ROMANTIC DRESSES FOR AN OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 December 1949, Page 10

ROMANTIC DRESSES FOR AN OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS

This Christmas will be a real “buttons and bows” affair to delight the feminine heart, for party dresses are at their loveliest and rrfost romantic. The tie-silk or taffeta which has been languishing in your wardrobe as “too elaborate for everyday,” really comes into its own—it is just what you need this Christmas to look festive and well-dressed. There is a rich variety of colours and fabrics to choose from: stiff brocades, rustling taffetas, sophisticated moires in such shades as ’peacock green, burnt orange, copper brown or ruby red.

Victor Stiebel makes the cocktail dress illustrated here—it is in black moire, with dramatic pockets, new cape shoulder line and full skirt. This is the sort of dress you can wear for cocktails or informal parties: it would even double as a “short” evening dress worn with suitable accessories. These new- short evening dresses are an answ-er to a prayer for the woman who has to keep a strict eye on her budget. Many of them are made with strapless tops in some glamourous material such as sequinned velvet or cloth of gold, the skirt is a dark, contrasting colour. But the clever feature is a short hug-me-tight jacket which slips over your bare shoulders to give you a dress that will take you out to tea in the afternoon, on to cocktails, and finally dancing. Evening dresses are at their most romantic—there is a hint of the crinoline and 18th century elegance about some of the full skirted models shown. Illustrated is a formal ball dress by Frederick Starke in peach-blue tulle. Its only trimming is sequin embroidery. The tightly swathed cummerbund waist and full, billowing skirt make it a perfect choice for Christmas balls. ACCESSORY TRICUS ADD NEW GAIETY. Apart from the excitement o? a new’ dress for Christmas, most of us feel dissatisfied with our every-day clothes at this time of the year and long for some miracle to change them all, to make them look “different,” Take heart, there are innumerable ways in which accessories can be used to brighten up every-day clothes and give them a festive air. Stoles are first on the list-—they can be in almost any material —wool, jersey, silk, or even heavy cotton. Draped elegantly round*your shoulders they completely alter the appearance of a tired dress, and have the added advantage of keeping you warm. They are worn with suits, with day and evening dresses —and give unlimited scope for ringing the changes. Scarves are fun and very becoming. Tuck a lemon chiffon scarf into the neck of a parma violet dress; drape a multi-coloured one round your shoul-

ders; or twist a long one round your waist cummerbund fashion, with the ends hanging down. Belts play their part too, in the Christmas scene. This season they are worn on bloused-back suits, usually very narrow. Follow through on dresses with narrow belts in contrasting colours and small gilt buckles. If you are handy with a needle, make a brightly coloured stiff silk belt with pockets attached, so that when you put it on the pockets jut out over the

hips. Peplums are the easiest things in the the world to make—a frothy tulle one in sugar pink or ice blue will transform a plain black dress into a party piece.

Flowers are now used as accessories in a host of different ways, and are a sure method of making you look, and feel, in party mood. Don’t stop at pinning a solitary bloom to one shoulder of your dress. This year flowers are worn in the most unexpected places. A single red rose is tucked into the belt of a dress, a posy peeps out of a pocket, or you can make a “bracelet” of flowers and wear it on your wrist. Even anklets of flowers are being worn with the short evening dresses, and I have seen three full-blown roses coyly tucked into a bustle! COLOUR CONSCIOUS.

There are some gay ana unusual colours to be seen this season—but Aiany women are a little afraid of branching out into a new colour scheme. They find one colour which, they feel, suits them, and they never deviate from it. Why is it that blueeyed blondes never wear anything but blue? True, their eyes are blue, but they may not be the same blue, there are so many different shades and subtle overtones that it is difficult to be certain. Really golden blondes should try wearing primrose yellow or light navy, both colours keyed to suit their particular colouring. There are several colours to suit every type of skin and hair tone. Lime green—thought by many to be a “difficult” colour, only proves to be so if worn by someone with a sallow skin, but worn by the girl with mid-brown hair and medium complexion it is an immediate, success. It takes her out of the “mousy” class, makes her vivid and alive. In the same way a creamyskinned red head should desert her old standby, green, and try instead a deep shade of violet. The result is striking and original. Colours can do so much for your appearance and morale that it is a pity not to experiment until you find the ones that suit you. The best way to try out new colours is to hold a piece of the fabric next to your face in daylight. If it makes your skin glow, your eyes sparkle, then it is your colour.