LOVELY FABRICS LURE BUYERS TO LONDON

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 5, 29 September 1937, Page 10

LOVELY FABRICS LURE BUYERS TO LONDON

London lias changed its gender. It is now feminine. Eormerly is was regarded as tho city which appealed more exclusively to men, whereas Paris was supposed * to lure women within its , gates. But all that has been changed. For London 5.3 how the Mecca of the well-dressed woman the world over. During the recent Coronation celebrations, when London was thronged with visitors from all parts of . the giobe, the general opinion was that London, the hub of the tinxverse, was now, also, the fasliion centre. British fabrics made in British mills have reached such perfection of design and finish that they have been chosen to create the newest and most exclusive models of leading dress designers in their London salons. All shades of amethyst — light ^ to daTk — and plum are favouTed for light wool plain-surface materials for dresses and costumes. This is good news for the woman whose inchcs are a trouble,

for tones o£ piuxn and amethyst (in the darker shades) are deflsitely elims ming in eifect. Other new shades popnlar at ,the British Industries Fair are Albhny brown (somewhafc like the London tan of last season), a very dark brown, and a warm red- brown, all of whxch will be employed for day wear. Black' is coming back. That is fashion news of ;importance, espeeially as regards afternoon wear. But it is being combined with rather vivid reds and greens (e'specially in embroidered eft'ects), and not so muoh with the former favonrite, At one of the very early displays of new models by a noted London designer, it was noticed that some of the smartest gowns were almost colourless. One gown was composed of a silver-ice white. • For evening gowns, either rieh colonrs or the pastel tones will be worn. shade— if one may so deseribe It, for it was so indefinite— -yet the eifect of this and similar "colourless" shades was modern and sophisticated. Still the battle of the skirts is being waged. Some of the stylists favour the very short dress for tailored suits and sports Wear, others declare for the medium skirt length. It seerns that the present trend towards s'hort skirts has reached t its peak, and with cooler days skirts will be longer. But the individual will be ableable to make her own choice — short or lohg. For evening wear, at the first "showings" gowns were worn just above the toe, but not showing the ankle. The trailing gown is finished. Buttons are important on latest models, metal and wood being used — bright silver mostiy — and belts, mostly selffabric belts with small buckles, nothing exotic.