with the dhic-Parisiennes for garden parties and open air functions of all kinds. Women carry them when they are wearing Romney or Fragonard gowns and some add the quizzing glass to give special effect. Some of the most effective £)ines I have yet seen were made of stained wood in such colours as violet de Monseigneur, Empire green, Bakst red, and smoke gray. The correct thing is to cords and tassels attached to the cane, hear the handle,, and the colour of the .stick itself ought to harmonise with the robe with which it is carried. I have seen some beautiful canes of this genre made of ebony, with carved ivory handles and coloured cords. The ebony canes look specially well when' carried with lAuslin or chiffon gowns; op "With robes composed entirely of lace. One or two leading Parisian elegantes, notably Princess Guy de Faucigny-Lucinge, have had their parasols painted by famous artists. This is a revival of fashion which was in favour in the reigit of Louis XV» The paintings are genuine works of art; sometimes they take the form of landscapes; sometimes they are delicate garlands of flowers or baskets of fruit. A specially prepared silk is \ised for such sunshade covers and the linings, of tulle or chiffon, are made to contrast with the leading colours of the pieture. The handles of these luxurious parasols are quite as beautiful and as valuable as the painted covers. They are made of Saxe porcelain, tortoise shell, carved ebony or ivory. Some of them are very long and they are flattened at the end to take a design of interlaced initials in gold pr silver; sometimes these initials are made entirely of small diamonds.