Lace In The News

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 6, 30 September 1937, Page 14

Lace In The News

FOR ALL OCCASIONS (From Our London Correspondent.) CINCE the British Lace Week a short timo ago, dress designers in London have been inclined to give more. and more attention to the development of ensembles in lace for almost every occasion. Women who travel a great deal find lace dinner and dance dresses the most economical, in that they do not show signs of wear and tear and packing as do most other fahrics. Those who entertain and are entertained considerably also vote for lace as a hard-wearing material that neither "dates" nor calls attention to the number of times it has been wom. Home women like it, too, because it is comparatively economical and the "little lace frock". which 'can be slipped on after the day's work is 'done is one of the most comforting things in the wardrobe. Lace, then, has made a triumphant come-back— not that it is ever teally out of fashion— and Ihe British vasiety is second to none in delicacy and beauty. Norman Hartnell, a Lojadon .designer who is patronised by younger members of the Eoyal family, has designed some lovely things in 'Nottingham lace. He show?, for example, a most attractive and practical three-piece ensemble, comprising a soft black velvet skirt with a flesh pink lace bodice and a charming little coatee,' with unUsual 'sleeves, of similar deptelle. Ideal for an evening party, since the blouse-and-skirt theme is to the fore just now. Another desirable interpretation of the lace vogue by the.same designer is an evening gown in white lattice work net embroidered with gold sequins and discreetly trimmed with gold tissue. This, fcoo, is charming, the little "tail" effect at the back of the bodice falling over the skirt taking the same line as the small train which just sweeps the floor. A cocktail ensemble, in black and white check lace, is as easy to wear as it is good to look at, and there is a short coatee with this model which makes it practical for a chilly evening. The popular tunic line is demonstrated in lace by Victor Stievel, another designer who makes clothes for the Royal family and for famous film stars. He does a .dinner gown in very fine black laoe, and cuts the short tunic in one with full, long sleeves. The skirt is very f ull, and waist and liigh neck-line are finished with black satin. Here is another evidence, by the way, of the pofmlarity of the hi^L neck-.line on dinner gowns and on some dance dresses. This particular model is one of the most attractive "transparencies" of the season, the slender slip oi flesh pink satin gleamihg hazily through the'delicate mesh of the fabric. Advance Models. Jeff does a straight cut anl.h length coat of black chantilly lace over an angel skin lace. With it he puts a wide brimmed hat of the two laces. illustratingihe line for the race meeting itself. Later on, in the evening, the same ensemble is to be re-arranged, without the trouble of going home to change, and will then appear minus sleeves, minus hat, and with a twisted turban-like headdress of the dentelle. A clever idea. Another advance model, which takes an entirely new line and is, therefore, mtaraftiag .and anmginj, is the tunic.

rather full, and swinging a little like a. choir boy's surplice. This is in white cotton lace of coarse texture, and it goes over a black skirt and with a black felt cap on which is a large tuft of the lace. Brown and beige plaid net looks a little like very fine Milanese silk, and suggests itself as an admirable material in which to carry out either an afternoon dress or an evening gown. The model I have seen has a pleated' bustle 'effect at the back and a fish-tail train. As blue is rarely omitted from any fashion parade this season, it is well to mention a Eussel creation in pale blue lace, embroidered with gold silk thread, worn over a slinky foundation of pale blue cire satin. On the corsage is a large crystal pleated chou of tulle. More Floral Notes. It was obvious last season that the vogue for real and artificial flowers would not be merely a passing phase of fashion, and this season the theme has been taken up everywhere. Earely is the dainly flower nole missing from an ensemble that claims to be smart althougli it may vary in size according to Ihe occasion. I have noticed recently that a bouquet of flowers — real or artificial— is frequently carried when - the dress itself does not seem to lend itself to horticultural treatment. Exquisitely fashioned bracelets, brooches and earrings are still made of tiny fresh flowers, and choux of them perch piquantly on demurely dressed heads. Tlie floral fan is the nicest expression ■of the vogue I have seen. Necessarily, it is kept open all the time, and the idea is extremely dainty, the whiff of fresh violets or rosebuds when the fan is waved in a somewhat close ball-room more than justifying the expense entailed in having the little ornament created. Apart from the fresh blooms, which certainly ' have something against them on the grounds of cost and the necessity for duplicates to replace fading ones, there are specimens in heautifuUy worked velvet, silk, satin, lace shells, feathers, wool, leather and even soft, flat fur. According to their form are they scented, and, in addition to the more usual violets, roses, lilies, shaggy chrysanthemums, gardenias, camellias, stocks, wallflowers and sweet-peas, we have realistic looking sprays of lavender and rosemary and even sprigs of fragrant pine.