SPRING SHOWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13691, 5 September 1908, Page 2

SPRING SHOWS.

AT PENROSE'S.

Spring comes but once a year and so does Penrose's spring display of millinerv and drapery," which opened . yesterday afternoon. Mr. Penrose as usual has a showing of new ; goods of a most remarkable variety, novelty and quality being outstanding features. On approaching the. establishment one is struck on glancing in the lower drapery window with a life-size model dressed in" the new directoire costume, which created such a sensation in Paris a few months ago. The costume is perhaps, not likely to become popular in Tiniaru, but there is little doubt that it will turn the attention of people towards evolving a more rational dress for women. Its main feature is that the skirt is open up at one side, showing tight-fitting hose and incidentally the shape of the figure. Of course Mr Penrose did not put the model there with any idea that it is going to be popular here, but more to show that he is up-to-date and ever on the look-out for something new, a spirit which is commendable in a business man and which, in the case of a draper, is appreciated by the fair sex. Other attrac- . tions in this window are a variety of costume pieces, characterised • more by jheir bright finish, than by any particular colour. The window is stocked full of model hats and blouses, but these give only a faint indication of what is to be found in the millinery room. Entering the building one walks under an arch of welcome and is faced with a bay devotedto blouses in silk, fille and taffeta, also washing costumes galore in ginghams and linens.'i Then there is a table of floral ribbons, very pretty indeed, and another of Plouen, Swiss and handmade Nottingham laces, all showing marvellous workmanship and a disposition to make a pleasing effect when worked up " into wearing apparel. A quantity of a novel kin-1 of pillow with pain -.tl washable pictures upon them suggest comfort, to weary limbs. Then a profusion "of neckwear* is met with and it is noticeable here that gold and .silver threads find a prominent part in the material of which the ties and scarfs aie made. There are others, too, of Maltese lace, ribbon and chiffons. Some of the scarfs are big things, two or three yards long, and hand-painted. Belts of various sorts are then met with, from coloured leather with attached purses to match, to silk things with gold and silver working in them. Looking upwards one sees a veritable airship of sunshade* of a variety to satisfy every taste. Then tbere are more ribbons, all widths and colours, and dress trimmings, including coloured embroidery on gold thread and some varicoloured lace work, all very fine. We coma now to the dress department "and a word or two about fashions will not be out of place. It is said that no particular colour for costumas is to be in vogue this year, but whatever the colour may be everything except the hat must match. The predominating colours are Sax blue, Havana brown and Canard green in dresses and Penroses have a variety of designs in these colours, with sunhades and belts to match. Some particularly fine worked net stuff cannot be passed by without a word of admiration. Printed lawns and zephers in beautiful designs and shades with the same idea in embroidered white, woollen delaines for blouses, printed veiling voile, very fine and delicate, and some Taffeta and Chinese silks, which, owing to the demand for bright-surfaced stuff this season, have got a cut in. are other features of this well-stocked shop. As before stated tl»e impression prevails this season that everything except hats must mateh. In hats, as a glance through the millinery department tfr'ill ;shbw£ <he tendency is to have gayer and more elaborate than hitherto, in fact anything is allowable regardless of matching, size, colour of trimmings, etc. A large number of these independant hats put together, as in Penrose's show-room, make almost a. flower garden. In the same department are a variety of dust cloaks—motorists will want ;them when out driving and pedestrians will want them to protect their dresses from the dust raised by motors. Some children's millinery, coats and black net blouses for elderly, ladies, lace, silk and muslin under skirts and model ready-to-wear hats of a quieter character than' the gay flower bedecked ones complete this attractive department. In the men's side of the establishment the usual high-class tw«eds, shirts, bags, rugs, ties, hats, etc., are met with, special features being the straws, panamas. fancy vests and green soft hats. In addition the tailoring department is making a display of riding breeches. Taken on the whole Mr Penrose is to be congratulated for showing such a fine stock to the public, a stock which shows newness, novelty, taste and quality all through.

THE C.F.C.A. Yesterday's weather was typical of the new reason, when the mind particularly of the fair sex, turns to thoughts of out and indoor costumes in keeping with bright ekies and KumSiii? day»>, cool evenings and the lengthening gloaming. It was fitting then that the C.F.C.A. should guide customer' and visitor to realisation of desire by holding a Spring Show, where the exhibits cover by no means ;i limited area of the latest and beat in the drapery world. Of coun>e, with their bpaoe limited in comparison with what they could do "before the tire," the O.F. C.A. hav« not iso much room on the line or iu tbt> stall,' but Mr F. Smith, Mr C. Homo and tlieir splendid staff of a«•iefanta have done woudera in the way of effective diitplay, and u persona] visit "will bring fhw home mot effectively. It is often said that Uh-it haw no time to look at the many things 'hat go to make up the complete outfit for modern women, at least when those things are m iu tlipiece, «*> it will be best to touch on the •lUtlh. when it does apjjeal nto>t strongly to the on* who pay**, in the afreet or gard«-n party costume, the at-homea and the card parties. The *»how of dre*i» goods is thiti Spring particularly attractive, but. no illustration in black and white or common letterpress can do jutstice to the beautiful good* in graft on cotton voiho, the dainty inu«!ins, the mchairs, lite, cambric*; while the choice at*>ortuientH in fittix show that exquisit* designs in them am aa every equally as popular pe modern line*;. It,/ can* however, bo uuly *ajd that the cotton ro;|*t> are marvel* of ar tistic workmanship, the coluut blending and the design* in floral ami leaf work being «".pet-iaTly attractive and dainty. Striped matetials take quite a place, and can be got in nhnwl any de sign, narrow and broad, prominent and subdued, varied occasionally with t»pray or flower. l-ying clow* to such linen of most attractive goodi», aiv fabnu. of the wear all the season, wai.h .-very wc«-k. cia»s that must of course tiud a place in every well appointed wardrobe. Jn tho*?. the colour* of the rambow are well represented Jtt chiffons, t>ttij>cd /••phyrs. muslins, Persian lawn*. S««i*» mutkliuA and Indian liii'-ri*. Viyellns and IVyloni add to a l>m that can flout any jMiint be satisfactorily drawn upon. For ■j&-cially drwity occasion*, blous*-* of l>?aulifu! and varied materials. Mid of attractive designs, are a leading feature of the hhow ; whdo lit.* rv-!i» and border* i for rob.-. lend readily (.. the clt-v-r ar!.«: wh<> turn* •Ut a model that i* bound !<« call f.-rth the greatest pran*-. Hie millinery, j perhaps, show* tin* widv»t departure fr>.ui ] what lii» be»-n. for th<* h-iU. nrr vry Urn-. ] and high crowne «*. m to be the rule, j There aro many complete uperitnvn*. (o j *.ir. t from, sn-'fuding the Biarritz, Mario j

Studholme, Directoire, and Goodwood, as the leading models, while, the Cliveden Zephyr, Sunnv South, Monte Carlo, and Bandana, are" mostly of the very useful order. Trimmings lend themselves readily to a host of materials, such as flowers, sprays, nets, tinsel, tulle, and ribbons of many colours,' and textures. In children's lines there are the popular arravs of bonnets,. knock-about hats, etc., and adult headwear of the kind ibat meets the demand for seaside picnics or a day in the playing field or the country. In the showroom, the visitor will also find a remarkably 'tasteful display of jackets and coats, underskirts, etc.; while such fittings as gloves, hosiery, smnshades, ties, will be found of as much variety as is desired, and of quality that is equal to any .lemand made upon it. Taken all through the ladies' side of the house is distinctly complete; it has a wide embrace and within it will be found such a bewildering varietv of useful and dainty »mfitts, that all who patronise the SprmorShow should the thoroughly satisfied. Then on the men'ssidv* is quite as an exhibition, but it is so very much quieter in the whole make up and display. However, men will find that even in it are quite new and fashionable departures in ties and hose, and that even the tweeds and coatings are coming out of well worn tracks. The day of the stiff uncomfortable shirt w still" getting sborter, for the new liiws are soft to the bodv at any rate if not to the neck and. wrist. Hats 6hdw quite a change, in brim and crown, and collars actually turn down ao-ain. In the furnishing annexe, are to be seen carpets of all Jcinds - and at all prices; while the linoleums come out smiling from the fire—patterns like Joseph's coat, quality and finish second to none.