DRESSES OF THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16496, 5 August 1921, Page 9

DRESSES OF THE WEEK.

IN AND ABOUT THE CITY. (Wr it ten for ‘ The Star.”) Th© aftermath of sales is always a display of new season’s models, that is. th© smartest and most up-to-date imported goods. This year th© mode! exhibitions have attracted more than usual interest, because most women have been anxious to see- how prices compare with the high charges of last year. Thoso who expected a birr drop have been doomed to disappointment, but there is a perceptible drop in the right direction, though not a big one. j Tho desire for pretty clothes is a very i feminine one. and an easily condoned j trait in our characters, -condoned even j by the masculine sex. Matrons and j maidens are alike in this, and one and : j all are glad that the days of severe and ■ unbecoming clothes are over, and that J now one can take a delight- in dressing to suit one’s individuality. The girl with the*small dress allowance knows that true economy Lies in getting something in a. gcjod material that suits her. Even the girl with a big dross allowance con do no more, though she may have a briber wardrobe. Manv of the coat- frocks of cloth a:l gabardine are finished off with a softly tied sash of satin, which is quite new, and most pleasing in effect. Never were accessories so enchanting—gorgeous handbags of brocaded tissue, beautiful necklaces suggesting the Orient, dainty vests, smart handled umbrellas, and many other etcetera-, appear U> have reached their very hpex in design and taste. Th© millinery is very lovely, notwithstanding the fact that shapes have altered little during the last year, originality depending large- > Iy upon the i rimming, and upon ' the colouring. Bright shades of blue, bright shades of red and bright shades of every colour but green are la mode. At present the coquettish tassel dan- ; gling from the brim is vefy attractive, I but it is a fashion that, if overdone, j will soon wane. Some of the feather | plumaged hats on view are very grace- j ful, and even theso are liable, to he overdone. Therein lies the rub. There I is no remedy. The woman who insists 1 on purchasing the advances models that j arc now exhibited must face tho fact that she will see many copies in a few j weeks’ time, even though the Ex- i elusive ” ticket may have been the in- j ducement to purchase. It is strange } that, though “ imitation is the sincer- 1 est form of flattery,” no woman likes j her .hats and gowns to be copied. This week has been an unusually | quiet one, but it is the prelude to a j round of gaiety which promises to surpass other National Weeks of recent years. Itaces every day and dances every night, and a jaded and tired crowd of revellers the week after. But, why worry! It comes but seldom, and things have been very dull indeed lately.

Ail dressed up and somewhere to go was a dainty maid of eighteen who has but recently grown up. There she was in a chocolate brown coat- and skirt, fwith shoes and stockings and i hat to match. The brim of the hat j was banded with gold tissue, and on j the left side was a looped bow of shot j taffeta ribbon.

A grape coloured coot frock, charm- J ingly adorned with fuschia coloured | satin flowers, worn on a matron ifiis j week, was distinctly uncommon. With j this went a lovely hat of georgette, the j drooping brim hoving a cluster of j grapes on one side. A well-groomed girl, who plays the j violin in an orchestra, looked very sty- j lish and nice at a matinee this week, i in a ,black gabardine costume, severely! tailored and trimmed only with black j soutache. With this was worn a white j silk shirt blouse, and a simple chapeau j of hatter's plush. A Fendaltou girl, who plays bridge uncommonly well, was in town this j week with the wife of a North Can- j terbury sheep farmer. She wore a j sand coloured gabardine semi-fitting j costume, a brown hat, fox furs, and | brown shoes and stockings. Two sisters were in town together. ! each looking nice in rough serge cos- I fumes, on© in golden brown and bat to match; the other in bright green . and hat to matchOne of the prettiest of coat frocks I was one of. navy blue cloth cut loosely, I the pockets and girdle being lined with ! buff clbth, and worn with a magenta coloured toque. Crossing th© Square yesterday was a I girl in a brown accordion pleated : kin . j a. sulphur yellow knitted jumper, and j a brown hat An example of sartorial smartness ' was a. good, looking stranger in an elec- | trie blue frieze costume patterned with j black squares, a black fox fur necklet, : and a black taffeta hat, finished at one ! side with a pompom. Also very smartly dressed was another visitor. She was from Auckland. Her coat frock of powder blue stdeki ! ©tie was trimmed with braid, ov which she wore a fur coat, the accoi - panying hat being a small toque combining shades of grey, blue and rose. —STELLA.