AT THE RACES

Wanganui Chronicle, 11 September 1950, Page 7

AT THE RACES

POPULARITY OF GREY AND BLUE. MANY FURS WORN. Crowds of people spent a pleasant day at the Wanganui racecourse on Saturday, when the Jockey Club's spring meeting drew successfully to its conclusion. The racing was interesting and exciting and the weather was fine. Many attractive ensembles, suits, coats and hats were worn by the womeh race-goers. Fur-coats —and there were many beautiful ones—astrakhan, boucle and tweed coats, fur capes and wraps were popular. A few oft white and pastel coats were seen, one or two being trimmed with softlytoned fur. The suits were mainly in soft spring colourings or in the many shades of grey. Some were varied with a jacket, in smart contrasting striped effect worn with plain grey skirts and others were in subdued check styles or pencil stripes. Grey was delightfully combined with cherry red, cerise, green, turquoise, saffron or carnation pink, gold, petunia shades and off-white. Grey was also chosen for jersey Wool Irocks worn under coats, with the trimming on the hat, the gloves and bag providing the colour contrast. Also popular were many shades of blue, including bright kingfisher, periwinkle, royal, French blue, mid-blue and navy. These were mainly worn with matching fur felts or straw hats with soft feather mounts or ribbons giving added height, and softened with veiling.

Red in varying shades from eerise, hunting red, to the wine tonirigs Was noticeable and made bright splashes of colour on the lawn. One cherry red outfit was surmounted with a smartly draped toque, the wearer adding a soft grey fur. Brown was a favourite with a number of women and some verv smart suits were seen ,one allied with honey gold suiting the wearer, and another in deep golden brown was worn with a smart cloche hat with cascade of ribbon bows, and matching fox furs. A wide green scarf tucked under a deep collar and with the ends hanging loosely gave a chic effect to a brown astrakhan coat. Corduroy and velvet in warm-looking shades were worn aS dresses or suits by a few young women.

Hats were everything from the beret and rolled brim-type to the caplike cloche, and attractive straws, the latter being manipulated into all kinds of shapes from the draped style to the spiraling fronts and adorned with feathers of some kind, curving upwards or across the front, flowers or fruit clusters. Veils were arranged in new and different ways and were worn loosely over the face. There were many charming furs, from the luxurious full-length coat of squirrel, mink, marmot and musquash, silver fox capes and wraps, Arctic anti grey fox furs, to the lapin and beaverine wraps. Three-cornered scarves added a colourful note to suits and coats, and such accesories as shoes and handbags were an interesting feature. Shakeskin shoes often matched handbags and coloured gloves and shoes provided the contrasting shade in the ensemble. Fragrant posies of hyacinths or other spring flowers added a cheery note to a dark ensemble. Mrs F. F. Newman, wife of the president, who received the guests who were entertained at luncheon, wore a pin-striped grey suit, white blouse with jabot, and ribbon-trimmed navy straw hat. The luncheon room decorations Were Very tastefully arranged, red rhododendrons, red and pink flowering currant, acacia and dark prunus foliage being used for the several large white troughs on the shelf. On the tables, where the usual delicious buffet luncheon was served, were bowls ot daffodils, helibore, camellias, veronica, freesias with silver and coppery foliage, also low bowls of violets.