OUR “YOUTHFUL“ FROCKS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18941, 11 December 1929, Page 13

OUR “YOUTHFUL“ FROCKS

A QUESTION OP WAISTS. EVENING NOTIONS. SCARVES AND HATS. <By DIANA DANE.) No slender woman, the dress experts tell us. is improved by the long-waisted frock! They are equally positive, on the other hand, that no one with a plump figure should venture to wear a dress with a short bodice. Thus is solved the tiresome proble mof fashionable waistlines! It follows that many of the extremely “youthful” little models now being launched are made with normal waists, often accentuated by quite important belts in the case of day frocks, and by exquisitely dainty sashes when evening gowns are in question. It follows likewise that gowns for less slender figures are cut with the long unbroken line from shoulder to hip, and that this line is as modish to-day as ever it was. Hand-painted organdi makes a lovely jeune fille dance frock. I saw one in white with trails of shaded pink roses painted on the skirt from waistline to hem; the trails were'some distance apart, having the effect of panels. A cluster of roses to match was painted on one shoulder, and not a jewel, not a ribbon, not a scrap of trimming, was permitted to spoil the simple beauty of this bit of painted loveliness. The stockings which accompanied it were plain white chiffon silk, and the shoes were white satin painted with miniature posies to match the one on the bodice. The young matron also likes white for evening wear, but usually she

chooses ring velvet, satin, moire, mousseline or crepe georgette. An exquisite ring velvet model in a recent exclusive collection was cleverly draped to emphasise the natural waist, though it was innocent of belt or sash. The draperies of bodice and skirt were deftly drawn to the sidefront where they were caught by a delicate jet ornament. This one single touch of black on the otherwise pure white gown was delightful. White or pastel chiffon broadly striped in bold colours is something new to take the place of the floral fabrics on occasion. Cubist printed crepes and mousselines are other novelties to try when the flowered materials prove a little wearisome. But more restful than anything in the present whirl of patterns are the lovely plain-coloured mousselines, failles, chiffons, tulles and nets* which look so refreshing in the ball-room. It is interesting to note that a woman who. is world-famed for her excellent taste in dress has definitely approved the revival of plain fabrics by including several gowns thus materialised in her latest selection of models.

Hats and scarves continue to illustrate the “matching mode.” A charming little golden-brown Baku chapeau, turned up slightly in front and down deeply over the ears, is lined with gaily coloured check crepe, en suite with the fringed kerchief which accompanies it. Again, the modish tri-cotour silk jersey is an excellent medium in which to express a folded turban and a fairly voluminous straight scarf for wear with a plain dark-coloured suit. The bold, bright colours of the silk jersey make it invaluable for “brightening-up” purposes. The newest way of wearing the übiquitous straight scarf, by the way, is to tie it in a bow at the throat and let long fringed ends hang below the waist. Alternatively, it may be worn cravat-wise, the folds held in place by a big “sporting” brooch.