FEMININE OR BOYISH?

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 301, 15 August 1929, Page 2

FEMININE OR BOYISH?

LOOKING “JUST RIGHT.” A certain dress designer recently stated tnat the mucli-auv citiscd “icininine line” had already reached the end of its brief life. She likewise suggested that the sliui, boyish figure was, rapidly returning to favour, mat the discarded shingie was returning with it and that together the 7 wouui once more hold unrivalled sway. I do not think so! Of course, no sensible woman would dream of doing anything so stupid as to attempt to wear In.is and flounces for tennis, golf and walking. But between the sports ground and tne drawing-room _ most emphatic line is drawn, and it is in the drawing-room, the dance-room, and the theatre that Eternal Eve will insist on being simply and very charm:ngiy feminine this year, in spite of all rumours to the contrary. To look “just right” on any and every occasion is the dearest wish of every woman. Wherefore she will don her slim “boyish” sports suit when golf and walking exercises claim attention; she will look piquantly trim and capab e in coat and breeches when riding is the order of the hour: she ’frill sip into a slick little one-piece frock when the tennis court is in use

—-and she will look a most adorably feminine creature in her frilly, flouncy, normal-waisted dress when the dance I band strikes up in the evening. How to look “just right ” in any? circumstances was beautifully ilius- j trntod by a lovely mannequin at a | dress show this week. She first ap- 1 peared in a sports ensemble in which , she looked a typical healthy sporting girl—even “boyish” if you like! It I comprised a fine tweed skirt made with ! a trimly fitting hip yoke and a group I of concealed pleats at each side to give I complete freedom of movement; a plain silk shirt blouse, sl’ght.ly open I at the neck and finished with a sonsy j bow; a leather belt at the natural waist fastened with a metal buckle; an ( ] a short, neat twco’ coat with flat rovers, a two-button fastening and a couple of capacious square pockets Trim and business-like enough to please tlie most enthusiastic sports enthusiast! But. when this same mannequin an j neared in a fieme gown of «oft satin, j beautifully draped and swathed whi* v clung graciouslv to her figure she looked the essence of charming femininity. The upward draperies of the bodice were drawn diagonally to one shoulder whence they cascaded down the back

of the gown to form a narrow train f which almost touched the ground. The top of the corsage also took a diagonal line, as did the skirt drapery which was caught over the hip with a big exquisitely fashioned enamel buckle. The sleeves were long and tight-fitting, and they term’nated in deep points over very white “ feminine” looking hands. [ And when, at length, this girl showed j us a fluffy little creation in pale green i tulle, the skirt all billowing with flounces, the bodice drawn into soft \ rucked folds at the sides, and the t natural waist marked by a broad sash jof pnie green .affetas which tied in I a big bow above the hip. we realised j that we were looking at the ideal modern dance frock worn by the ideal “girlish ” girl! | The ability to look “just right’' in j any circumstances is more to be cov- | eted than the ability to follow firmly j and without faltering the fashions of I the moment set by designers who are, after all, only human!