SHOW DAY AT AMBURYS'

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 261, 14 March 1911, Page 7

SHOW DAY AT AMBURYS'

! THE NEW SEASON'S FASHIONS. A bower of bewildering beauty is ah inadequate epithet to use in connection, with the magnificent display of the new season's millinery models in Messrs. 1 Ambury Brothers' show-room, whilst never in the history of this progressive and prosperous firm has there been seen in their rooms such a rich aha varied gathering of the new costumes, blouses, and rain-coats. And even now the firm has not been able to put forth the whole of its resources, for there is a large quantity of goods direct from the manufacturers now landing from the Runtime at Wellington, and a shipment is due here to-day. Under these circumstances a supplementary fashion display will be held, probably during next week. A representative of the Daily News had the customary pre-opening peep last evening at the new importations. The hats for the most part are smaller, the expansive hat having received its conge—until next time. "Bucket" is the scarcely beautiful but descriptive term to use in describing the prevailing shapes. The sizes having altered, so have the colors. These are more subdued —the bizarre effects have disappeared. The prevailing colors are tin coronation blue, a pretty warm brown, a new blue, which is a modification of the peacock blue of a season or two ago, very pretty shot effects in both * straws and trimming, and combinations of amethyst and peacock blue, and green and terra cotta. Coronation blue is a royal blue, very fashionable in the leading fashion centres of the Old World, and it is used principally in conjunction with black. A special display is made of hats, richly trimmed in these colors, with a touch here and there of paette, in chiffon velvet, silk, and feathers, while huge cabachons are still a feature of the trimmings, and cocque feathers and Lancers' plumes figure largely in the finer' models. Black braid is extensively used, traced in pretty designs on the velvet and silk. Elsewhere was seen a large profusion of tinsel cords and tassels as finishing the decoration of the hats, and hand-made silk flowers and birds, silver and aluminium leaf-wreaths in bandeaux, as well as rosary bandeaux, amongst other effective trimmings. Feathers are largely used, large sweeping wings, heads and breasts of hawks and other birds, stnd beautifully tipped cock feathers, in various shades; and here and there fur is effectively inserted. Just picture this black beaver, one of the larger shapes, turned up in front, with long black ostrich plumes caught together in front under a large cahachon and falling over the brim at the back, or another black heaver, relieved only by a dazzlingly white Lancers plume! Here is a toque in coronation blue, with black chenille braid tracing, and large black jet cabachons; and there a coronation red toque, very smart, with , wild duck wing, braid and tassel. An--1 other toque is in terra cotta velvet, very Iliigh, trimmed in tluchesse satin of the same color, crimson dahlias, and gold cord. The new bronze green straw and j silk hats are superb goods, and sure to be popular. On a mole-colored velvet ' toque is paette silk, relieved only with j silver oriental trimming (another poptiI tar feature), and natural heron feathers. The new winestain is introduced in much of the millinery, and amethyst and dark mulberry appear to be very ! fashionable. As usual in the winter | millinery, we have beautiful black j models, in silk and velvet, paradise feathers, rich sequin trimmings, and; black braid; whilst ttiere are also some gems in black and white, some with fine cockatoo plumage. The "Dreadnought" is a new shape, and the name will be sufficient to indicate it to the visitors to the showrooms. Maids and matrons are well catered for, and there is a large range of knock-about liats, trimmings of all kinds, untrimmed shapes, and so on. The costume department is better than ever, the Cheviot and Harris tweeds being a special feature, in all fashionable shades. Rain-coats include the Millerain, Hydrotitc, Burburv and Aqualiacta rainproofs, these latter being very fine goods, of very light weight. Silk blouses are shown in a lovely range, and the Home manufacturers have greatly reduced their prices in these lines. Underskirts are in silk ana moirette, and in big variety of styles and colors. On the ground floor are the furs, and dress goods, amongst man) other things. Lovely real sealskin and real mole fur sets —muff and stole—will attract a full meed of public attention, whilst there are also collarets, stoles, and muffs of foxaline, marmot, etc. Dress goods will be found in splendid variety, the new silk spot matting (a woollen material), crepes, Cheviot, Harris, and Bannocktiurn tweeds, being prominent. There is, as usual, a lovely collection of all kinds of tittle etceteras of dress. The men's department is replete with everything seasonable and fashionable. The first sliowin? of the new season's goods is being made in the showrooms to-day.