SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 969, 9 November 1910, Page 11

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dresses on Cup Day. It is interesting to read the Christchurch papers' accounts of the general effects of the dresses worn on Cup Day. Here, if anywhero, is to bo seen the supremo effort of the dressmakers' art, and tho'keynote of tho fashion for the season.. - Naturally much interest was felt concerning the Govornment Houso party, as although his Excellency is by now well known in Christchurch, Lady Islington had not yet made her public appearance among the people. The military escort which accompanied the Governor's carriago gavo colour, pomp, and circumstance to the arrival and the Nationl Anthem made all aware that. the King's representative was amongst us. Court mourning, though' very slight, is still not quite over,.though'now.it is only a question of days. 'Lady- Islington woro a white princess dress of soft eilk, slightly trained, with-a .collarless yoke of lace, the corsage being trimmed with a broad band ; of. thick cream lace over black, which was-repeated on, skirt in a shaped band, giving the requisite narrow effect. The picturesque hat which accompanied the costume was of white chip, the under-brim being of black straw, and the crown simply trimmed with: white Roman hyacinths, lying in a.graceful and finished with 'small.white ivy leaves. Ropes;of small pearls, with a.pendant of larger pearls, were tho; ornaments worn with this costume, which was covered, when necessary, by a;black silk kimono coat, trimmed with broad black satin and jet -ornaments. '..- i',', .'.'

On describing'them, the present-day fashions do:'not. seem particularly taking, and,a few months ago we should scarcely have ---believed it possible to admire liuge hats, as largo round the brim as parasols, in; conjunction with exceedingly narrow skirts and tight-fitting Yet, ■on seeing the' lawn at Riccarton "filled with gowns, and millinery of these descriptions, ono realises that tho present fashion has "certainly its beauties and its charms.

Many hats were finished simply with a huge bow.of silk' or 'chiffon, and this style of trimming is striking and effective, especially when the colour ■ scheme of-tho'gown is carried-'out in'thebofr on the hat. Some striking hats were, like the gowns, veiled in some diaphanous material such as. chiffon or' .lace. Not' a few covered'or tnfhrhcd with' silk of Paisley pattern, and many gowns were finished in the same way. Shantung- as' a' material for the less elaborate dresses seems to remain prime favourite. It is a most useful stuff for. summer wear,. as it is cool and, smart, and easily shakes off the dust.' Some shantungs, moreover, were rather elaborately made, and one.very noticeable ono was of an uncommon; shade of sage-green with a large hat of the samo colour. Many young girls looked pretty and dainty in gowns of white muslin embroidered or trimmed with lace, and two prett,y girlish frocks wero worn witn muslin hats to match, the crowns surrounded by garlands of small roses, and with muslin neck ruffles edged with pink' and blue respectively. A frock of salmon pink chiffon, the narrow skirt drawn into a broad, band of satin at the foot, looked very effective worn with a large black hat and plumes. A pretty gown of pastel silk went with a straw hat' of the same shade, trimmed with a very large bow of black net. Many dresses are collarless, and some are so low in the neck as almost to suggest the idea of evening gowns, while in others the illusion of the low neck is cleverly maintained by the wearing of cream-coloured or V-shaped insertions of tulle at the throat.

Very few coats and skirts were worn, except a shantung here and there, but the day was too warm for thicker materials. The favourite stylo was semiprincess. The shortness of some of the skirts excited attention. There is now very little medium. Either the skirts are above the ankle 3 and tight in proportion, or they aro gracefully long and trailing.- French grey was'visiblo here and there, and a very charming gown of that colour was of. chiffon over satin, the chiffon drawn into a band at tho foot of the skirt; this frockwas worn with a large black hat with pink roses. Black hats are still in great favour, and to most faces nothing is more' becoming. None of tlie skirts at Riccarton presented an undue appearanco of tightness. Whatever tho reason they wero neither crippling nor -ungainly. Certainly many of them.wero tight, but not ungracefully so. The colours worn were very soft and protty, and,', as might bo expected, there was a great deal, of black worn, and a great deal of white. The scarf is as indisponsablo an adjunct as ever. The majority aro of black satin, lined with white or colour to match the costume, and finished with tasselled ends. TheSe are almost a necessity where tho neck is left so exposed to wind and sun, as is tho case with some of the dresses, which might almost do duty for evening wear so exceedingly collarless are they.