DRESS FASHIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1921, Page 1

DRESS FASHIONS.

I.ACE FOE ALL OCCASIONS. LONDON, June 21. Not for many years has laco been used to the extent that it, is this season, and it is as much in request for millinery purposes as for dresses, and the dresses are those for every conceivable occasion alike for the daytime and the evening. It reached the zenith of its popularity at Ascot, and it was seen in every type and in many colours. Yet there were not two dresses quite alike—every stylish gown for this big function is supposed to he a model, and every woman who goes on each of the four days needs four different dresses, and all their complements. So the dressmakers have some contracts! And somebody hears about it if a duplicate of any dress happens to meet its prototype.

This year there is a keen demand for the figured silk piece laces, which have an all-over pattern and which are dyed to every known tint. Dresses entirely of this are mounted on slips of silk or satin, and very often, when hems of irregular lengths are sometimes the cult, the overdress is longer in places than the foundation. A favourite arrangement is that of side panels of lace, and these invariably are a little longer than the skirt they partly veil. In quite a manlier of cases the corsage is plainly made of satin, swathed easily and becomingly about the long waist-line, and this is attached to a skirt of lace—cliantilly, point do rose, blonde .waxed luce, or something more of a gossamer texture daintily sparkling with dewdrops of crystal. Numerous were the Ascot dresses wholly of lace. One day tlu- Queen wore a lovely gown ol palest silver-grey crepe do chine and cire lace, the latter having a gleaming silver effect. There was a girdle of green velvet fastened in front with a handsome fringed ornament of jade-green nntl gold, andj-he hat of silver-grey satin had an Oriental pattern in jade-green, amethyst and pale pink, with an enietald surrounded with diamonds in the folds in front. Cite lace is held to have been a complete success at Ascot, and it was mviuh. to the credit of the wax that it did not melt, lor the days weie nil very hot. Cire braid trimmed a few dresses, cire ribbons were seen in suitable widths on dresses and hats. Outdoor dresses entirely of fine lace tloimeings tiflot'd no protection to neck and arms, and they are often inconsiderate enough to leave traces ol tlmir pattern burned on the hare skin. lhis venr sunburned arms and necks were inevitable, for the majority of people had quite low-cut corsages, and hare arms were frequent, for the tiniest pull was often made to do duty as the sleeve, while some bodices did not have even an apology for a sleeve —indeed it covering for any part ol the arm is left altogether out Of the calculations of some of the very smart dressmakers,

who are content to wrap the figure in what thoy call a sash-swatliery, and this is held in place hack and front by si lines of heads; or there may be just an armhole piped with a colour-con-trast. It is true that one can do as one pleases, for there are sleeves which are capacious and winded, that come to ll u > wrists; and there are sleeves of elhow length too, hut the little puff at the top of the arm is one of the newest fancies. Quite a novel sleeve (its the [ arm closely from shoulder to wrist; from the back of the shoulder . thore comes a sort of half sleeve that is captive to the hack of the elbow, and then fats awav at its own sweet will half way down the skirt. Lace and ninon used in association are suitable fabrics for this type of sleeve, which really m very graceful. People lightly dad at Ascot had beautiful capes with them, hut they were more often carried than worn. Into their construction lace is used lavislilv. usually in association with char.nouse or crepe do dune. One must agree with the view that there is something diginfied as well as intensely hecomi.igalio.it lace, and particularly so when there is the shimmering soil satin underneath. For summer days the soft shaded combinations are more in request than brilliant effects. An additional touch that is youthful and pleasi„w is huge sash of crisp tulle, but this is outside the bounds of the economical.