FASHIONS FOR WOMEN

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1926, Page 18

FASHIONS FOR WOMEN

A LETTER FROM PARIS. (By Diana, Dane). The favoured .materials, as indicated J.>y the models seen at the. latest dress shows, are velvet, a new silk rep. silk marocain, taP/etas, eliiffon, crepe'de chine, aiid last, but not least, lace! Velvet will not interest women who live . im climates where nothing but the lightest fabrics can be entertained; although it is now* produced in suah a light, . supple form that it is as easy to drape and even to tuck as crepe de chine itself. It’s lovely artificial silk surface,, whether plain or patterned, •has a. “bloom” that is impossible to obtain with any other material. Next in popularity is the new silk rep which,. with its rich, iinely-eorded surface, is a very desirable medium in which to express a simple afternoon frock or a tailored morning one. It is ' extraordinarily light, and as pliable as it is possible to make a fabric of this description. In any of the brown tones, from the delightful sunshine yellow to the rich “dead-leaf” tint, it makes charming house or walking

toilettes. In blue it is also attractive: and the various wine shades look well in this useful material. : Silk marocain, which f» very much .like heavy, weight crepe de chine, but with more substance, is greatly in demand because of the obliging way in which it : permits itself to he draped, gauged, smocked, or pleated, at the will of the designer. This also has a ■ very rich appearance and, since the richer the fabric the more successful the gown this season, it should retain its renewed popularity for many months. Taffetas —shot, shaded or printed—is an old favourite which shows no sign of losing its place ui the sun. Some of the newest chine taffetas, by the way, are now printed in small posy designs,, their gay flower-garden shades shoiving. up in exquisite relief on the white or neutral tinted ground. This is the logical outcome of the craze for picturesque frocks of the full-skirted type, the demure little posies lending a delightfully piquant air to a demure little frock: Chiffon, crepe de chiiie and lace ; are already firmly established, and the combination of. ethereal looking chiffon with fine, cobwebby lace is one of; the newest temptations in the form, of an evening model shown by a famous designer. As for crepe de chine, it is used for everything from dainty lingerie to. quite ..useful wraps. For ’ morning frocks it is used in the darker shades particularly ths new blues—the neat white collars, vests and cuffs lending a wonderfully fresh and youthfid air to these simple toilettes. For afternoon wear it is tucked, pleated, smocked or flounced to fashion frocks as beautiful a= . they are practical—for crepe de chine is essentially' practical in wear! Georgette is another fabric that is indispensable to the designer. In itself it is a lovely thing; trimmed with numerous flounces of fine lacc.'or with picto-edged self frills, a georgette frock can hold its own in any gathering. Sequin embroidered, it sparkles and scintillates in the ball-room like a dew-spangled flower witli the sun upon it!

TRREGTLAR 'LINKS. Almost without exception, the new frocks are made with irregular hemlines. Only tailor-mades. and sports clothes retain the straight, even skirt; other models are cut in petal scallops er in deep vandyke points. When the. frock is finely pleated, this pointed hem is particularly engaging, the pleated points giving a crinkled leaf effect to the skirt. Some models arc cut knee length in front, sloping at the sides and becoming quite long at the back, floating panels, lined with a contrasting shade, fall six inches below, the hem at the sides; or tho uneven effect may lie secured by two narrow “trains” which are attached to • the shoulders and allowed to fall gracefully down Hie back almost to the ankles'.