LATEST FASHIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 May 1938, Page 5

LATEST FASHIONS

CHOICE OF PARISIENNES. MORE FEMININE THAN EVER. The inauguration of the exhibition of the English paintings at the Louvre Museum, held on a bright day, was the occasion for a great display of new and very elegant tailor-mades which French couturiers make this year for every hour of the day: Tie silk, “surah,” supple petersham, make numerous delightful tailor-mades for the afternoon, often embroidered on the front of the jackets; neat and rather masculine three-quarter double-breast-ed or single jackets with big revers accompany straight or wide pleated short skirts. Combings of plaid and plain fabrics form charming ensembles and a great richness of materials in colours and pastels shows them up to advantage. Some twills have painted stripes effects. For evening, some couturiers make long straight tailor-mades in printed material inspired by Orient tai styles. The Parisienne will be this summer more feminine than ever, as seamstresses are making for her highly worked dresses with gathers, nervures and open-work; they are longer than the morning tailor-mades; the fulness starts from the waist, from the hips or from the knee; the waistline is at its right place, sometimes a little higher, and often merely marked. One dress has inside pleats of a different colour than the skirt itself. The hem of another is cut out with net or other fabric, and yet another has a basque effect. For the evening, two outlines have been adopted: the long fitting gown draped in classic fashion making the figure sculptural and, the very wide dress whose great fulness is accentuated by vertical volants or free panels. One Parisian couturier shows a dress reminiscent of the Secand Empire period. Organdie is often decorated with printed crepe de chine or taffeta applications, and the fine organza, still in great favour this year, most of the time is mixed with lace and tulle of a very dainty freshness. Some of these gowns are real artistic masterpieces. Satin ribbons, bicoloured sashes, flowers, beaded embroideries, adorn them. What about lame? Parisian couturiers have made splendid dresses . . . for cocktail time. As to coats, the Parisienne has a great choice among numerous loose redingotes for day and evening wear. Some coatees are in kid and in pastel woollens adorned with fur of the same colour. Very juvenile boleros are worn over dresses, and to show to the world that Paris has not lost its spirit of gaiety, the Parisienne sets on her hats and dresses a crowd of details in very amusing ways: a huge bow on each side of a packet; a bunch of flowers wrapped in a ribbon set in the manner of a surgeon’s electric bulb, or upside down; the same bunch set on the shoulder close to the neckline; a pocket has the shape of a shell, etc. Hats have as much variety in their forms. A milliner presents two amusing clown-like hats with a big pointed crown, one inclined forward, with feathers climbing on the top, its small brim turned up tapering to the front, and the other a mixed style of a medieval pointed crown and Directoire brim, adorned with a garland of flowers and a ribbon knotted under the chin. Some are becoming and charming; sailor-hats, bampins, etc. A well-known Parisian miller gives her preference to the Scotch glengarry shape. Flat broad brimmed hats are of great smartness for evening wear. Veils seem to have taken a definite place this season. A word about shoes. . . they are generally of several lovely colours and of various forms, but the latest is the Chinese style with a very thick sole, which the Parisienne will wear as well for sports, in town, and at night, and which small women will certainly appreciate.—Zelie.