Frills ADS & FOIBLES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 357, 18 May 1928, Page 5

Frills ADS & FOIBLES

special Feature sup- ■ plied excluisvel.v to fjtE SOy. Auckland, ty The Central Press, | fleet Street, Lo?tdon. I ——

Vogues and Vagaries

(By

Madame Jeanne Varrez)

Smart new ensembles, while showing qo drastic changes for the average girl or woman, are characterised by little new touches that date the older creations, and illustrate the cleverness o( the designers. All the up-to-date designs are at once becoming and .radical. Great variety is offered in the matter of fabrics, and wonderful ingenuity is displayed in colour alliances. The uneven hem is again a feature of all the collections. So is the circular trend. This last was charmingly illustrated in a two-piece composed of black crepella and black and red crepe de chine. The gown itself was a check in these two colours but the pattern had that soft and blurred surface which is typical of the new season’s materials. \ narrow tie emphasised a rather unusual neck-opening. The godet skirt was essentially “new" in one respect: it took the upward line at one side, which is one °1 the most piquant innovations of the moment and can be curiously attractive. At the hem of the skirt were fascinating rows of tiny frills. Simplicity characterised the long, slim, accompanying coat of black crepella. Bell sleeves were slit to reveal a glimpse of the gown beneath. Except for frills at the hem en suite with those of the dress, the coat dispensed with the decorative note. Frocks for afternoon wear make their own special appeal, particularly when materialised in the newest satins. Very typical is the finely pleated satin skirt with juniper prettily draped in crossways fashion, embroidered in beautifully contrasting colours, and introducing gold or silver. Sleeveless coatees complete this attractive theme. Then there are dainty printed crepe de chine gowns that are to be excessively modish. Rose is a colour continuously in this crepe de chine picture. Another is that elusive shade of green known as tilleul. Each of these hues is seen combined with black, with bands and pipings of the colour, and made up with kilted or pleated skirts with which the übiquitous ceinture-belt is worn; while in most cases the neck finish takes the jabot form.. Sports suits illustrate the seemingly unending popularity of the jersey three-piece. In a beige-and-green combination. one ensemble in particular attracted my attention as a characteristic exposition of the prevailing mode. The beige jumper was patterned with a diamond design in green. Plain green, in a most becoming, soft tone, was the colour theme of the skirt and sleeveless coatee. These last, with or vithout a collar, are featured in most of the premier salons. Hats specially designed for a mili nery en suite are the inevitable accompaniment to these smart toilettes "pour le sport”—a term that in outtime covers a multitude of every-day occasions. There is a break-away from the eternal felt, too. The suit described above, for instance, was allotted a lovely little light-weight Bangkok in a charmingly elusive but “telling"’ shade of beige-grey. Talking of grey, one of the most delicious little Parisian crepe de chine suits 1 have seen was fashioned of Srey In two shades. The lighter tone uas trimmed with the darker, emphasised by exquisitely dainty buttons and links of smoke-pearl. The grey vogue is influencing footwear. While beige tones still predominate, there are many more grey shoes and hosiery featured in the fashionable windows.

CONCEAL THE LIGHTING For years decorators have been in favour of concealed lighting for the i evening, but few have realised the advantages to be secured when indirect lighting by day is exploited. Recently, however, some beautiful effects have been developed by means of shutters of the finest silk fitted to the window frames inside the room. These are capable of being etirely drawn, or only partically closed, according to the amount of sunlight. The gilt framework itself suggests a glint of sunshine. This use of silken shutters is very subtle. It softens the light wonderfully and casts a becoming glow upon the room and its occupants. Sometimes the silk is of palest blush-pink: sometimes of primrose yellow—it all depends on the aspect and the colour scheme. Concealed lighting at the sides of the room is now being effected in a variety of ways, some of the fitments relying upon tautly drawn silk to convey the requisitely softened illumination by night. Sometimes two layers of silk in different colours are used in order to gain the exact tone needed. Thus, cream is lined with mauve, pink with grey, and beige with blue, to excellent ends. Even the shade of the standard lamp is now closed in at the base lest the light thrown down be too harsh and direct. By means of a speciallyprepared varnish, materials that appear to be as' opaque as thick parchment or pigskin by day take on a transparency that renders them quite practical for use as shades at night. The newest table lamp has shaped pieces of decorated glass fitted into a wooden stand to conceal the bulb, while at the same time allowing its light mysteriously to filter through. Everywhere the fitments are of one mind as to the necessity of concealing filaments.

\*.i B: il I f! IIBEJDa Grated nutmeg added to scrambled eggs greatly improves the flavour- * To heal gums chafed by a dental plate, rub dry powdered alum on them. Left-over macaroni can be mashed and added to scrambled egg, using a little butter with it.