Dresses of the Week

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16737, 19 May 1922, Page 10

Dresses of the Week

Written by “STELLA"

It has been a nice week for a description of street dresses, hasn’t it? AY hen all that one can see is two inches of lie in showing beneath some sort of winter coat. And the coats about the streets of the city during the rain of the first portion of the week have been mostly of a uniform monotony- -grey drap; drab-grev, belted for the most part, though here and there was to be seen an occasional loose one- Rather attractive, however, are the black belted mackintoshes, which have the additional advantage of being serviceable and quite reasonable in price. Such ■ one worn by a tall, slim lady, arrivin in town by th© morning’s tram, looket very smart, crowned as it was by small knitted hat of warm violet woo encircled with an adornment of tin\ violet woollen arbutulons. The same style of coat in putty colour also looks well, and does not seem to catch the dirt as one might imagine it would. AVith short skirt and a raincoat with upturned collar, a felt or leather bat, and good pair of winter boots, and, if a cold wind be blowing, a knitted jumper worn underneath the coat, one is equipped to face and defy the worst of weather. An umbrella may be add cd to this wet-weather kit, if heavy rain is falling, unaccompanied with wind. Far different from the drab raincoats are the beautiful velours and Peter Pans. A really beautiful velour coat, its wearer waiting apparently iur the Akaroa motor at Broadway’s Corner yesterday, was of vivid paon blue, the blend of green clearly discernible. A collar of coney fur fastened warmiy round the throat and a little fur bat went with it. Th© eoa was cut in. magyar fashion, the wide sleeves coming down into the waist. Another smart coat was a three-quar-ter, of dull tan leather, a leather waistcoat .showing underneath. The small turnedr-up hat was of the same ma terial and was ornamented with a can strap and buckle. The skirt was a sage green suiting with wide tan check, and the entire effect was harmonious and pleasing. A really well-dressed girl crossing tho Square to the Post Office early one morning wore a knitted frock of king-

fisher blue, crossed with fawn stripes and a beautifully made grey gabardine raincoat, with two side pleats and semifitting, which came to within three inches of the Item of the dress. Her hat was a black straw, with celephane trimming. She held her head erect and walked with a good swing, and altogether was a smart-looking lass- So few women really walk—they get over the ground somehow. A beige raincoat having a. blue cape and cuffs was a variant from the I usual run. and looked well on the ail woman who wore it, and a. really •retty coat was in violet gaberdine, unelted anil having a storm collar edged vitli fur. Knitted hats were worn vith both coats. A third and really delightful coat- was of mole peter pan, ined with a silk tartan of mole, crimson and green, tho colour showing when the high collar was tuned hack uvl the tartan'being also used to trim Hie cuffs and pockets. A mole velvet hat was worn \\ ith it, the brim turned up, and two very dark red coquo feathers were, pinned in at a sharp angle falling almost to tho shoulder. A pretty house frock that took my fancy was carried out in navy serge, the bodice opening over a waistcoat iff blue silk in tho front and edged with inch wide oriental embroidery in crimson, copper and blue. The novelty lay in the littlo basque which finished tho waist, and was also edged with the embroidery. It was quite simple but was designed and carried out by a first class dressmaker and I fancy the cost was not so simple as the frock. An extraordinary coat ancl skirt was seen at the railway station early in the week, the lady wearing it being evidently a tourist from other lands, since she stood, calmly smoking a cigarette as she talked to the man beside her, presumably her husband. Ali around was frantic hurry and bustle, everyone searching for luggage or friends or seats. This couple alone quietly discussed their own affairs, as they smoked. The costume was a green Donjiegal tweed of lovely quality, the skirt fairly short and full, -uhilo tho coat, which had a straight-fronted pouched bodice, had tho long skirt part of it cut wide and flaring as the old fashioned riding coat, two enormous pockets on either side being ornamented | with three green leather buttons, tlx

samo kind of butcrtns fastening. the high collar at the throat. This was lined with green leather and had a deep turn over, coming down onto the shoulders. When, or if, it was ever turned up it must have met over the top of tho wearer’s head. A hat of green leather came out at an angle at either side, and n chamois tail was fastened in th© front. I suppose the costume was “ built” by sonic ultra-smart Paris or London tailor, but it did not appeal to me one bit, the coat giving a heavy, clumsy appearance to the figure, by reason of the ugly flare below the waist. 1 trust no such, fashion will find its way to our shores. A nice, warm-looking dressing gown, in claret colour, had its drapery caught up at either side to form a panier-like effect, which had quite a smart appearance, while another in dull blue was ornamented with rows of hemstitching, and had a white muslin collar and cuffs. It is quite a pleasure to make up a sweet little boudoir cap out of a few inches of lace and riband with a knot of flowers or fruit at the side, and thev ccrtaiidv do make a difference to one’s morning appearance. For those of us who have work to do and trams to catch and an early breakfast to eat aad perhaps to cook, such a cap is a Godsend, and two or three should always be at hand in a nearby drawer. A smart morning glory, a washing cretonne apron, a pair of dusting gloves and a cap—these arc all donned or shed in a moment, and they make a neat and serviceable working kit. A pretty indoor or outdoor frock was composed of black serge, a coat frock, and frilled in a little under a band at th© sides and embroidered on th© high collar, and the cuffs with silver grey Bilk and worsted braid, while a girdle of red, green and yellow beads hung down in two long tasselled ends in front. The front of the bodice opened in a V and had a row of small black satin buttons. Another pretty and simple frock of the same order was of dark blue velvet, mad© with a long sleeve opening m front to the elbow and fa stoning into a cuff at the wrist. The neck was slightly boat-shaped, and a black satin belt encircled the waist. Next- week I shall have more to say concerning th© vogue of th© velvet frock.