DRESSES OF THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16331, 21 January 1921, Page 9

DRESSES OF THE WEEK.

IN AND ABOUT THE CITY. (Written for the “ Star.”) It is trite to start talking about the weather, but the weather is the dominant factor in controlling women’s toilettes. It is therefore permissible to remark upon it, as most of the dresses observed this week have not been midsummer ones Although the weather has been somewhat dull, especially after the preceding weeks of brilliant sunshine and sultry days, the flocking has been anything but uninteresting. On the contrary, many smart drosses have made their appearance, and the changes of temperature have only added variety to this week’s flocking. Fitful gleams of sunshine on several days were sufficient to induce women to venture out in light and airy attire. On one warm morning quite a number of the fair sex sported parasols. There is a new fashion in parasols this year which is reminiscent of Early Victorian days—that is, the carrying of small parasols made with frills. The smartest of these have decorative handles, and very short points. Aliss Marie Tempest has shown us some perfectly chosen toilettes, and in quite a number of them *Ahc parasol has played a conspicuous part in the elegant ensemb**. f ndcniably chic was an effect achieved by a. tall, slim woman who was doing town one morning, the one bright splash 'of colour being the scarlet and white striped sunshade. Her frock and hat were of dark blue, relieved sparingly with white muslin. Also a costume worthy of admiration was one of blue and white scroll patterned foulard, made with an elongated bodice and short pleated skirt. A cream crinoline straw hat trimmed with soft satin ribbon was worn with this, and a sunshade of floral silk was carried.

Yesterday morning two neatly-clad girls were out shopping. One was vert fair, the other dark. The fair girl’s 'vine cloth costume, which fitted her plirn figure closely, was braided with soutache, and her small black hat was finished off with a, brim of rose coloured ribbon. Her companion wore a navv blue gabardine costume relieved with mastic shaded collar, cuffs and buttons. Her shoes, stockings and wrap also were of a mastic tone. With this hitter toilette was worn a slightly upturned hat of navy blur velvet trimmed with uncurled ostrich feathers.

• '\j* rn - art ; M° s tport girl, who has been in Christchurch for some time, looked nice in a mole and lime striped sponge cloth costume, made very simp.lv. Her cream hat had bright flowers/ Seeking copy yesterday the writer went to lake tea at an *o\'d-established tea house. hi between cakes and sandniches she surreptitiously jotted down a few notes, sufficient to aid her memory 3 the following being the i-e----result :

In one corner of the room sat two sisters whose stylish dressing is notable. One of them wore a views: rose Pineapple sarin costume lavishly embroidered in grey wool, the narrow skirt having a series of small knife pleats at irregular interval?:, which loft tho side panels quite plain. With this was worn a large black pedal straw hat adorned with black corded ribbon. Her sister wore a navy bine coat and skirt, effectively ornamented with ring shaped motif* in blue and orange coloured wool, the same coloured design appearing on her small navy blue toque. A visitor from Hawke’s Bay, in a smart grey flannel costume trimmed with self buttons, looked nice. On a vest of net and filet la©o there showed a string of jet. beads. Tho leghorn hat worn with this was veiled with black net. and round the crown was a wide band, of velvet. Ten-ing with the daughter of a learned Judge a. pretty fair-haired visitor attracted many appreciative glances. She arore a. lime coloured crystalline one-piece frock, embroidered in block thread, and a small upturned sax© blue hat. trimmed with olack.

Surely nothing could have looked more stylish than a navy blue coat and skirt, trimmed with wide black braid and black buttons, which ws,s worn yesterday by a Well known and vOry lar Chn«.tohurdh girl. Showing beneath hor coat was a heavy silk jumper in a bright shade of henna, small touches of henna reappearing on the oyster grey georgette hat. The übiquitous navy blue coat frock lias many adherents, but no two frocks are the same. Of the sevornl noticed yestearday in tlie tea room above mentioned two* stitod out conspicuously. One was composed of navy blue serge, the upper portion of the bodice being embellished with buff coloured chenille, forming large squares, and the waist being defined by a buff cord girdle. Very

picturesque was the floppy leghorn hat, trimn\eri with buff velvet and a small jade ornament. The other navy blue coat frock had the trimming on the loWer portion of the skirt, which was lavishly ornamented with orange soutache in a riotous design. Completely m keeping with this frock was the lemon coloured georgette collar and the lembn coloured hat. A Oreymouth bride at present in Christchurch with her husband looked well in a fawn gabardine semi-fitting tailor-made, and a lawn straw bat brightened considerably by rose pink corded ribbon. A frock which suited well the individuality of the wearer was of dainty floral voile in which several bright shades were mixed, pink predominating. It wa* made with a fichu lac© collar, and pieot edged frills on the side panel*. A shady white silk hat encircled with, pink ribbon completed this attractive toilette. A Titian haired Actress belonging to tho Marie Tempest Company looks every bit ns charming in street attire as she does on the stage. She is the possessor of brown eye* only a shad© or two darker than her hair. Yesterday,, in a well cut navy bine costume trimmed with braid, black and white checked topped boots, and a black hat trimmed with patent leather, she was well worth a second glance. For the last frock to he described this week. T will tell of one that was told to me. It was described as follows: —“A pink frock with red spots, a round yoke, a broad belt tied in a. bow. the ends of which were edged with scarlet to match the piping on the folds of the skirt. And a. floppy leghorn hat trimmed with red and pink flowers.” At one time we would bar© gasped at the combination of red and pink, but f am willing to wager that the dress was in good taste if it was admired by my friend. STELLA.