Modes of the Stage

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 461, 17 September 1928, Page 5

Modes of the Stage

Charming Gowns Worn at His Majesty’s SOPHISTICATION AND CHIC SIMPLICITY "THE LUCK OF THE NAVY” The feminine portion of the audience that witnessed the opening performance of “The Luck of the Navy,” by the Percy Hutchison company at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday evening, was unanimous in its admiration of the many delightful gowns and negligees worn by the fair members of the caste. Miss Stella Francis, the leading lady, made her first charming appearance in a dainty afternoon gown of palest leaf green georgette, the skirt of which was made in flounced fashion over an underskirt of flowered silk crepe in all the vivid shades of autumn. The floral material appeared again in panels on the sleeves, in a slender girdle at the waistline, and a narrow collar caught with a buckle at one side. With it she wore a hat of green crocheted straw encircled with coloured plaited ribbons. SILVER AND WHITE A delightful evening gown, exquisite in its simplicity, was also worn by Miss Francis. White georgette expressed its slender charm to perfection, and was arranged to fall in deep uneven panels at either side. The corsage and skirt were inset with the filmiest of silken lace, with a flower design accentuated by motifs of silver sequins. From one shoulder fell a trail of orchid-shaded flowers. Wistaria mauve in a delicate nuance was chosen for the colour scheme of Miss Francis’s negligee, and was given much distinction by deep flowing sleeves of ivory lace and a long fringed tassel of silk that hung from one shoulder. j Miss Francis Dillon also had the opportunity of wearing many particularly attractive gowns, and an intriguing dream of a negligee that left nothing to the feminine desire but possession. One frock of poinsettia red georgette had a skirt that dipped to gracious length at the back, and was inset with bands of golden lace at the hem and on the sleeves, which were of the new flowing shape. The golden note was repeated in a bright buckle at the waistline. Miss Frances’s negligee was of lilac mauve georgette, with a lining of soft rosy pink. Narrow ruchings of rose georgette outlined the neck and sleeves, and from the neck to the gracefully trailing hem of the delightful garment a width of wonderfully embroidered cloth of silver was inlet. CLOTH OF GOLD Another of her gowns was fashioned of a rich brocade in glowing reds and gold, with here and there a gleam of vivid peacock blue woven into its pattern. Swathed into almost classic folds, the alluring gown developed a striking train at one side. Its corsage was unrelieved except for a slender single shoulder strap of rhinestones. Miss Mary Brackley’s frocks were girlishly naive in design, but none the less charming for that. One was of delphinium blue chiffon and lace, with alternate panels of fifiely pleated chiffon and lace around the skirt. The hat she wore with it was of blue crinoline, with a simple trimming of small flowers. Another dainty trifle was of cherry coloured tulle, shading through a bouffant frilled skirt into a rosecoloured floral border. A girdle of rhinestones had its brilliance reflected in a buckle that deftly held a big tulle bow in place at one hip. Ivory georgette, faintly flushed with a hint of pink, expressed the delicate charm of a beribboned and lace bordered negligee that Miss Brackley afterwards wore. Among the audience on Saturday evening were: Mrs. A. S. Bankart, Mr. and Mrs. T. Low, Miss Low, Mr. and Mrs. Kingston, Mrs. Vaile and Miss M Vaile, Mrs. H. Anderson, Mrs. A. Carr, Mrs. Mcßae, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Leys, Mrs. Foster, Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Brett, Mr. and Mrs. Rex Carew, Mrs. A. Hale, Mrs. H. Goldie, Mr and Mrs. Dodd, Miss Farquhar, Miss Zita Poole, Miss Smith, Miss Anderson, Miss Clarkson, and many others.