DRESSES OF THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19815, 5 December 1919, Page 9

DRESSES OF THE WEEK.

—it . CM rit-ien for the “Star.") L'hr':-tdinndi lias turned into a. city o) surprises as- regards weather, and this week has been full of variety j'louday w.-,.. very hot. and Tuesday and m edneylay were cold. Consequently women;s dress ha.-. been as varied as the weather. Suminei dresses, light and >'ur,'.. ieigned supreme on Mon' ia.y, and on the, two following days costumes and big coats were in evidence. Tilings were evened up considerably by yestcrclayte sunshine, , when hall 'the women aad decided on cold weather toilettes, tird the (“her Imlf-the optimists—on summer attire. Although there are three, weeks until Christinas the town has been full of country folk doing their shopping, and town folk, too, have been noticed carrying parcels of all .shapes and sizes. .Many good housewives have been busy making Christmas cakes and puddings, and have put nsido frivolities and everything pertaining thereto for a. while at least. Ihern have, been .several smart costumes seen this week, but none, of them of the elaborate, order. Clothes are regaining the simplicity that they lost w’hcn tho war was first over—a. sign that we are getting hack to normal. The much trimmed and elaborately conceived dress is relegated almost, into obscurity ; the newest models are all showing a, return__to the severity which is so smart. T his does not say that trimming is not used at all. lor some forms of decoration aro certainly to the lore, notably the line soutache which is in vogue for coals and skirts, embroideries ior light-weight materials, and mwe/ded passementerie for house wear. With less trimmings the. lines remain simple and slender, but the styles must bo .ncliviclnal enough to impart distinction. I’anniers and loose panels are much worn—-panniers for indoor wear and loose panels for street wear. 'lbis article is really not to discuss fashion' in general, but. what is worn by our own womenfolk in particular. A remarkably smart costume showing tho effect of the narrow semi-detached panel was observed by a. scribo this week from bis office, an office where woman is often criticised, .somewhat severely—but evidently the costume in this particular instance met with the august approval of the aforesaid scribe. The (Xistumo was of cloth in that shade of brown known a.-, “cinnamon,” the bodice was close fitting and caught in at the waist- with a, band of material, and tho skirt was just wide enough, ta allow freedom of movement- At the front and back were narrow’ panels with fairly wide hems of beaver. A beaver collar and cuffs, ‘brown bat. and shoes and stockings to correspond completed this toilette, which really deserved admiration. Dy the way. men do take notice of clothes, and men that one would! hardly expect to be interested. One of my I fiends came to mo saying lie had seen “a, stunning costume ” quite worthy of note in these, columns. To the beat of his ability he described it thus: “ A tailor-made costume of navy blue and white checks the size of the average dm ugh t board, with panels (yes, he knew they were panels) let in each side, of plain navy blue doth, a small ua.vy blue hat, black shoes and stockings (ho emphasised their neatness) of blue and win to checks, nub very clearly defined. ” For a more man the description is quite good, and tho unknown wearer must have looked nice indeed to merit such enthusiasm and observation. Moire is a new material most fashionable at present. It is not at all like, t](q old 1 , moire, but it is so- soft rjud manageable Dial, it need no longer ba associated with the elderly wearer. A tall lady, well known in Christchurch, looked most handsome, in a wedgwood blue moire coat and skirt, a cream georgette blouse, and a blue hat trimmed with a, white ostrich plume. A duo suit, of grey riuvctyn, cut, on .straight lines, niado’with a, gre.v corded silk vest trimmed with vieux rose buttons and embroidered in vieux rose, the skirt plainly made, and worn, with a. grey hat, grey shoes and stockings, and a, vieux rose and grey silk .scarf, looked well on n. pretty fair girl living in Rapnnui. Conspicuously well dressed and suitably chui for a. morning's shopping was aSt Aibniis girl. Sim was wearing a while crepe do chine blouse with hemstitched collar, cuffs, and front revere of white, and lawn striped crepe dc dime, and a smartly cut fawn doth skirt shirred slightly at the waist, and made with side pockets embroidered in brown ami gold threads. The mushroom shaped violet hat wont with this suited the dark wearer to perfection. A resident of AJerivnlo looked very nice yesterday on her way to tcmiu in a dainty white voile House trimmed with file I- lace, a skirt of .-axe blue and white zephyr having a. black .square design thereon. Tho. skirt was relieved with a. hand of plain blue print round tho waist, and the Imni was also composed ol plain material. The mcvuiiipauying hat, was of Hack chip straw trimmed with a narrow saxe blue hand. A handsome bvunnetto. was in town one hot day looking dainty and cool in a .mauve, pinafore (rock. Die. collar and sleeves being of white voile edge) with narrow lace, and a mauve straw lint, simply I rimmed with a silk band, lid’ companion was in a, pink grey aiu i fawn striped zephyr frock, collar and ruffs of line lawn, and a large black straw hat. It was the simplicity oi these tw ( i washing frocks that 'made I hem so attractive. Another pretty zephyr frock was woi n I>.\ a. well-liked girl whoso on -'-a ,romenl mu recently bom aniiomiee.fr It, wa.- made, of green and white .checked material, worn with a rush hat in mined with green. A particularly effective costume of heavy Flip silk, the coat made sacque fashion with rovers of red and Hue stripes, and the skirt made with a loose panel hack and front, was worn by a young matron this week. The accompanying uat was of navy hliu*. . A Christchurch girl who lias resided in America for several years looked verv smart in a well cite tailored coat anil skirt of wine colour, trimmed with beavei fur, and worn with a quaint |rp. sided fd raw berry coloured tam-o’-shan-ter, STELLA. ■