BASQUE VOGUE

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1934, Page 18 (Supplement)

BASQUE VOGUE

THE FEATHER CAPELET LATEST LONDON FASHIONS. LOVELY COLOURINGS SHOWN. The dress shop windows are full just now of the loveliest colourings, and if these are the shades upon which Paris has finally decided for the new season few women will have cause to complain, writes a London correspondent to the Daily News. A few days ago I came across a showcase in which were displayed a light wool crepe in the new Oporto shade, a rich crepe de chine in vintage red, and a small brimmed hat of deep creamy velvet, stitched all over both crown and brim. It seemed to suggest the ideal ensemble for either town or country wear, and a complete change from what might be called fripperies. I could imagine, for instance, the wool crepe in its deep wine colour fashioning a trim two-piece, with the top of the dress made of the crepe de chine, and the little velvet hat pulled on at a smart angle in readiness for some dressy afternoon function. The lovely dead leaf brown of the moment, allied with a warm sand beige, would make an equally attractive ensemble; so would raven’s wing blue with a Wedgwood, tone to throw its dark beauty into relief. The Use of two different colours, or of two tones of one which will provide a strong contrast, Is a great feature of most of the new ensembles. Tunic gowns, which grow in popularity week by week, are usually made in two tones of th<? one colour, but where there is a dies; —or skirt—and a little basque coat or blouse a complete colour contrast is usually aimed at. Think how attractive a dark skirt would be with a basque blouse of oyster-tinted satin, the collar having wide ends spread out fanwise in front. A narrow kilted frill might edge the collar and cuffs, and could be used, too, where fluffiness was desired, to finish the hem of. the basque. INSTEAD OF TUNICS. These basques are suggested for the woman who is on the short side and does not care for the tunic. Instead of a long straight line which would accentuate her lack of height she has the choice of a softly draped garment ■which is becomingly moulded to her figure and is finished with a plain shaped basque or one that is gathered and fluted. The basque is in some light, fancy material; the skirt may be just as light, since crepe de chine, chiffon and patterned silk are used quite often in an ensemble of this kind. Where the tunic gown is rather on the plain side, the basque may be fanciful and trimming is often made a feature of it. Frills, inrows, appear on it, as do fichus with a fluffy effect, and if the basque is of taffetas there are ruchings to take away from the severity of the material. Basques are daytime affairs. For the evening the short coat fashion is equally popular, but the new models are quite straight instead of being drawn in to the waist, and they are made of the filmiest materials. Tulle, for in- - stance, seems to be first favourite. It may be said that it affords little protection and no warmth, but the tulle is used in two or three thicknesses, and the favourite way of giving it the necessary dressy look is to gauge it heavily, which adds to its substance. In this way it will give the same measure of protection as either chiffon or lace, and both these protect bare arms and shoulders to an astonishing degree in a cool breeze. In? any case the short coat or evening cape is intended for ornament rather than use, and just now, when dresses which have seen a good deal of wear are being made to do duty for a little longer, a smart little coat will frequently give an old frock a new lease of life.

Some people may prefer a feather capelet to lace, tulle or chiffon expressed in terms of a coatee, and these capelets established themselves so firmly last season, and proved so cosy as well as so becoming, that they are likely to remain in favour for some time. The new models are just wide enough to drape the shoulders and cover the arms to an inch or so below the elbows, and, while black and white were used extensively for them when they were first introduced, coloured ostrich feathers and coq feathers are more popular now. FLOWER PETALS. The elever-fingered woman who finds coq or ostrich feathers beyond her means might try making a cape of silk flower petals. They must be joined together and then mounted on a foundation bf net or chiffon, and although the working of them demands patience and dainty hands, the result is well worth the trouble. Basques and coatees are a reminder that the new blouses are beginning to make their appearance, not only in the clothes collections but in the smart hotels where people are taking holiday. They accompany trim coats and skirts woni until lunch time, and, probably because there has been a surfeit of fussy frocks this year, they are very refreshing to look upon. They are all tailored, but this does not necessarily mean that they are plain and severe. Ono worn recently with a coat and skirt of soft mushroom brown loosely •woven fine tweed, was in the pink shade found on the under side of a baby mushroom, lightly sprigged with brown. The material itself was thin satin, and the blouse was cut with the new dropped shoulder line, sleeves that were tigHlfitting to the wrists, and a little turndown collar, not more than an inch in depth, which fastened high at the throat. Down the front of the blouse were three small fancy buttons, useful as well as ornamental for they had their accompanying buttonholes and were the fastening proper, and from the narrow centre band which held them there floated away at either side cascade-like draperies of the satin.