FRILLS FADS & FOIBLES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 62, 4 June 1927, Page 5

FR ILLS FADS & FOIBLES

Fleet Street , London. THE SUN, Auckland, Special Feature supplied excluisvely to by The Central Press,

VOGUES AND VAGARIES

(By MADAME JEANNE VARREZ) Some of the most attractive of the new daytime clothes are those of a semi-sporting character. Three-pieces in crepe de chine, with the übiquitous pleated skirt, Include sleeveless waistcoats and smart coats of jersey with shaded stripes, finished off with revers, belt, and cuffs of crepe de chine. These ensembles are charming'. Incidentally, the popular sports suit, which comprises a checked skirt and a plain jersey top. is responsible for the very newest dance frock fashion. It is an exact copy of the main idea. The plain, jersey-fitting top is made of closely-beaded material of silver, gold or one of the fashionable colours of the moment, while clever beading also ensures the checked effect of the skirt. Very simple, and amazingly smart. For neck ornament you must acquire the indispensable plain gold or silver band decreed by Fashion. A millinery accessory which is having a great vogue is the large oblong clasp, which is sold in pairs, one for the hat and one for the scarf, which matches it. These clasps provide a wonderfully smart finishing touch to the modish hat and scarf ensemble Sometimes the centre of the ornament is made up of a semi-precious stone in a surround of gold or silver. Enamel is another favourite decorative medium. A clasp of onyx and ivory looks amazingly smart with any pale-coloured hat and scarf. An extraordinary success appears to be foredestined for evening dresses of dead black or dead white chiffon. These chiffon creations are made with tucks or floating trimmings, or they may be decorated with long handknotted fringe. The finishing touch is a single flower of a jewelled ornament. Wonderfully soft and becoming, they strike a note of outstandingly simple contrast with the elaborately classic robes of lame or brocade. An evening frock innovation is chiffon or lace over plainly visible satin knickers. One characteristic model is of black tucked chiffon, and lace over black satin knickers, with red stripes at the sides. The very smartest Parisian millinery note is the evolution of the “halo” hat from the “vagabond” type, which was a protest against the absurdly high hat that was obviously all wrong for the shorn head. It could not be fixed firmly. We had grown so used to the short-brimmed soft hat that could be pulled forward, and yet again forward, so that it accommodated the skull, that the stiff high hat soon gave place to the more adjustable vagabond. And now the halo chapeau has conquered Paris. The brim extends around the face, drooping low at the sides to form a soft of frame. The main idea is so popular that turbans and toques are now being fitted with triangular earpieces.

MEMS. FOR WOMEN MOTORISTS

HOW TO TACKLE HILLS Every woman driver should take pains to acquire the art of negotiating a hill whether on the up-gradient or down-gradient. This implies something more than merely going up one side and coming down the other. There is, for instance, the question as to the best time to change gear on going up a really steep hill, and the even more important question of the safest and least harmful way (to the car) of coming down on the other side. The point of importance to bear in mind when going up a hill is to change gear early in order to keep up the revolutions of the engine. If the engine speed is allowed to slacken too much there is a danger that the engagement of the lower gear may be fumbled, that even the bottom gear may decline to take up the load and that the car may begin to slide backward. Assuming such a situation, which is not at all likely to happen if a clear head is kept, the best thing to do is to apply the hand-brake the moment the car indicates that it may go backward rather than forward. When the driver is certain that the car is held she should start again from bottom gear and keep in that gear until it is quite evident that the engine has recovered its breath. If there is anv doubt as to the ability of the handbrake to hold the car it should be gently steered backward, with the foot hardly off the foot-brake pedal, into the side of the road. In descending hills a safe rule is to keep the car in the gear which was used for the ascent, and to apply the foot-brake gently to prevent too much momentum. The engine can be employed as a very efficient brake in this way. The noise which it makes if the descent is undertaken in a low gear may be ignored. A very steep hill should never be descended except on a low gear. The use of the engine as a brake is not only safer but more economical for it helps to preserve the brake linings.

LANDSCAPE CURTAINS

Manufacturers have laid themselves out this year to provide the housewife with numerous dainty, artistic fabrics for window curtains. The small patterned cretonnes are gradually losing favour, and in their place the fabric artist has designed a particularly charming set of landscape designs which are a complete change from the all-over floral patterns. One of these new curtains has a soft grass-green foundation: and panels upon which are traced a shepherdess sin-rounded by lambs, with trees and bushes and a stream in the distance. The bald description does not convey any idea of the daintiness with which it is carried out. Really, it is one of the loveliest curtains printed for a very long time. There are many new designs in silk net and lace curtains. The plain squares have been improved upon, and some of the floral patterns are prettily intertwined with foliage and have a deep border of squares. Yellow and gold shades are the most popular, and there are deep creams into which pink and blue floral designs are worked. Silver grey, to go with a grey room, has been introduced this season, and in the border of it there is a line of pink roses.

THE INDISPENSABLE SCARF

(By JOAN ROSSITER.) Almost every winter's coat bought during the present season has entailed another purchase, a scarf to go with it. The protection of the silk (and these scarves nearly all are of silk) agfiinst the rub of the fur collar, which so often soils the neck, is appreciated. and of course the scarf is a delightful aid to a definite colour scheme. With the severely-tailored velour coat is usually worn a scarf of a plain material, chosen to match exactly the colour of the coat, or in a paler tone of that colour. Batik is not very extensively used just now. But in Canada, where the craft of manufacturing these silks is practised, the latest specimens show many tasteful designs and colourings, which would make most charming scarves. The green patterns are particularly attractive in batik. FRINGELESS Whether the scarf be of a plain or a patterned silk, or of a substantial woollen material, it is never fringed

this season. At least, not when it is to wear under the winter’s coat. The ends of the silk may be bordered with a strip of plain material if the scarf is patterned, and vice versa, but more often the strip of silk is merely hemstitched. The scarf worn with the evening cloak is, however, quite a different article. This dressy accessory is usually of more than one material, and is as elaborate as one cares to make so slender a piece of fabric. I saw one in the window of a shop

in town, made of silk and feather fringe, and georgette. The length of periwinkle-blue georgette was embroidered with gold and silver threads, and tipped with the deep fringe. This scarf was lying across a frock of the same colour, and materials, making a very delightful ensemble. FOR “PERIOD” STYLES A len tli of coloured chiffon is another favourite shoulder drapery worn at the dance. Its advantage is that it provides a soft and becoming frame to one’s head. It is a most appropriate accessory if worn with a “period” frock. A very gay scarf was worn at the theatre the other night, by a welldressed girl. This was a strip of mulberry-coloured crepe de chine, worked with golden threads, and weighed down at each end by tassels of honey feathers. One of the prettiest afternoon frocks was a sweetly simple affair in navy crepella. The daintily tucked and box-pleated skirt was joined to a corsage with the increasingly popular bolero effect. A self-coloured belt was fastened with a novel enamel and gilt buckle, while the indispensable shoulder flower was of navy taffetas.