DERBY DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10926, 15 November 1913, Page 6

DERBY DAY.

.WHAT WAS WORN. (By CYNTHIA, in the "Melbourne " Age.") It is long since colours were so daringly blended as they were on Saturday. Coats of every imaginable cut wore worn in conjunction witb skirts from which they differed radically both in colour and material, while the draped tunio contrasting sharply with the gown proper was everywhere in evidence. To mention the " gown proper " is to excite controversy at the moment, and there is no gainsaying the fact that the gown improper was by no means lacking on Saturday. Some of the slit skirts were sufficiently daring, but some of the bodices were cut in a way that might have aroused comment at a ball. Probably the boldest bid for notoriety was made, however, by the women who wore diaphanous materials over the closest fitting gowns of warm pink. To the credit of the large majority, all exaggerations of this description wore, very few in number, while entertainment of quite another kind was afforded by some of the costliest and most fashionable of the garments worn by women who certainly, had no intention of adding to the gaiety of nations. One ultra-fashionable woman, for instance, pursuing her way along the terrace in one of the very smart, very full black satin coats which are drawn into a wide band well below the knees, was caught by the wind in such a manner that the whole garment was inflated in most ludicrous fashion. Another recognised exponent of the art of dress had a drapery of grass green satin crossed in 6uch a manner on the skirt of her white.chiffon satin gown that she diverted attention even from the winning horses. Another woman, who on other occasions has set fashions, wore an abnormally deep folded belt over a blue coat of embossed chiffon velvet, which, in its turn, was worn over a very remarkably draped skirt of soft black satin. A gold tissue coat worn under brilliantly jetted lace recalled old-time stories of Gup day glories, and as much may be said for some of the women who wore gold printed chiffons, supplemented with that gorgeous variety of sash which is offering such splendid opportunities to women with a flamboyant taste in dress. The visitor to Flemington on Saturday was not slow in realising that the present trend of fashion gives women with artistic taste admirable opportunities of distinguishing themselves. That every opportunity is emphasised by reason of the many pitfalls into which the unwary woman has already fallen. The wise woman, for instance, who weighs anything over nine stone, and measures anything less . than five feet some, inches, does not throw her weight on one foot, and thus acquire an appearance of quite extraordinary limpness. Nor does she wear a middy'blouse and skirt costume, or even an extravagantly wide sash of folded velvet brocade in a colour that insists in arresting the attention of everybody. And since wise women are, after all, in the majority, Saturday had many delightful things to show. What, for instance, could have been prettier than a long white coat of heavy lace, veiled entirely with chiffon virle, and worn j with a soft blue satin skirt and a most becoming little hat of black satin ? Another charming gown had i a skirt of thick white silk and a redingort of bin ilk, finished with a short | ended sash „> white spotted blue satin, and wide brimmed white hat, being swathed with a white spotted blue scarf. Typical of the best was a very slightly trained gown of brandy brown broche, worn under a long tunio of fine net, showing very fine black and silver embroidery. The black hat whioh went with this gown was of pleated black tulle, and hats of much the same description were extraordin-*, arily numerous. Some remarkably effective long coate were worn. Specially attractive was one of fine black net, elaborately pattenred with tiny cut black beads, and mounted on soft white, silk. The belted coat, with deeppleated basque, was usually carried out most satisfactorily in thin silks and satins. A delightful example was in bark green chiffon satin, worn with black satin hat. The cut-away coat was one of Saturday's conspicuous features. One such coat in clay-coloured satin accompanied a charming gown of navy blue crepe. Among many beautiful white gosrns was one of finest broderies Anglaise, worn over very pale pink silk, and draped over a petticoat of handsome lace. Heavy Irish crochet lace played a noteworthy part in .some of the best white gowns, while collars and revers of the same lace in finer makes was worn on countless white blouses, which were worn with all sorts of costumes. „