THE LATEST FASHIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1926, Page 18

THE LATEST FASHIONS

A LETTER FROM PARIS. (By Diana Dane). Frocks of the “Picture” persuasion are creating quite a sensation at the dress shows. Tijey billow so seductively. “frou-frou” so charmingly, that most, women, 1 imagine, .will include one or more in their wardrobes. The “Picture” frock appears in many guises. It may be merely the well-be-loved bouffant gown, with a fitting bodice and a full, spreading skirt. Perhaps its spreading skirt is further adorned with picot-edged flounces, or with fri” ■ of delicate lace; or it may he made to stand out from the hips by means of tiny cane or wire “hoops,” as ' were the dresses of our grandmothers. In whatever form it presents itself, the picture frock cannot be wrong, .so long as its wearer looks •'right'’ in it!

Quite apart from the bouffant gown, a charming effect of frilly fulness may bo secured with separate over panels, which float out from the natural waistline, leaving visible the slim skirt beneath. This is a very pretty style foil the young girl's dance frock, and one model expressed it beautifully in very fine cloth of silver over which floated loose shell pink lace panels, the pattern of the lace being picked out with shaded sequins. Silver shoes and the new silk net stockings in shell pink; a huge single ostrich feather fan iu the same shade, and a sequin einbroided net filet encircling the. shingled head of the wearer, were complementary details which helped this toilette to

stand out as'one of the daintiest in the saloon. For afternoon frocks with long sleeves, the lace or embroidered chiffon puff is finding many admirers. Similar lace or chiffon is used on the skirt in the form of full inset side panels, which li re out like godets. These side flares supply the reason, as it were, for the introduction of the puffs on the sleeves!

One of the most useful, as well as the most charming "little frock” models is expressed in georgette printed in ail allover tracery design, which is rather refreshing after the floral patterns which have, held sway during the past months. Cut without sleeves and with a moderately high neck, the gown maintains long, slim lines to below the hips, whence it flares suddenly into a sort of glorified flounce. The waistbelt, which is noticable ou most of the new models, encircles the hips and the bodice pouches over it in the approved manner.

The. new and very artistic broche georgette is to have a great vogue for afternoon frocks, as well as for evening gowns and wraps. Such exquisite combinations of shades would scarcely he possible in any other material; but here the vivid tones and the subdued ones harmonise so perfectly that they are grouped, and the light airiness of the georgette demand that the gown be left quite unadorned. To trim a frock like this would be to spoil it; therefore, though broche georgette is not cheap, it is a sound proposition for the woman of modest means. Afternoon frocks may have long, wing-like sleeves of plain georgette iu the same colour 'as the foundation; and these are often edged with narrow bands of the broche; altern. ’•■•ely for matron’s wear, they may be hemmed with the new soft velvet in exactly the same shade. Some wonderful trimming effects are obtained with nothing more than row upon row of tiny pin-tucks. On crepe or georgette, or even on chiffon, these minute tucks are worked in criss-cross

designs, in squares, in plaid or check patterns, or they are simply used running straight down and round the gown. In whatever manner they are employed, they are distinctly attractive, the very simplicity of the trimming and.the excellence of the work which is necessary to make it a success, marking the frock immediately as one quite put of the ordinary. Pin tucks are used also on the finest lawn lingerie, which is still dear to the heart of the dainty woman. Sometimes they constitute the only note of relife on an exquisitely hand-made set of finest handkerchief lawn, though, occasionally, deep hems of white net or handmade lace insertion, lend a more decorative note.