FASHION NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 1, 5 July 1911, Page 69

FASHION NOTES.

LONDON, May ID. The faet that an actual Royal command has Own issued Through the Lord Chamberlain regarding the clothes expected to be worn by any ladies who are likely to come in contact with Iler Majesty the Queen will —or surely should —-have a decided effect on summer fashions. And a revolutionary effect, too, for here are the instructions. Large hats and collarless gowns are not to be exploited by any lady entitled to use the Royal enclosure at Ascot, and only ladies wearing high-collared dresses and smallish hats will be permitted within those exclusive precincts. It is also interesting to hear that any ladies attending on Her Majesty have received an intimation that they should wear dresses which touch the ground, long sleeves, and high necks. The maids of honour, too, are instructed that they should wear toques, and not large hats. This is all practically tantamount to

saying that harem skirts, hubbies, even the slender petticoat-less tailored ones of the present day, collarless gowns, and large hats, however expensive and magnificent, will die a speedy death as far as fashion is concerned, since the woman who sallies abroad in any of these forbidden fineries labels herself as not in the court circles. The year’s mourning for King Edward came to an end on Saturday week, and Sunday’s church parade in Hyde Park was a sort of solidified sigh of relief at being, in this lovely spring sunshine, allowed to east aside black for the bright and dainty colours that will now take its place. Blue, red, and bright green so far appear to be the favourites, though •blue —a special Coronation tint, sometiling between peacock and royal blue—is already dying of too great popularity. LANCER RUFFLES. No novelties among those of this ueason are more beautiful and more likely to be worn than the graceful shaded lancer rutiles that have succeeded feather boas. These are not generally more than about a yard long, but are of much longer and richer feathers and those of tlie lancer plume description, such as we had last year on large hats—■ gi of yore, and are shaded in all

sorts of delicate tints, pink and pale blue, green and heliotrope shaded to purple, green and blue, etc., etc. They are generally finished' by a long sha*U*l silk tassel at the ends. PARASOLS ns T mentioned last week, are appearing in all kinds of new varieties, and this week yet other novelties appear. One that might aptly be called “the vanity” is the newest, and, instead of the stereotyped handle, this has a mirror let into the flat top, while dangling in place of the ordinary bunch of tassels is a powder puli’. Others, instead of “handles,” have a pug’s head, a Punch’s head, a inedici, etc., and still others have bracelets of white and coloured material, rather like soft straw. FOR MOTORISTS. The newest conceit for the motorist is a hat, muff, and ’bag all to match. The hat is a close fitting bonnet, trimmed with delicate little roses, and edged with narrow fringe, all made of suede. The muff is a huge flat a flair, about 27in wide, and trimmed ’with flowers and fringe to match the bonnet, and the bag for the handkerchief, scent-bottle, etc., is of the Dorothy variety, with long suede cords to slip over the wrist.

SASHES are, once more, undoubtedly becoming popular, and, since they are not difficult to make, and have the virtue of materially changing the appearance of a gown not, perhaps, new, home dress-

makers are sure to welcome them. They are of many descriptions. Large bows and long wide scarf ends of black tulle appear on some light coloured models, and the new velvet, with the taffetas back in colour, is effectively used for sash ends. A wide end with two loops lying flat, one over the other, but of different lengths, is now a popular method of using velvet ribbon or satin. So far, fairly short ones are to be seen, and none of the long, uncomfortable ones that used to get in th# .way years ago. THE NEW CHIFFON COATS it would be sheer waste of money to invest on unless one has unlimited means, for they are so flimsy and thin that they certainly wouldn't stand more than half a dozen wearings, though they’re expensive garments to begin with, and are very wp-to-date and popular. The French idea is to have something a little heavier in the way of a summer coat, though the Parisian cloak is a delightfully artistic thing. All have good lines that define the figure underneath, though they are at the same time loose and flowing. The favourite materials .in which they are designed are cachemire de soie, liberty satin, drap de soie, -and —still more beau-tiful—-cachemire de soie broehe, or crepe de chine broehe. Light damask silks of all kinds and colours are also to be seen, for evening wear especially. A NEW METHOD of arranging a fichu —that useful embellishment that can be fashioned of mousseline, or any soft, delicate material, at home, and that lias the great virtue of altering the apearance of a gown that must appear often—is the following:— After arranging it round the shoulders, drape it as plainly as possible through a highwaisted belt in front, and let it fall down almost to the knees in a kind of tunic or double panel.