Dresses of the Week

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18804, 5 July 1929, Page 12

Dresses of the Week

Written by

“STELLA "

Before telling of some clothes worn by important women at the opening of Parliament on Thursday, I must tell you how nobly the men were attired. The new Chief Justice was the greatest draw*, looking quite splendid in his full-bottomed wig and swishing robes; while the Speaker, Sir Charles Statham, was a close second; his austerely dignified features and bearing make him a splendid figure. The aides were a grand sight in their regimentals, and our gallant Premier in full Court dress, white satin breeches, diamond buckles, plumed hat—sat on his dais and methought looked at times like a shy little page at a wedding. I get those ridiculous thoughts sometimes in the seats of the mighty—so to more feminine topics. Our Premier's daughter, who is so well known here, was looking so smart in a hawthorn red coat with a large felt hat of the same colour and a nicely, marked fox fur stole. An attractive personality is the Speaker’s daughter, who has inherited all her mother’s brightness and wit. She was looking very well in black with a yellow folded waistcoat and casque of yellow’ suede. A visitor from England was a gracious figure in sapphire blue velvet, with stone martin furs, and a large feathered hat. I liked a tailored ensemble of shepherd’s plaid very much. It was so unusual among the blues and the brow’ns and reds. Worn with a black Vienna felt hat, the brim cut away in front and folded back to the right side, and a pointed fox fur, she w’as one of the smartest women there. Coming down on the ferry steamer I was attracted by a slender girl who w’as wearing one of the newest threepiece tweed suits. A cardigan, belted with a brown leather belt, a skirt with tw’o broad pleats on the left, and a very mannishly cut overcoat, all of the same browny red tw'eed. A heavy cream silk shirt with a turn-down collar and a reddish brown knitted tie. She w’as the neatest thing on the boat, from her tiny brown felt hat to her brown

shoes. By the way, cardigans are going to be somewhat longer when exactly matching a skirt. In some of the sacred inner salons of the shops I have been shown some fascinating things that show that spring is not far behind. A honeysuckle yellow Tenby flannel, which is a delightful woollen material, was used for an advance spring model—the long cardigan, belted with suede, and the skirt made from a deep hip yoke. I think as we are all more or less aware that New Zealand is a wool-growing country, we should all pledge ourselves to wear more wool. After all nothing is nicer for top garments—and our very existence will presently depend upon whether our primary products can retain their place in the world’s markets unless wa ourselves patronise them. This morning I came across a typiste who was neatly and serviceably clad in a biege and yellow woollen jumper dress, which was slightly blowsed at the normal waist line. At an earthquake dance there was an attractive frock of Dentelle broche in tones of wallflower brown. It was gracefully worn by its red-haired wearer, who I think created something of a riot when she arrived in a cloak of shaded mirror velvet from deep cream to a brilliant orange. There was also an unusual frock of grey watered silk, worn by someone with white hair dressed very high. She was a picture of old world stateliness and wore some beautiful amethyst and pearl ornaments. The wife of one of our leading legal people was very smart in green chiffon velvet much draped to the left hip and caught with a dull gold ornament. A green band in her hair of broad velvet charmed me very much. This is a popular mode with some of London’s smartest women, who invariably wear a velvet band to match their frocks, but we seldom see it here as yet. We have had a positive orgy of sales the last day or so; and in the eternal To secure full flavour when cooking apples for pies, tarts, etc., peel and boil the skins and pips in a little cold water, then stew apples in the resulting liquid. Roll dried fruit in flour before stirring it into a cake mixture and the fruit will not sink to the bottom. For glazing fish when eggs are scarce, mix custard-powder with water to the consistency of cream. Dip the fish in, roll in bread-crumbs and cook as usual. To remove the odour of onions frorn a frying-pan, heat a little vinegar in it. To remove it from the hands, hold them over smouldering brown paper.

quest for bargains I noticed one or two well dressed “bargainers.” One in grey flannel was ever so neat, the jaunty little coat cut like a cardigan and the skirt not too short. She wore a small blue felt hat and a choker of blue pearls. They were a happy touch, bringing out all that was best in her eyes. Another purplish tweed coat and shirt was attractive enough to catch my critical eye. The coat was made from a yoke and very much belted and pocketed. Its wearer had a wonderful Liberty scarf tied like a stock and a very, very enviable Jay hat of purple hatter’s plush. Last night I came across a dinner frock that was described by the fortunate owner as rather later than the latest thing. It was made of. black Chantilly lace and double net. I learned that it was considered newer to have more net than lace, and the net bound with the narrowest horse-hair braid. It gave great life to the net undoubtedly. By that I mean really a “double life,” great spring, and of course prevents the sogginess which net is heir to. There was another little frock of the wickedly expensive kind too, a lovely deep red; a semi-picture affair of taffetas, which suited its fair owner so very well.

And now, may I descend to feet. Although one sees a lot of baby socks peeping over the tops of dainty shoes, these should not be worn in town. The really smart women don’t commit this sin. Feet, to be really elegant, should be an inconspicuous as possible. But in the country—for golfing or when out for a good winter’s walk, one can be really “loud” where these socks are concerned. On a popular golf links on Saturday I noticed that some women’s legs were twice as noisy as the men’s. Cashmere stockings of beige and brown checks were adorned round the ankles with little socks combining all the happiest shades of blue and orange.