COURT INFLUENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 46, 22 January 1938, Page 14

COURT INFLUENCE.

FASHION FANCIES,

VICTORIAN IDEAS REVIVED. The popularity of Queen Victoria, oil stage and screen, may be responsible for the abundance of flounces and frills designers are introducing into the new debutante dresses. Youth, for festive occasions, at all events, is to be fnlied up to the eyes almost, says an overseas writer. Waists are falling and the pencil line is waning. The new skirts are wider. But alteration of line is uncertain, so that a lower waist is dissimulated with trimmings, in many cases by the running of the skirt up tp the bodice and emphasising the chestline. Then there is the waistline swathe for daytime lainage dresses. It is like a handkeichief (often in coloured, patterned silk) folded on the straight with tie ends lopping over in front. The Royal ladies of the Court, too, are influencing fashion. For the State ball to King Leopold of the Belgians, the Queen and her ladies chose gowns made of new “jewelled” fabrics. The Queen’s dress is particularly beautiful. Made of a fabric which continually changes tinder the light, it is patterned in “gems” of elusive pink and chartreuse green. . Another of Her Majety s State dresses is made of an old rose biocade, a choice that will popularise this gracious fabric. There are many ■supplemental materials to be seen in smart circles, including one woven all over with large butterflies in brilliant hues. . . The Duchess of Kent has introduced the latest fashion in evening muffs from Paris. These are little quilted muffs, made of material to match one’s evening coat, and slung around the neck on velvet ribbons, in true Edwardian style. The Duchess of Kent, acknowledged to be the smartest member of the Royal Family, has some attractive evening ensembles tliis winter. One is a black velvet picture frock, with a skirt of almost crinoline dimensions, which makes a perfect background for her favourite diamonds and pearls. With it, the Duchess wears a waistlength white ermine wrap with huge white fox sleeves. For the State opening of Parliament, tho Duchess wore, under the same ermine coat, a draped gown, with short, full train, worked all over with an elaborate design in sequins. Other evening frocks she has worn recently include a simple dress of white satin, with draped halter neck fastened with a diamond clasp in., the form of a true lover’s knot, and a plainly-cut, backless white frock, thickly sewn with beads, and shaped to fit the waist, with no belt.