FASHIONS FROM PARIS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20850, 5 October 1937, Page 8

FASHIONS FROM PARIS

Paris has been bathing in a flood of sunshine and the air so warm that the capital has seemed transformed into a big and highly fashionable seaside resort, and yards and yards of gay and light fabrics slide daily through the delicate fingers of the “bees” in the Paris workrooms to become, to the great joy of the Pariesiennes and the numerous women from foreign lands who walk through the city, the loveliest works of the dressmaker’s art. White is the keynote for day-wear as also for evening wear. Often white is accompanied by red trimmings. There is a great simplicity in such dresses made of white “albene” (a washing artificial silk) with front fastening with a row of red buttons from neck to waist, the shoulder line running a short way up on to the neck forming a small simple collar; the sleeves to the elbow making square shoulders as wide at the base as at the top; the skirt fits closely at the hips flaring out at hem. A dress made for a very much talked about English lady is a blue one, simple in lines, with three motifs in the front of the jacket in the form of outspread bird’s wings as a fastening, the first forming a square neckline, so that a blue and white checked scarf may be seen; the left wing of the second forming a pocket and containing a handkerchief matching the scarf, and the third gathering the material at the waist line making the jacket close-fitting. White close-fitting short-waisted jackets, with small basque, wide pockets, square shoulders, with motifs either embroidered or applied on the revers, are very fashionable. They are for the most part of “piquella” (a kind of beautiful pique), linen and crepe, and are worn over printed dresses. Coats are also white. For cooler days a famous Parisian dress-maker offers to the Parisiepne a short shaved-lamb jacket. Another presents a half-length sleeved jacket made of light lizard. Most strange and lovely effects are produced by mixing colours of materials embroideries, buttons and belts. An ensemble of white “albene” fastens with brown buttons. The blouse is adorned with brown embroidered motifs. An orange linen jacket has black buttons set on the revers; the skirt is also in black. A jacket of entrelace, wide pink, red and lilac ribbons, is very effective. This is accompanied by a lilac skirt. Some ensembles are made in beautiful pale tints, green, blue and pink, generally relieved by a contrasting colour. An afternoon black dress is ornamented with three rows of silver coin-like ornaments increasing in size. Hats are very small or very large. A particularly beautiful hat was knitted, its broad brim turned up on the left side over a piece of cashmire forming a big bow on the same side. Another is very flat of white lace and horsehair, a narrow pale blue velvet bow set on the front, the end passing through the broad brim and beneath the chin to be knotted high on the right side. But what might be called “a half-hat” is one produced likewise by a famous milliner, which consists only of a broad brim without crown. As to evening wear, nearly every night at the exhibition the most magnificent creations are to be seen. Their outline often takes the form of a big triangle, their width at hem increasing more and more. They are made of muslin, organza (silk organdie), soft satin, in white or black, entirely embroidered, printed or worked in beautiful broad patterns. Cut work is to be seen on nearly every evening gown, and Grecian outline is a great favourite.