Jaffeta An EVENING MODE

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1935, Page 15 (Supplement)

Jaffeta An EVENING MODE

.LHE beauty of modern taffetas is that not only has it its grandmother’s trick of swishswishing at every movement, but it comes to us, not in monotone and shot effects alone, as did its forbears, but it decks itself out in a variety of designs and color combinations. In fact, taffetas is just as clever as any of the other silks when it comes to setting itself up. Floral taffetas, for instance, are something that dreams are made of, so rich are the patterns and colors employed in them, especially when there is an undercurrent of gold. Plaid taffetas, are already an everyday event (theJatest, of course, are those of very large, bold design), and everyone has grown quite

used to the idea of taffetas striped in satin, while it is nothing to find this rustling fabric completely over-run with cellophane or metal threads, either as stripes or huge spots.

CIUICI <l3 OLUJJCO In short, modern taffetas is a worthy and successful medium for any amount of experimentation on the part of fabric creators, and the lesults are exceedingly attractive. It is, of course, due to the fashion trend towards bouffant styles that taffetas owes its piesent popularity, for somehow nothing has quite the personality or "stay-put” qualities of this interesting silk and nothing can pick up and throw off lights quite as charmingly as it does. Then, of course, there is its never-to-be-forgotten rustle. It is interesting to note the new name for shot taffetas "Giffin-

—e.g., changeaoie. One of the loveliest of a collection of super - lovely gpwns displayed on the recent fateful first voyage of the

world’s greatest liner, the Normandie, was one by Vionnet of flame taffetas with slender velvet shoulder straps. There were cleverly shaped puff sleeves on a drop-shoulder neckline, a shaped corsage and skirt which fitted to the hip line and then flared out voluminously to floor length with slightly greater length at the back. A sash loosely encircled the waist with huge soft bow in front. This must have been a glorious model for its elegant simplicity. For the same occasion Lanvin made an evening wrap of iridescent shot green and red with full balloon sleeves, nipped in waist and recklessly full skirt, not unlike, in theory,

the evening coats shown on tins page. . . Fashion experts in America, in discussing what is now to them autumn or “fall” fashions, have much to say about the stiffened

silks of to-day. Not for a moment overlooking the supple, draped Grecian influence which is already making its mark on fashion history, they declare that the crisp, bulky fabrics will have tremendous prominence and, as a result, cellophane novelties are enjoying a great vogue. The latest cellophane and metallised fabrics appear to be woven all-over affairs, not merely the striped effects they were early in their genesis. The rich taffetas of the Italian Renaissance types are among those referred to as "bulky,” whilst another means of achieving the desired bulkiness is by padding underneath—-a quite old trick revived. z

ffltany of taffetas