London Fashion Notes

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1932, Page 7

London Fashion Notes

Specially Written for "The Post"

LONDON, 13th November.

This week opened with three days of pageantry in London. Alas, our lovely autumn sunshino .departed, and the old world Lord Mayor's Show' progressed through dripping streets overshadowed by leaden skies.

The opening of Parliament is always a wonderful sight, and in spite of dis-

mal weather hundreds of people waited to see the impressive pageant and cheer the King and Queen as they rode in their medieval State coach to open the most momentous Parliament of modern times.

'It speaks well for the regal beauty of the Queen and the delicacy of her complexion that she can face the trying November daylight dressed in evening clothes with diamonds and ermine, and present such j, picture of dignified loveliness. • Mo'st'of the peeresses were glad of the artificial light within the House, which casts such a becoming' halo over the whole magnificent scene.

. Her^ the all-white dresses; with diamonds and ermine wraps, seemed to out-shine any, colours. Possibly "because they form such an excellent foil for the scarlet and white robes of the peers.

White is still the smartest wear for. evening, and by this 1 mean an allwhite dress with only, the contrast of shoes or jewels" as relief. " \

White satin, crepe, velvet, lace, chiffon, and velvet' are all successfully used this season for Borne of the love-

liest evening dresses. These are much 3 more economical than they sound, bef cause they can be worn frequently without being marked, also they can be 1 dyed half-way through the season into - equally smart shades of pillar-box red, - black, nut brown, or purple. Shades of purple are considered the 3 last word in chic, possibly because this - is a colour that needs careful choosing, and one that never becomes over popular. Purple shades are particularly becoming to the natural ash blonde, the synthetic "platinum blonde," and to the silver-haired woman of mature years. Fairness of complexion is perhaps more important than the colour of the hair, for purple will make a sallow-com-plexioned woman look drab. The craze for fair hair, which has affected the entire- hairdressing world, has revealed an unsuspected difficulty which all fair-haired women must face. With few exceptions, the blonde can wea? almost any colour; matching her own fragility she can choose delicate pastel shades of rose and blue and mauve. Again, she will look stunning in the clear hard colours of to-day, sap- ■ phire blue, emerald green, and geranium red. , ■ ' Flame colour will turn a fair-haired woman into a goddess, while all whfEe or all black enhance her delicate loveliness. The great danger of even the natural blonde is that she so easily looks like a doll. To achieve elegance and rise above their distinctive hair, fair women who have strong personalities choose only the plainest materials, having their clothes cut with nun-like severity. They wear their hair in restrained undulations, it is scarcely a wave, with the outline of the head as immaculate as the gown. Substantial materials of good quality replace fluff and transparencies, and dull materials are more becoming than satins, lame, and beaded embroideries. Unfortunately, it is the glittering materials that too often attract fair women, who add to their crime by a final touch of white fur and too much jewellery, so that ono instinctively looks round for the Christmas tree. With, the chemical blonde whoso artificial hair seldom matches her jomplexion, the dress problem is much more acute. Immediately she wears pale colours she suggests tinsel and sawdust. Black, dark brown, dark blue, dark, green, or parchment are the only colours in which she can hope to achieve distinction. The newest hats reveal so anueh hair that- colour, quality, and careful dressing are of utmost importance, and thick, naturally curling hair is a tremendous asset in these days of small hats tilted over one eye. The,only grievance I have about the new hats is that, one wants so many of them. There are hats for every face and every occasion, and, they have only one thing in common, and that is their angle. Even.'the demure cloche is. not worn straight, but showing one side of the hair and a "pinch." ia the brim over the right eye. The beret has reappeared' in a new - guise, as you will see from nay sketch, j It also is worn over one eye with an r upstanding quill or quills towards the j back. 3 The ostrich, feather that curled on j to. the shoulder is no longer smart; only the' neatest possible feather mounts, T clipped quills, buckles, and ribbon r bands are considered good style. , In the case of some tilted hats, \ crashed masses of velvet or loops of j ribbon are used to fill out the side of the head, and the little Marie-Stuart j shapes^ show ribbon^ ■loops,vunder^the brim,^ ..^, •• -•■ ~-. . ' r:-^rti;£*: -x t '■ The crochet hat' has undergone f a change, but much to the disgust of-the . milliners, the clever modern girl,', not j to be .done out of her home-made hats, , has itow.evolved a'charming little shape , on. JSobin Hood lines, of chenille, in j darjjt colours, with, a stiffened edge to the i)rim, so that it can be peaked or , turned.down-in thefront, ana fastened ;' up atHhe $ack. ' The crochet beret is iia favourite with young girls, with a I double-padded ring' edge added;: The , new effect is given, by wearing it more , forward than the original cap. > 1 - KUTH SIBLEY.