LADY ANGELA ST. CLAIR ERSKINE'S

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 73, 28 March 1933, Page 11

LADY ANGELA ST. CLAIR ERSKINE'S

VIEWS ON DRESS,

JThis is my second visit.to New Zealand in the space of twelve months. So much did I love this country that I was restless to return to it, and in the few months that I.was at Home, I attempted to translate some of its beauties ,and charm into print!

On my last Homeward trip, I met several New Zealanders who appeared to be all agog at the prospect, not of sightseeing, in the Old Country, but of shopping there. They- talkedj of the lovely! clothes they were going to buy in London, but an afternoon spent at Kirkcaldie and Stains has proved to me tliat as far as shopping is concerned, . New Zealanders can satisfy every need in their, own' Capital. -. London is brought to their doors by clever buyers on the other side, and the smartest of frocks are on view in those up-to-date salons.

Buying a frock must fce an important event to the New Zealander. The duties make prices much,,higher than at HomeJ and as money is not as plentiful anywhere today as it was a fewyears ago, it behoves all of us not to make, an error of judgment when we are choosing our winter frocks. It would be presumpttous of me.to advise New Zealandera what to buy, but rules which I have made for myself, and fountl useful, may bo of service to some prospective buyers. : .

T,he golden-rule for all of us, is not to buy our clothes in haphazard fashion. If we mußt carry on with last year's coat, we must be sure that the frock wo buy goes with it—that our hats, scarves, and. other details' are in perfect harmony with the main theme.

. "Little and Good'' is another timehonoured, maxim which applies to our wardrobes. A good dress looks good up to its last hours. ; If we have to limit our wardrobes, then let us beware of being tempted by any model that dates. Designers have a way of leading us astray and producing something startling which we shall be sick of long before it is worn out! This is part of their job, but at Kirkcaldio and Stains I found some delightful tweed suits which would not let anyone down who chose them. These indicate, without accentuating, all the modern notes. They were smart without being showy, and would be easily converted from best to a second-best suit without giving _ their wearer the uncomfortable feeling of. being over-dressed! Skirt lengths are a-pitfall to the unwary, and too-short skirts can look as dowdy as the ankle-length ones. A happy medium has been reached just now. '

If I lived in New Zealand I should concentrato on tweeds and cotton materials, and should be chary of silks. That great artist and dress-designer, Mile. Chanel, who has done more towards nationalising dress than anyone olse, wps the first to recognise the value of these two materials which were once looked on as essentially country, but which Londoners have now adopted, and they .will certainly cling to them. ■ •

Our clothes in .England are much simpler than they were, and ive no longer bother about our afternoon frocks, because our morning ones are so much more becoming than they used to_ bo. ,We have supplemented, trimming for good cut and good quality.— (Published by arrangement.) "

MORNING RECEPTION

COUNCIL OF WOMEN

Delegates to the annual conference of the National Council of Women, which began in "Wellington today, were entertained at a morning reception : given by the Mayoress, Mrs. T. C A. .Hislop a£ the Town Hal).

Tea was served in the Mayor's room, which was bright with vases of pink lilies and dahlias. '• '

Mrs. Hislop received .the delegates wearing a top-coat of marine-blue lainage with a deep'roll fur collar over a matching frock relieved wim oyster crepe-de-chine. . She wore a smart felt toque to match. Group photographs were taken, after which the delegates were able to meet and converse.