FORTHCOMING FASHIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20577, 30 March 1935, Page 26 (Supplement)

FORTHCOMING FASHIONS.

Silver Sweaters Match Golden Scarves. THE PEACOCK’S TAIL. (By A PARIS EXPERT.) When the day ends about four o’clock in the afternoon, and the nights do not terminate until four in the morning, clothes for that extensive period around the clock are of first importance in Paris, Then, there are so many places to go to to keep out of the dark. Evening clothes play a psychological, as well as a sartorial role in the night life, too. If you have had a bard day, if your latest maid has given notice, or your baby is teething, there is something in dressing up in evening clothes and going out somewhere to join the bright-light crowds that acts agreeably on the spirits. It is much more lasting than a cocktail, and has the dual virtue of giving as much gaiety tb your companion as it does to yourself. Most- people will admit that going to the theatre without the preliminary change of costume doesn’t somehow give the same tang of happiness that going out “dolled up” does.

Evening Elegance.

There are fewer trains on the whole, except among the very formal gowns. Fullness, however, is still set behind, or, if the skirt is tight, then some interest is concentrated about the back of the waist. There is a new line for evening skirts. This is the skirt that is actually short in front, but so draped that the effect is somewhat veiled, while at the back they trail, rounded, like peacocks’ tails. Some of the new evening gowns have bodices which are twisted back over the- shoulders in one long piece, and the minimum of sleeves are used in most models. Everything is a marvel of cut and a discreet use of trimming, or in some cases, complete lack of it allows each dress to be admired for itself alone.

Paris, this season, is avoiding all tendency to over-trim her clo.thes, or to indulge in eccentricities, and has succeeded in keeping those very youthful lines which are, however, in no way confined to the young, but are very suitable for all women with slender figures. Rather high necklines are a feature for both day and evening clothes, and no back is exaggeratedly cut away, even for formal evening wear, but is more often partly concealed with the twisted •traps from the shoulders. Lace and velvet feature in evening gowns. Some of the best coats are made of cloth and fur combined in about equal proportions, or of two different furs. There will be heaps and heaps of jacket ensembles, but the jacket is quite long, and that means from finger-tip to knee length. It is either cut circular

and therefore what the” call “coneshaped” in Paris, or it is the tunic jacket like the Imperial Russians used to wear. You can guess that the skirt under such jackets is a narrow affair.

Fashion Here and There. The waistline remains strictly normal in most models, and necklines are often very high in afternoon gowns. In most cases they are plain and devoid of collars or any bulky trimmings. The skirts for daytime retain the usual length of past seasons, though for the afternoon they are slightly longer, and of ankle length for dinner Sleeves are very interesting and they are often contrasted in colour. The leg o' mutton sleeves may l>e frequently noted, especially in cloth cloaks. I* ine embroidery and encrustations play an important role, and confetti lace and coloured pastilles, together with sequins, are seen all over the place. A quantity of heavy lace is used, especially for cocktail frocks, which are frequently black and frequently of velvet. Often the entire back of a gown is of lace, and the front is worked up in black oointa fastening with shining ornaments near the neckline. If you need a dressy blouse, and know how to knit, eader, you might try making a silver

sweater. Paris likes the silver sweater with the velvet or wool skirt. Tinsel stripes, or otherwise, patterned silk, and silk scarves are chic to wear with the season's coats. Some of the knitted sports coats have jackets like Little Lord Faimtleroy wore. These close on gold nugget buttons that might have been treasured by a Forty Niner. The Age of Clips. Everything—meaning everything in the way of feminine apparel—clips this season. Ear-rings, brooches and belts “clip on’' and big monograms or initials are made to clip on dresses or bags. The latest clips are inspired by Mexican cowboys* caps, or woolly headgear, and some new hats are fitted with secure clips underneath. Coats clip together at the neck, or waistline, falling loose —and allo.wing the dress to show everywhere else. Special clips studded with brilliants are worn by some women to hold their hair back in the evening. Until fashions change then this might be called an “age of clips.” The new cord necklaces and bracelets are smart, and they do that “something” to the wearer which* means such

a lot. Several strands of fine lacquered cords of graded lengths, listened into a metal clasp of modern design, fashion this new idea in costume jewellery'. Bright blue with a dull silver clasp, or flashing red with a bright clasp, might please the feminine fancy, but the dull white, fastened with a gold double knob clasp, is a temptation. The matching set of necklace and bracelet will set off spectacular sports frocks to perfection Millinery Fashions. We must say good-bye to flat hats, flat coiffures, flat crepes. Hats, as you have been informed, have crown inflation. The new high hats look like a musical comedy hussar’s. And for a change you can have a Russian tricorne or a°high velvet bonnet of the “baby” kind. Feathers figure in the new season’s hats. The way in which they are worn are as varied, for they may stand up straight, slant at dizzy angles across, or be discreetly placed in a fold of the hat. While most models are kept well off the back hair, there is a decided inclination to abandon the exaggerated over-the-ear tilt, and the new line is slightly forward on the brows, with a barely perception penchant to one side. There is a return of those little veils which were so universally popular last spring. It is whispered that waistlines are to be raised immediately below the bust or some similar fantastic anangeSunplicity as a smart factor will bo more noticeable than ever in the fashion world this season. Some of the new long afternoon dresses have slanting uneven hemlines that touch the floor. The new gored bell skirts are not becoming to everybody. Paris adores emerald green and vivid violets. All the crepes rustle this season. The new cunic dresses offer many possibilities for promotional ideas. Large paillettes and clanking sequins are used either, in colour, or in silver or gold, for short flared jackets, and sometimes for evening dresses. Capes are very a la mode, ranging from shouldex capes on formal frocks to three-quarter length capes on coats.