LONDON AS MECCA OF WELL-DRESSED WOMEN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 60, 3 December 1937, Page 14

LONDON AS MECCA OF WELL-DRESSED WOMEN

| London has changed its gender — it i« inow feminine. Formerly it was regard* j ed as the city which appealed more#exj clusively to men, whereas Paris wai : supposed to lure women within iti ■ gates. But all that has been changed. : For London is now the Mecca of the j well-dressed- woman the world over. ! During the reeent Coronation celebrations when London was thronged with visitors from all paris of the globe, the general opinion was that London, the hub of the universe, was now, also, the fashion 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 saloons. All shades of amethyst— light to dark — and plum are favoured for light wool plain-surface materials for dressea and costumes. This is good news for the woman whose inches are a trouble, for tones of plum and amethyst (in the darker shades) are definitely slimming in effect. Other new shades popular at the British Industries Fair are Albany brown (somewhat like the London tan of last season), a very dark brown, and a warm red-brown, all of which will be employed for day wear. Black is coming back. That is fashion' news of importance, especially as regards afternoon wear. But it is being combined with rather vivid reds and greens (especially in embroidered effects), and not so much with the former favourite ' — white. - For evening gowns, either rich colours or the pastel tones, will be worn. 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-ico shade— if one may so describe it, for it was so indefinitfr— yet the effect of this and similar "colourless" shades was modern and sophisticated. Still the battle of the skifts is being waged. Some of the stylists favour the very short dress for tailored suits and sports wear, others deelare for the' medium skirt length. It seems that the present- trend towards short skirts has reached its peak, and with cooler days, skirts will be longer. But the individual will be ablo to make her own choice — short or long. 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 mostly — and belts, niostly self-fabric belts with small buckles, nothing exotic. x- j