AT THE RICCARTON RACES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 34, 4 November 1907, Page 3

AT THE RICCARTON RACES.

NOTES ON THE FROCKS. <

(Specially Written for The Dominion.)

Cup Day in Christchurch was clear and sunny, though a rather disagreeable breeze was ■blowing. It was cool enough towards evening to make those who had taken furs or thin coats glad to have thorn for. the home journey, but 'during'the day summer reigned supremo; and the visitors-to the lawn did full justice to the opportunity for displaying their beautiful race gowns. • The fashions this season are picturesqiie and charming, and it is years since so many handsome and striking, costumes have been soon at the Riccaron course. Thopinofore or kimono styles wero most popular, and were'to be seen in overy possible combination, and in every possible summer material.- . The lightest and most airy fabrics were used, and many of them were magnificently trimmed with lace, and with ball fringes in contrasting colours. '1 land-painted chiffon, and silk mus'liiis, ninons, and marquisettes were to be seen in all directions, and in the most exquisite shades. A great many of the skirts wera made, very full and very much trimmed. Most of the hatswero enormous, large white chip hats and ■ black picture' hats trimmed with huge feathers being very popular. The floral hats were "profusely trimmed, and it was to be noticed that the fashion, so popular in England at the beginning of ■• the 'season, of having a touch of black somewhere in the hats, had caught onstrongly here. Nearly every hat had a touch of black, and generally in the shape of one large black bow. It is a pretty fashion when seen here and ther.e, but on tlie Hiccarton lawn it became monotonous. The hats were worn 'cry far back on the head, and this brought the long feathers in the picture hats curling far down behind. The' parasols were very elaborately and fussily trimmed with laco, or decorated with floral patterns and other applique designs. Her Excellency Lady Plunket wore a wedgewood blue cloth gown, with fox furs, and a blue toque I rimmed with feather of wedgewood blue; Kathleen Plunket, frock of rose du Barri cloth, black floral hat, and brown furs; Mrs. G. J. Stead, grey floral ninon trimmed with point laco, white chip hat with black feathers, and white boa; Miss Julius, charming frock of floral chiffon, and black-plumed- picture hat; [Mrs. A. E. G; Rhodes, pale blue glace with .reseda trimmings, slnd »at of palo blue chip with pink roses; Mrs. J. W. Abbott, a. dainty frock of pale'blue ninon trimmed with laco, smart bladk hat with high jam-pot crown swathed with tulle and trimmed with large black flowers; Mrs. Harold Johnston, black crepe do chine kimono frock, with blouse of Charitilly lace over white glace, white crinoline hat with long,sweeping feather; Miss Harcourt, black and white striped muslin, with white boa ,and black picture hat; Mrs. Neil M'Lean, haii'lpainted chiffon frock in shaded heliotrope, handsomely trimmed with point? lace, black hat with large feather, and one huge rose; Mrs (Dr.) Gilmer, pale blue taffetas handsomely trimmed with Irish crochet lace, hlack tulle, hat trimmed with huge pink roses; Mrs. Major, an exquisite frock of mole-coloured peau de soioj will bretelle bands of Cluny, lace embroidered with pale blue, and vest of Brussels point studded with turquoise, brown hat with beautiful shaded fox-brush feathers;, Mrs. Burns, black chiffon taffetas frock, with hlack leghorn picture hat. Mrs. Kettle, grey crepe de chine, white Mrs Kettle, grey crepo do chine, white Dolly Varden hat trimmed with flowers; Mrs, Hallcy (Wnirarapa), brown floral taffetas frock made in kimono style, with blouso of silk Maltese lace, brown tulle hat trimmed with white feathers; Mrs.; George Payling, black and whito striped mohair, with a key. pattern in black velvet appliqued, and bands of pink silk, largo whito picture hat, with feathers; Miss Goodman, frock made in kimono style of pink chilFon over Brussels net, largo picture hat, and rose-trimmed parasol; Mrs. Morris (Dunedin), black and white strip'ed chiffon kimono frock, with gold trimmings, white feather boa, and plumed hat; Mrs. Homo (Christcliurch), frock of striped green and wedgewood blue chiffon, trimmed with lattice pattern in wedgewood blue velvet, large leghorn hat in wedgewood blue, with feather of the same shade; Miss Cra-croft-Wilson, pale blue ninon chip hat trimmed with largo'black bow, roses and cowslips, and white feather boa; Mrs. T. E. Crosso floral chine silk coat worn with robe of white lace over eau-de-nil glace, white Noll Gwyn hat with lung plumes; Mrs.

M'Nally, turquoise bluo chifTon taffetas, lint of Tagel straw with bluo shaded feathers; Mrs.'Kcrnot (Christchurch), -heliotrope chiffon taffotas made in kimono stylo, and worn with-a rose toque; Mrs. Murray (Christchurch), green shantung, Tuscan hat trini:mcd ■ with green velvet and whito feather; Mrs.- Simes black niousseline do soio kimono frock over black Chantilly lace blouse, trimmed with black ribbon velvet, large black hat trimmed with roses; Miss Simes (Christchurch), pink mousseline tie soie, with black chip hat lined with white glace; Mrs. M'Doiiald, white chiffon with design in black velvet applique, white feather boa, black and white. hat. Ohe strikingly beautiful frock was of Irish laco over chilfon. . This was. worn with a largo picture hat trimmed with black glace bows. Another lace robe was made over yellow chiffon, and worn with a black plumed picture hat. A frock of black and white chiffon was made over white glace, and trimmed with Irish crochet laco on bands of black glace silk. The large black hat woru with this was trimmed with black roses and green foliage. A handsome gown of striped chamois chifton was picked out with antique laco applique. The hat of Tagel straw was trimmed with chic bows of piquet-edged glace, and large black roses. A very pretty frock of shot green and heliotrope chiffon taffetas, made in pinaforo style, cream net yoke and sleeves, was worn with a Langtry hat trimmed with large ccriso roses and grass.