VOGUES AND VAGARIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 4, 26 March 1927, Page 14

VOGUES AND VAGARIES

(By MADAME JEANNE VARRE7.) Glass buttonholes are vying with big single blooms. Little bunches of jade cowslips with yellow bead centres are perfectly charming; so, also, are red glass cherries with green glass fixed to a wire stem. ol \ es entire name "scripted” across the front of one’s evening pochette is the latest chic. Golden letters, outlined with pearls, appear to be enjoying a greater vogue than their rival —a crest of coloured stones outlined in diamante. * * * Jewelled gauntlets are fascinating the modern dance girl. Made of silk

or velvet, embroidered with mock precious stones or scintillating beads, they are replacing bracelets in the ballroom. * * * A very persistent vogue is that of lame. But there is now a definite distinction, plain lames being worn exclusively in the daytime, while the fancy and brocaded varieties are donned only in the evening. And these ultra-elaborate patterns are used more for cloaks than for gowns. * * * Both in Paris and London, plainness to the point of austerity is de rigeur for morning wear. Dresses grow simpler and simpler, and more and more modish. Trimmings, if any, are composed of bands of self material or bands of the same mate ruin a contrasting colour. Thus, black or navy blue is lightened with inserted bands of pink, thouei and silver grey is rather ousting the eternal pink hue. En suite' effects are still liked in so far as the matching of hat, bag. waistband, and shoes is concerned. Grey antelope obliges very nicely in the case of the increasingly fashionable navy toilette. * * * Crepe satin is the f oured material for lingerie. Lace insertions are now further elaborated with row on row of quite meaningless but ineffably dainty Valenciennes. In fact, some of the lingerie models persuade one that, though simplicity may be the cry of the moment in so Ar as top garments are concerned, “fussiness” is the watchword for lingerie— presumably to counteract, in some measure, its scantiness in point of quantity. An all-in-one garment is still la mode's decree, but its elaborate workmanship and its frills and flounces made it a verv important garment indeed. Pink, by the way, from the ever-popular “flesh” shade to quite vivid tones, is notably in evidence in the lingerie department. ELBOW CUSHIONS (By MOLLIE LITTLE.) Things that are useful as well as beautiful have a double charm for those of us who are blessed with a heavy conscience and a light purse. Now ,tiny elbow cushions and pillows would surely justify their existence by their prettiness alone. They give such a dainty touch of colour to the sittingroom or bedroom. And they really are such a comfort to a tired elbow that has been propped up on the writing desk or the hard arm of a chair. Then there are frilly confections trimmed with lace and net and feminine fripperies, which are for use in the bedroom. FRIENDLY PRESENTS They are so soft and friendly to one’s elbow during that ten minutes reading in bed, and so very useful when an extra pillow is needed to induce sleep. Moreover, they help to solve the birthday gift problem, for most of them may be made in “next to no time,” out of a few scraps of lace, silk and satin, by the most inexpert of seamstresses. To an invalid, especially, they prove a most acceptable present. A pretty cushion may be made of taffetas in four shades of mauve, pink or green. A cushion of the darkest shade of silk is made to measure eight and a-half inches in diameter. A motif of silk flowers is sewn in the centre, and around this are arranged three layers of the lighter taffetas, each layer being fringed at one side, while the other is gauged to the cushion. The fringe of the third, and palest layer should extend three inches or so beyond the cushion. PATCHWORK AGAIN Of any small scraps of material, a square patchwork cushion may be made. Two-inch squares of many coloured silk sewn together, diamondwise, have a very pretty effect. The

cushion may be backed with a single coloured material and surrounded by cord to match. A small round pillow of white organdie with a pink silk “rose” in the centre, encircled by two rows of “val” lace and mounted over a pink slip, makes a dainty bedroom requisite. A very lovely round pillow is made of fine linen worked in Brodedie Anglaise, with slots round the outside, through which satin ribbon is threaded to be tied in a bow at the side.