Indian-Inspired Striped Fabrics

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30975, 3 February 1966, Page 2

Indian-Inspired Striped Fabrics

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright/

PARIS, Feb. 2.

New striped fabrics inspired by Indian blankets and rug patterns, wrap-around skirts and the constant use of navy-blue trimmed with white are features of Chanel’s collection presented yesterday.

Applause broke out early during the Chanel opening as the beautiful young slatthin mannequins paraded new suits and coats and skirt ensembles before celebrities. Before the presentation, photographers were busy snapping pictures of Marlene Dietrich chatting with the new Broadway star, Barbra Streisand.

Marlene Dietrich then took a seat next to Elsa Martinelli and Mrs Andre Malraux, wife of the Frenci Culture Minister.

The famed model, Bettina, the fiancee of the late Prince Ali Khan, arrived wearing a new Chanel suit in the bold striped patterns that typify the latest collection.

Chanel’s wrap-round envelope skirts are featured at a modest mid-kneecap length. The wrap-over skirts have a deep fold or pleat at the side-front which is lined with bright coloured striped silk matched with the overblouses. The famous rainbow-hued tweeds are replaced by beige or white woollens horizontally striped in hand-woven effects with multi-coloured bands.

The look suggests the handloomed patterns of

Navajo Indian rugs and blankets.

The world-famous design r continues her casual look in a group of ribbed knit-suits and two-piece dresses. Both cardigan jackets worn with striped silk blouses and long loose overblouses are belted around the natural waistline.

Many come in the navy-blue and white combinations that are a theme of the new Chanel collection.

Choirboy collars and matching cuffs come in starched white pique. Glazed cotton is employed for a round, full girl’s collar caught in the centre with a floppy silk bow. Mannequins wear their hair in the George Washington perruque style, with a cluster of curls and the nape of the neck caught with an eight-inch-wide grosgrain bow and a big flower. Evening clothes are shown with enormous cabbage roses made of organdy, suspending pony-tails or long sausage curls cascading midway down the back.

Coat and skirt ensembles are stronger than Chanel’s classic cardigan jacket suits. These costumes feature the same wrap-around skirts faced with quilted silks to match the coat lining. Triple ropes of long pearls or gilt chains and Byzantine crosses and medallions suspended on heavy link-chains are the dominant trend in jewellery. The famous two-toned slingblack court shoe is continued but Chanel shows one costume with a flat-heeled basketball player’s shoe laced up to the ankles with wide silk ribbons. Tambourine or inverted flower-pot hats are shown with the same wide hair-bows set at the nape of the neck.