PRESSES OF THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19847, 16 January 1920, Page 7

PRESSES OF THE WEEK.

IN AND ABOUT THE CITY,

(Written for the “Star.”)

Alhat an amount of time and trouble would he saved if gowns were displayed with all their necessary adjuncts, hats, veils, gloves, scarves, shoes and stockings, so that one might purchase them all at once. AVho has not known what it is to trudge from shop to shop to match a- certain colour, for mere details? How we have hunted lor a hat to “go with ” our frock, then for gloves, then a scarf. The ‘‘ other department” seems so far away, and the stain; so endless to climb. All this could ho avoided if onr modistes would adopt this plan. Nothing looks in such perfect taste as a well thought, out colour scheme with every detail to match.

Gloves are tho groat problem of tho day, they arc so very cosily, and yot with sleeveless evening gowns, and very short or open sleeves for day wear, they aro needed. Some women have the. courage to carry the precious things, and some go without, hut thov arc verv brave, or else have,beautiful bands. If a tow courageous ones were to combine and absolutely refuse to buy expensive gloves, is it possible the price would come down?

The shops are displaying a. perfect riot of coloured materials for summer wear, and yet at the vice-regal garden party bow noticeably cool looking were the women wearing' black. One'lovely black frock, which attracted a good deal of attention, was of black satin, with a gold embroidered corsage, and dec]) fringes of black chenille, a small black bat was worn, of gold laco and black tulle. Black satin is so useful, it, may be regarded as the maid-of-all-nork of the wardrobe. And it ia not rcaly expensive. Some woollv backed—possibly cotton woolly backed—are quite moderate in price. Thought out carefully it can be made to do duty on almost any occasion, and at any' season. A high guimpo and long sleeves, and it is an afternoon gown, remove tbo sleeves and slip on a net overdress brightened by a bit of jet, iind it will pass muster for the theatre or a. dinner party. A touch of colour or a. note of white and its character' is completely changed. The changeable weather during the last week has made the dress question a difficult one and rain coats and umbrellas have been the order of the day. Warm wraps aro more in evidence Ilian summer costumes. However, a low distinctive gowns have boon noticed. A visitor to Christchurch at tho flower show wore a striking costume of very fine navy blue serge.- Tho narrow skirt bad a row of buttons up each side seam; the smart Eton coat revealing a cream not blouse, was fashioned with a deep baud just reaching the waistline. From, the shoulder seams hung a long straight panel, lined with bright emerald green silk and finished with deep fringe. AAith this was worn a lino grey straw hat.

. A lady well known for her interest in kindergarten work was wearing a, floral ninon gown in a lovely shade of blue, with a very becoming black bat, turned up on one side. . Another visitor to the city was wearing a cream voile, whose simple lines suited her tall slender figure well. A perfeety plain skirl and a very long tunic, gathered at the shoulders and drawn in at the waist with a dark blue sott, ribbon sash witli long ends, and borciered with cross-stitch embroidery in shades of _ dark blue, red apd dull oiange, wide sleeves, also embroidered, and tho whole outlined with a narrow cross-way baud of dark blue, a hao of black straw-, trimmed with hunches of flowers repeating tho colours of the embroidery, made a. most distinctive and cool looking toilette. To be appropriately dressed is to he well dressed. A girl packhre ] !cr eaniera stand into her motor, evidently oil; lor a holiday, was wearing a near tailor-made coat and skirt of tweed, short and quite devoid of trimming; the coat was worn o]h;u over a jumper blouse of thin silk in grev and pink stripes. Another very smart grey chock tweed costume noticed ono morning had •) short sac coat over the severely plain' skiit, with wmch was worn a small heliotrope straw hat, trimmed with tho lasliiqnablo bunches of tinv green and purple grapes. One bright sunny day this week a. handsome dark girl was wearing a deep pink crepe irock with panels and trimmings in a conventional design of pink giapes on a white ground A handsome' resident of Addington was wealing a [rock ol Mack souplc satin am georgette exquisitely trimmed with jot-ed embroideries and a smart black lia.t, wreathed with black osprevs was worn.

i'} y l '] 1 ??' lr "iu South Canterbury ooked deliciously cool on one of tbo hottest days, wearing an uncommon hock Ol whue ami daffodil yellow voile. A uif.e-bnmmed Leghorn bat, trimmed with turquoise blue, and wreathed with turquoise and yellow plumes, was worn with this.

A frequent visitor to Christchurch. Irom Alt Somers, looked decidedly oracclul in a lovely frock of navy (•• 'kUtcn’s e.u ) satin ; a small close fitting toque, ol navy blue, encircled with osprevs, was worn witli it.

One particularly chic looking suit seen by the writer this week, was of fine navy serge, with white pin stripes, placed widely apart, -.me .skirt was quite narrow, am! the coat long and ingeniously monlocd into the figure, Ihc whole realising a pitch of. perfection rarely met witli nowadays. AVilli this was worn a dark iia.vy'"hat of Manila stray,- adorned with small bunches of luscious looking cherries.

A pretty fair girl looked very cool and neat wearing a white voile' frock with a, big square collar, back and front, inlet with insertion and lacc. The skirt was long am) narrow, and heavily embroidered. The hat worn with this was of stitched pink linen. -STELLA.