OUR PARIS LETTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1926, Page 18

OUR PARIS LETTER.

THE LATEST FASHIONS

(By

Yvonne Rodier

'‘Tailored”' evening gowns' are immensely chic. “Gown,” of course, is a mionomer in the case of coats and skirts of satin, if you please, with “evening” gilet effects. But there are also crepe de chine dresses of demi-decqllotage with a plain tailored finish, the skirt being bordered with tissu braid, or pour changer, with wide fringe. Evening scarves are “featured” in many of the Paris shops. They are made of chiffon, and trimmed a merveille with diamante and ostrich fronds. Learning to wear a scarf of this kind with unselfconscious- chic is quite an art in itself. The chiffon fantasy lias a slit in the centre to permit of the very careful passage of the head through the filmy fabric. Tho rest of the creation is flung over the shoulder and twisted' round the arm. And it can look like a poem of grace—or a hopeless “rag”—according to the wearer! Paris hats match the gowns with Which they are worn in respect iof colour. .They must match absolutely—or provide a striking note of contrast. The ’ Parisienne’s. special concern—and

that of her milliner—is to ensure exactly the right shape of chapeau; neither too large nor too small, neither too plain nor too “fussy,” to suit the type of the frock, Madame visits her milliner with her collar “set” in the way she habitually wears it, to make sure that her hat is entirely in the picture and perfectly “balanced” with the rest of her toilette. ..Belt.s still continue to trim the übiquitous jumper suits. At a Paris dress show last week I noted a new idea in such ceintures. One intriguing-looking belt proved, on enquiry, to be made of the hair ruffling which hitherto lias bebn used only to fashion collars-de' luxe for Madamo’s “bull-dogue.” But it certainly lent a particularly smart air to the chic silk stockinette frock which it encircled at the hipline. Some exquisite examples of highly'

skilled workmanship, ineffably dainty, are seen in the lingerie finishing touches to “little” frocks. Rows of fine lace and insertion, beautifully mounted on net, constitute a favourite theme for collar and cuffs in this ultra-feminine genre.

NEW COLOURS AND THEIR NAMES.

Each season has its shades and subtleties in tints and tones, and to-da)y they are, perhaps, more numerous and more beautiful than they were a- years ago. Here are brief descriptions of the newest shades, together with their newest names:

) Gipsy Red —is the deepest and richest shade of the Bordeaux or wine red which is leading the way for millinery and wraps, as well as for house and evening frocks. It proves equally becoming to blonde and brunette. ' Mousse De Neige—is the name for the greyish tone of white which is used with silver for. evening gowns. Expressed in artificial silk, it has a slight metallic effect which gives the surface the soft radiance that we find in a drift of newly fallen snow. Muscat —is a shade which is a blend of purple and deep blue. It resembles the purple-blue bloom on the skin of a dark muscat grape. Cdeur de Rose—the latest development of bois de rose, has a more intense suggestion of pink than the latter. Alone, or combined with navy blue, it i is used to make some really delightful ; afternoon gowns.’

Palm Green—as the latest shade of green is balled, is a cross between almond and emerald. Hats in this tone are kinder to the complexion that those of almond or emerald green.

Cloud—is the name for a subdued dove, grey which, in soft silk and woollen materials, is used to fashion the latest jumpers and sports suits. i . —“Louise.”