DRESSES OF THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19878, 20 February 1920, Page 7

DRESSES OF THE WEEK.

IN AND ABOUT THE CITY.

(Written for the “Star.”) Even if the temperature is mostly decidedly summery, who could be otherwise than enraptured with the beautiful autumn gowns and hats that the shops are displaying alter their summer sales! It seems as if the shops travel as far ahead of the thermometer as possible. and there are women almost as anxious to do likewise. All the same the most courageous of us turn awav from the tempting “ models ” and determine to get just a few weeks’ more wear out, of our summer clothes, and delay ordering our winter costumes accordingly. But the evening dresses — “fluffy little bunches of nothing that mamuactur.ers have the audacity to call dancing frocks!” All the handsome brocades and metal gowns seem to have disappeared and in theii* place the flimsiest of materials are used. I saw one advance model f quite fascinating—a little tulle dress in a bright midnight blue. The skirt was made of layer upon layer of the tulle, find the bodice, what there was of it, was simply a straight piece of wide blue and silver ribbon placed loosely round the figure and held up by jet shoulder straps. Perhaps it Will make its debut at the Prince’s ball —on a fair girl it would look lovely. Just now there is nothing strikingly new in the advance models for outdoor wear, the silhouette and juniper-gowns, made in a straight lines without even a suggestion of a waistline, still being la mode. But what is important is to keep in touch with the smartest and newest, things in materials. There is a bewildering array of new weaves and designs to choose from —perhaps experimenting in dress dyes and materials in France and England these past few years is responsible for the new colours and textures. “There is nothing new under the sun ” is a fallacy so far as attire is concerned. An American journal explains the change in materials by saying that the hand loom is responsible, giving food for reflection that a Jnachine, even ivnen guided by the hajld, can produce marvellous embroider'd materials, American manufacturers, too, are putting forth every effort to catch up to France, and the result is an astonishing and bewildering array oi new weaves and designs. Plaids are to be worn in the coming winter—Scotch plaids, and what have come to be known ns French plaids. The Scotch plaids we know and Hite, and the French plaids we are undecided about, but they are in wonderfully blended colours, althost oriental in effect.

We are getting a long way from Cathedral Square and its environs, hut we in Christchurch will catch up sooner or later, and. with the shops to encourage, even if prices discourage, tho fashionable. woman in Christchurch is not far behind her oversea sisters.

One had to look twice at a distinguished looking woman', who has been in our town for some weeks. She was wearing a semi-fitting gown of fawncoloured tricolette—commonly known as jersey silk—on which was embroidered faintly a scroll design carried out in a deeper shade. The turban hat Worn with this was of black and gold. A costume of tailored severity and simple smartness, worn by a tali woman was of black serge, showing an almost imperceptible dotted black lino. A black vogue hat was also worn. A lavender voile dress impressed itself on one's eye. It was worn by a g.rl who has a penchant for the shade she knows what suits her. A fluffy lace collar made in old fashioned fichu style, caught with a purple brooch, purple beads and a floppy purple bat, completed this picture. A bride now on a visit from Southland looked charming in a lemoncoloured crepe de chine jumper, hand embroidered in the same shade, worn with a sKirt of a deeper shade and a hat en suite.

A pretty little dark girl “just out” looked well in a hand knitted silk jumper with cream stripes let in. a green skirt, and a straw hat bound and trimmed in the same shade of bottle green.

Picturesque did a, dainty girl look this week in a pale pink voile frock, and a cherry coloured straw hat. A frock of white muslin had a cool effect. _ Simply but expensively trimmed with insertion of Irish crochet, the sleeves'were long and tight fitting, and the front open at the throat in a V shape.

A girl who herself is as smart as the gowns she imports and sells, looked particularly charming in a heavy weight cream voile frock handsomely 'embroidered in royal blue, and worn mth a high crowned and chic looking royal blue hat.

A lettuce green cotton frock trimmed unobtrusively with white embroidery made very plainly in one-piece effect