FREAKS OF FASHIONS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1898, 5 November 1913, Page 2

FREAKS OF FASHIONS.

Unfortunately, it cannot be denied that a change which is considerably one for the worse has come over English women's tastes lately in tho matter of dress generally, a change that lias called forth vigorous protest -from both sexes, writes the London oorresi>ondont of the Sydney "Telegraph." No doubt the brilliant colours worn during therecent summer account for tho threatened introduction this autumn of glairing magentas, purples, tangerine, and orange, and grass green, colours so terribly crude that the most perfect complexions cannot stand. First we had them in the "jocund jaoket," as a man describes tho "post-impressionist" golf jackets that were seen on tho river, and, alas, in town, too, during tho Waning summer days, jackets destined only for country and golf wear. Thus a man describes this invasion of colour in London: —

"As a rnero man who knows northing of the dark secrets of tho origin of fashions, 1 can but guess that the Paris designers have had their eyes turned to this new and splendid colour Bcheme by the post impressionists, and though, of course, it may pa6B, like all fashions, it makes for the moment resplendent windows. Tho ordinary man might in other days walk the length of Oxford Street, and hardly pause to stare into a window. But now a blaze arrests him. A window in these vivid eglours fairly hits him ill tho eye."

In London maiiy women adapt stage frocks for street wear, quite forgetting the different setting and the vagaries of the London climate. It is a foregone. conclusion that this autumn and winter will seo most extravagant fashion's and most unreasonable ones, fur coats opened to the waist, to show V necks only destined for evening wear, and cobwcbby stockings worn with light soled suede or velvet court shoes! In Australia such fashions might bo allowable with the perfect wintor days that prevail, with a sunny blue sky overhead, and dry pavements underneath, but never in London.

Writing from Paris a devotee of fashion's mandates declares with more force than elcganco that "women must be perfect skeletons to wear the fashions this autumn," Then, still mote intimately, she adds: "Dresses are as tight as ever from the knees downwards, and tho best- thing to do is to wear as little as possible. Especially is this tho case with the nearly transparent evening frocks which require the minimum of lingerie." How to.. becomo a skeleton is thero. fore an interesting question among.certain women at present. For though the natural figure, with the floppy pose. Is in favour, it- must not be tlio figuro of tho Rubens beauty, but that of the Botticelli, the fading away and fragile demoisello, instead of the sturdy and -strong physique. One looks ahead and wonders what the health of these foolish girls and women will be, when the present fashions go the way. of all fashions, who entirely discard' their lingerio with their common sense. What they forgot, in'their efforts to be dressed according to tho "latest" in French fashions, is that Dams Fashion always strikes the bizarre note in tho advance fashion models simply to give the Onlooker a -chance of talking about- them. The tasto of tho Parisian woman of fashion is unerring, no woman of taste lets herself be influenced by any freak fashions, rather does she adapt tho fashion to; her own particular needs. If only English women in general had the courage of-their opinions and combined to bring about a desired reform in dress, Bomo radical changes for the botteT would be seen before very long. Women who pride themselves on wiring the "latest" thing in dresses will be surprised to loarn that their sisters of ancient Egypt wero before them with the slashed skirt and pannier. Tho curious fact, that some modern fashions are thousands'of years old was brought to light at tho reoent meeting of the British Association. Professor Mvres, who is about to start upon extended explorations in Cyprus, said that in the seventh century B.C. the ladies wore pannier skirts.