Feminine Interests

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 731, 2 August 1929, Page 5

Feminine Interests

fashion news from FRANCE By LUCIEXNE GUI When we go to the wedding of a friend, it is always interesting to •.wait the moment when the bride appears clad for the “going away.” This toilette, almost as important as the wedding gown itself, is usually kept a profound secret, only the dear(St friend, the demoiselle d'honneur, knowing what it is to be. A certain lovely Parisienne, who motored from Paris to Biarritz for their honeymoon, chose a pull-over of silver grey angora shot with zigzags of silver metal thread, and a fared skirt of soft grey woollen material to match. Over this suit she wore a well-tailored coat of buttercup vellow glace leather. I ned with woollen material like the skirt, and having a large collar and cuffs of gr.ey squirrel. G.'ey lizard shoes, silk stockings to tone, a soft pull-on hat of mixed yellow and grey leather, and a huge handbag of grey and yellow with the inevitable zip top, completed the ensemble. The Black “Going-Away” Toilette Another youthful matron caused a huge sensation by changing from her flowing wedding gown of cream crepe satin, with pearl-embroidered silver and rose train and priceless point de venise lace veil, into a "going-away” toilette of black, with silver and parchment as slight relief! Even her bridegroom gasped when she appeared at the head of the staircase, but this daring spirit had a dazzling pink and white complexion, and ripe golden hair, so she was more than justified in her choice. As to details, there was a little cardigan suit of black wool de chine, with lovely old chased silver buttons on the coat, and a cross-over gilet of parchment-coloured satin. To wear over this was a long coat of very fine black velours de laine. with roll collar and deep cuffs of quilted black satin. This use of quilted satin for collars and cuffs is very new, by the way, and is especially suitable for travelling. On the bride’s pretty head was a turban of fine black felt, the folds of which were drawn through two rings of marcasite, and the most chic little lace veil fell to the tip of her nose. Black patent shoes with silver buckles, parchment silk stockings, a huge flat sac of black suede with a

big monogram in marcasite, and„ a spray of parchment velvet orchids faintly perfumed with orchidee bleu, completed this truly original picture of a bride off for her honeymoon. Her luggage, containing some of the most beautiful lingerie in the world, was white and blue leather with silver fittings. The Flying Toilette A girl who was to fly straight from her wedding reception to London, where she would diue aud dance at one of the smartest clubs the same evening, wore a marvellous one-piece suit of soft rose pink suede, fastened flown the front and down ea.ch leg with zip fasteners. It was lined throughout with soft beige wool, for warmth and comfort, and accompanied by a helmet of rose suede to match. The Rose Wedding-Dance Frock The dance frock of this flying bride was of rose coloured moire, supple as satin. The bodice fitted the figure like a glove, and the skirt hung in many narrow petal panels, each bound with the material. Only a straight short underskirt of rose net made the foundation for the over-lapping petals. This panel skirt, so straight, so charming of movement, made a change after so many full frocks. The back panels were long enough to touch the ground. A little sleeveless coat, with diamond buttons, went with the frock, for no dress is complete without another “piece,” be it a scarf, a short coatee, or a three-quarter sac. And this bride’s necklace was composed of about 26 rows of tiny rose crystal beads, all different lengths, fastened with a large round clasp of brilliants.

PAST AND PRESENT IN AN ANCIENT PALACE There are houses among the narrow streets of Palma, on the Mallorca, which are apt to make you wonder wh&ther the past is really past. All old palaces they, roughly and sedately built, arrogantly windowless, keeping themselves aloof from the life of the streets. But as you pass these grey-stone citadels, you suddenly come upon an arch or two, broken—rather than made —through the thickness of the walls. And, looking through these, you see an exquisitely spaced court, and stairs standing outside. The wrought iron traceries of the balustrades and balconies are glad with flowers and elfin orange trees. Beyond the great chiselled doors stay severely closed and not a glimpse of the inner life may you catch—Unless you linger for a while. Then, indeed, you may see the heavy doors open; you may behold a great riot of multi-coloured brocade, rose-coloured fans and white plumes gallantly swaying in the golden air. Lengths of Persian carpet are thrown upon the sun-warm gr.ey stairs and brocaded tapestries vie for a place of honour among the dark green foliage of orange trees. And you may see a tiny bronzed hand toying with an enormous tortoiseshell comb or a jade-briglit fan, while someone slim aud slight, in straight black velvet, busies herself with the vivid oriental carpets. But you will stand still, expecting a coach to drive up to the arch, expecting to hear bejewelled high heels come tapping down the Eastern carpetry; expecting to see someone with slim bronzed hands and glinting dark hair, a rose fan, a turquoise and amethyst shawl . . . For the hour is the reverie hour! And as you stand you will actually see capable hands deftly beating the dust out of the carpets, shaking the rose-tinted petals of the great fan. and smoothing the folds of long since unused brocades. You will watch on, dimly realising that even such prosaic things as house cleaning and lumber sorting may gain beauty and dignity when done on such a balcony. Because it is terraced with orange trees and glad garlands, and the regal stairs lead downward into a grand though deserted court, where a solitary fountain shakes its crystal notes into the hot golden air.

Women the World Over FROM THE COTTON FIELDS Tlio story of Mary Bethune, the negress, reads like a fairy tale. One of a family of seventeen, she lived in a ramshackle cabin and worked in the cotton fields, with only a smattering of education, gleaned at a small mission school, until she conceived the idea of bettering her race. With a magnificent voice herself sho gathered about her a band of pupils and by giving concerts raised sufficient money to found a school for girls. The original dump ground which she purchased is now covered with flower beds and buildings valued herself, is at the head of the great coeducation college at Daytona Beach. Recently the Bethune-Cookman College for boys became an offshoot, with 500 students. TAKING THEIR NUMBERS California’s first woman air traffic officer, Mrs. Ulysses Grant McQueen,

president of the California Women’s Aeronautical Association, has been commissioned to prevent' stunt flying over Beverley Hills. FOR WORKING GIRLS Forty-seven years ago, distressed by the conditions among the working girls in the East End of London, many of whom were earning only twopence an hour, Miss Seton Karr conceived the idea, of opening a restaurant where the girls could obtain good meals at a trifling cost. The venture proved so popular that larger premises were soon needed, and “The Welcome Working Girls’ Institute” has flourished ever

since. Miss Seton Karr is now eighty, but she still visits the club several times a week. Recently about five hundred working girls gave a party at the Leathersellers’ Hall, and their benefactress was the guest of honour. There are now 200 similar clubs in the city. FULL OF YEARS The oldest resident of Parramatta, New South Wales, is Miss Margaret Houison, who recently celebrated her ninety-fourth birthday. For eightyseven years she has lived in the same house, and for ninety-three years has resided on the one block of land. The Presbyterians of Parramatta have erected the Margaret Houison Memorial Hall on the site of the first Scots Church, which her father built nearly a century ago, in recognition of her work among the poor and needy. AN ADVENTUROUS CAREER Gorillas have a particular charm for Mrs. Mary Jobe Akeley, the well-known United States explorer and naturalist, who has been studying the habits of these animals in the Congo. Mr. and Mrs. Akeley went to Africa three years ago to advise the Belgian Government on the reservation of a gorilla sanctuary and, after her husband’s death, she successfully carried on the expeddition. The Carl Akeley Memorial African Hall, for which she has painted the backgrounds and supplied much material, is being incorporated in the American Museum of National History, New York. A MOUNTAINEER Miss Kate Gardiner, of Liverpool, who made a successful ascent of Mount Cook, now has the credit of being the first woman to climb Mount Teichelmann, 10,370 ft., in the Alps. It was necessary to ascend the Silverhorn, which rises to 10,757 ft., before the other peak could be reached. BRIDGE AFTERNOON MRS. R. G. COX HOSTESS AT FAREWELL PARTY A bridge party was given by Mrs. R. G. Cox at the J.C.L. Tea Rooms on Thursday afternoon for her daughter, Mrs. IT. "Webster, who is leaving Auckland. shortly to reside in Whangarei. Mrs. Cox received her guests wearing a floral chiffon taffeta frock, fur coat and small black hat. Mrs. Webster was in a black georgette lace frock and small black hat. The guests were: Mesdames Whitten, Thomson, Gallaher, McDonald, P. Wilson, Dunlop, Kinnear, Mclnnes, Falconer, Matthews, Young, Garlick, Beckerleg, Gresham, T. Wetherilt, Coutts, Arey, Torrance, Worsfold, Green, Fraser-Smlth, Bishop, Adams, C. Hartley, Evans, Renner, P. Be Grice, Brownlee, Peace, Francis. Wray, Leyland, Struthers, C. Wilson, Oswald, Crowe, Misses Brown and Renner.