LEAVES FROM A FRENCHWOMAN’S DIARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 81, 5 April 1930, Page 2

LEAVES FROM A FRENCHWOMAN’S DIARY

OUR FASHION LETTER (By Colline Rouff). In the Bois last week, I saw an ensemble so smart that I had to make a note of it. A not too tall, not too slim woman was wearing a redingote, shaped at the natural waistline just sufficiently to make the skirt flare nicely. A Picture in Navy and White. The coat was of fine, dark navy face cloth, and the small stand-up >.jllar was of white ermine. • (You note I say 11 white ermine.’’ In time past this would not have been necessary, but now half the ermine is pale beige,

while quite a lot of it is dyed grey and even black). Well, this was wnite. And the little fan collar stood up round the nape of the neck, while a tiny point was let in like a yoke on the back of the coat and finished by a small bow of the fur. This is a novel note; flat fur has been inlet in points for some months novz. but the finishing bow is quite new! On the cuffs were small true-lovers knots of ermine, but there was no more fur trimming. As you see, it was a suit for really mild days. When the coat was opened I saw that it was worn over a frock of navy blue satin printed with white dots of various sizes, none very large. The bodice was made with a bloused effect at the waist and belted by soft white kid. The skirt was flared, mounted in points on a small yoke, and was che regulation fivo inches below the knee. The coat was lined throughout with the spotted satin. But I particularly admired the shoes of dark navy kid cut out in small spots to show white kid, thus matching the satin frock exactly. The rather large flat sac matched the shoes, and very dark navy kid gloves completed the picture. No, not quite! 1 have forgotten the draped beret of the same kind of cloth as the coat, with a sapphire and diamond brooch in the folds. Navy is Chic. When I saw this navy blue lady, I wondered if she had chosen this colour for the whole of her wardrobe.’ Of course, the idea of one colour scheme throughout is not so fashionable as it was. That was a lovely time for women when the same shoes, stockings, gloves and bags, not to mention hats, umbrellas and jewellery, did for every dress and suit we had! But navy blue is so chic again that I thought this smart woman might possibly possess a charming evening gown of dark navy blue faille. The slim bodice, I thought, would have a very deep V decolletage at back and front, Hlled in a little with flesh pink ninon and net. The skirt would smooth itself down over the hips, whence it would fall to the heels in very full godets, inlet in the invisible manner which is the way of godets just now. At the point of the V at the back would be a glorious velvet rose of deep petunia colour, and at the front V-point a little old-world posy of small bud flowers in the same material and colour. The shoes would surely be of petunia crepe de chine with heels of navy velvet. The Parislenne’s Shoes. Alj shoes match the gowns now, unless you choose gold or silver broche instead. These are always pretty and bright, but I am afraid they are not so chic. There is a vogue for plain white satin slippers vith very lovely jewelled buckles, which have the advantage of being detachable, so that it is possible to wear them on other shoes.

Another very useful shoe that can be worn with practically any gown, except a dark one, is made of cafe au

lait moire. With a diamond or coloured stone buckle it looks charming, and has the advantage of making the foot appear very small. The pointed shoe never was very much in favour with French women, who preferred the round short toe. Now toes are really stubby, especially in the day time, when black sealskin, bine, very dark preen, and very dark red kid shoes are the favourites.