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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 2 (May 1, 1936)

[section]

Of particular interest in the mannequin parade were the evening toilettes. Furs, velvets, satins, paraded in a glamorous mist of colour. Only by concentration could one escape the general effect and note a particular model.

First, I looked for line. Gowns were sheath-like, with or without floating draperies; bouffant from a fitted hipline; sharply cut by the line of peplum, blouse or jacket. Materials were such as suited the type of frock—chiffon, georgette or ninon; satin, crepe or matelasse; velvet, lame or brocade. Many of the filmy fabrics were threaded with metal in silver or gold. Colours ranged from pastel tints for the dainty double-pug-sleeved affair of the debutante, through the rich shimmer of renaissance shades to the dark lustre of velvet.

* * *

Try to picture a cabaret frock in burgundy, embroidered with gold thread; a slim skirt, lustrous in black velvet, topped by a blouse or tailored jacket in silver lame or brocade; a frock in clinging lace with a cape shoulder; a tunic gown, the tunic with its fullness held at the waistline and swinging out with peplum effect over the clinging skirt; a longer tunic, sheath-like, over a pleated underdress; a glorious gown in misty-grey finely pleated chiffon, held at the waist-line with cerise; a green taffeta gown swinging out at neck and hemline in stiff quilting; chiffon again with wing sleeves (fairly short and square ended, or else falling low to a point) effectively lined in contrast.

* * *

Evening coats, cloaks and capes are more interesting than they have been for many years. Among the furs, the short fur cape, especially in white, is prominent. A charming version had black ermine tail-tips in an unusual design at the neck-line. The capes may have a round neck unadorned, or a high collar giving an Elizabethan