Fashion Notes from Paris.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 16, 16 April 1913, Page 70

Fashion Notes from Paris.

(By a Parisian Expert.) PARIS, January 31. We are doing our season’s shopping arrayed in long narrow coats and short skirts, stoles and huge muffs en suite, while our hats and toques have the effect of being crammed well on to our heads. Such is the feminine silhouette in a century that is still young, and promises, if it continues as it has begun, to hold many wonderful surprises in store for us. It is hardly unreasonable to imagine that in a very little time w-e shall find costumiers making a special feature of aeroplane modes, for.surely we shall require an appropriate outfit for this fascinating sport; and if we look a little farther ahead, who knows but that we may have a North Pole season, just as we have one for the Riviera. How we shall be able to revel in furs then! Original Touches and Little Girl ” Frocks. As for the evening gowns, never, in the whole course of my dress have 1 seen so many pretty frocks. The “little girl” frocks arc still insistent, and charming indeed on little girls or upon those more gifted creatures, who, having leached the mature thirties, still preserve a slim boyish suppleness of figure and a soft round neck. It must be borne in mind that there is a simplicity about these “little girl” frocks that is most subtly elaborate, or expressive of extreme cunning in the achievement, “(lut” is the foremost of all the qualities. In these days of apparent simplicity, that “misses the figure” almost everywhere, simplicity, that imparts its own precious suggestion, “ent" is indeed almost too important to talk about. But revenons a nos nioutons. A few days ago I saw nn exquisite evening gown of emerald green satin eharineuse, the draperies of net to match, the swing points caught by great tassels of pearl and silver, the high waisted Princess corsage embroidered in crystal, silver ami dull gold: ami another lovely evening gown, inhde quite simple, of the palest oyster grey satin, with a swathed overdress edged with garlands of seed pearls, the corsage marvellously worked in seed pearls; ami yet another, of black satin, with draperies of jetted gauze, the front

a panel of goltj and silver embroidery, very like the magnificent work one sees in the churches over here. Our Sketch. Very beautiful is the coat illustrated on this page, and which hails from a famous Paris house. Distinctly Japanese in outline, the material employed is a perfectly glorious shade of sapphire blue, embroidered in many “dead” shades outlined in dull gold, with touches of black introduced here and- there, and

with braidings and tassels for trimmings. Such a coat would be perfectly exquisite for the opera. I always think that opera coats are the most important things well-dressed women have to consider. And very expensive ones, too! But we have to sit in a cloak a great deal, and very delightful are those graceful wraps which form so worthy a background to the modern frock. Muffs, Ruches, and Frills. The taffeta muffs are quite a pretty nuisance. They add the pictureseque touch to the gown. 1 have seen ‘some exquisite examples made of thick soft silk. They are lined with the predominating shade of it, in plain silk or ninon. The lining of one 1 liked particularly was composed of the softest, silkiest Howers imaginable, with very velvety petals. I would it had to be turned inside out. Neck ruches and frills are fashioned either of kilted ninon and net, or taffetas, but they are not for the shortnecked or over-plump woman. It is one of tlie fashions that will make her neck look ridiculous. Each season brings at least one vagary that is a pitfail to the unwary and the sheep-like.

Lace Caps, Liseuses, Couvra Lits, Etc. Like all the rest of the world, the big houses in Paris are also having special sales of all their lovely models.

and other pretty fallals, remaining over from their busy season. There are the most tempting bargains—l saw some bewitching picture lace caps which made me long to buy them right away, some dainty liseuses, some really charming eouvre lits; and some exquisite little market bunches of flqwers—the kind we women like to tuck into our furs, or our waistbelts.

Afternoon Gowns. For afternoon wear 1 noticed such an exquisite gown in meteor rubis, the long pointed tunic embroidered round the neck against the lace chemisette, anil cut up to show the velvet underskirt of tlie same lace. For Monte Carlo there is the most chic of frocks jn black Liberty satin, which shone through a lovely embroidery a jour of the ivory ninon tunic, whilst tlie corsage, of black chiffon, is veiled in Milanese lace. Anoilier charming frock is of sapphire blue meteor, embroidered in gold over chiffon—a dream of gorgeous colour.