FROM A FRENCHWOMAN'S DIARY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 308, 3 October 1929, Page 2

FROM A FRENCHWOMAN'S DIARY.

A LETTER FROM FASHIONLAND When I asked a famous designer if we would ever come to the end of this craze for printed : materials, he replied that the end was not yet in sight. Moreover, he considered the use of .quite plain fabricp* distinctly >.dull, unless the same one could be used in several different tones on the one gown! t He pointed out, as an example of this idea, a wonderful evening gown made for a beautiful South American to wear at a smart French watering place. It was of tulle! The long moulded bodice, with the deep V deeolletage back and front, was entirely unadorned, and allied to a skirt made of flat shaped flounces. The lowest flounce touched the ground at th

back and just cleared the insteps in front. Three shades of blue, two of yellow, and one of green, were used for this tulle frock, the bodice being in one of the yellows, and the flounces blending in with marvellous harmony. An Original Afternoon Frock The same idea was worked out in crepe de chine for an afternoon frpek. The foundation was clear beige, and arranged up the skirt in curved lines were small flat flounces in varying shades of brown, from dark to palest cocoa, each tier bound with the colours lof the one beneath it. Very chic and so original that the pattern was not missed!

After vowing a little time ago that spots were insufferably boring, we have taken them to our hearts again for day wear. Navy with paler blue spots, red with tiny black dots, green with white, and white with black—very smart are the little frocks in spotted crepe de chine or silk marocain! The effect is particularly good when the fabrics are finely kilted. Darker Evening Chiffons One note about our patterned evening gowns—the georgettes, ninons and chiffons with pale grounds are not so popular as the very dark ones. Black and navy blue, flowered with reds, soft greens, or petunia tones mingled with yellows, are favourite designs for dance frocks. They are all cut very low over the shoulders, and have long panels at the back which terminate in small trains. In fact, the evening • chiffons are treated quite differently <4 from the afternoon ones, which are extremely demure.

Narrow velvet ribbons in rich colourings are much used for trimmings just now; nothing else seems to go so well with the flowery fabrics! No Necklaces for the Evening At the moment we have a distaste for necklaces in the evenings. Perhaps this is because we have had a surfeit of them during the day, but who can resist buying a new one occasionally when the big shops show such original ones, made wood, of waxed string, of leather, even of linen- —yes, even of small coloured linen buttons. The exclusive salons also provide special necklets to,go with their original creations. The bracelet vogue continues in a modified form, and broad flat bands of chased silver made up into ancient or very modern designs gleam gaily on sun-tanned arms. There is a piquant contrast between the bronzed arm and the silver which is not to be secured with the gold bracelet, so silver & much in demand.