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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 3 (June 1, 1936)

Fashion Jottings

Fashion Jottings.

Here we are, almost in mid-season, with the fashion surprises all exhausted save for adaptations of the mode which draw our interest.

Top-coats have a definite surface weave—for instance, knap cloths, bouclés, tree-bark coatings, chevron and diagonal finishes. Furs give a luxury finish to necklines and sometimes to upper sleeves. Among a recent collection were noticed fox, imitation squirrel, dyed musquash, skunk, Persian lamb, pointed fox, opossum. Collars are mostly convertible. Waistlines are nipped in. Skirts have a slight flare.

* * *

For house and street, cosy comfort is supplied by knitwear, which is definitely smart this year. Colours and styles are manifold. At the beginning of the season, indeed, most of the large stores had a wider selection of these garments, one-, two- and threepiece, than of material frocks.

Wool frocks are neatly fitting smartly pleated in front or with gores. Neckwear gives the touch of originality and decides the occasion for which the frock is suitable. By a quick change from, let us say, a turndown collar in piqué, to a three-tiered effort in organdie, to an impertinent neck-ruff or to a glittering lamé neck finish with a sparkling belt to match, one may skip straight from the office to a five o'clock party, or to the home of a friend who has asked some interesting people to dinner.

* * *

Buttons and belts, of course, you studied at the beginning of the season. If a frock looks tired, change these accessories. Cut out its neckline a little and tuck a gay scarf round your neck and into the front of your frock. Try velvet collar and cuffs or a velvet choker. Satin collar and cuffs on a wool frock brighten it. A new idea is to braid in a scroll design, the collar and pockets. The front of the frock may be cut out and a vest substituted; form the spare material into tabs, passing through gilt buckles.

* * *

I must recapitulate materials for evening wear. One's eye is always drawn to velvet—how the light, falling upon its graceful folds, breaks up its colour into many tones. Here, indeed, is complete colour harmony. Shot velvets, ring velvets, uncrushable velvets, tinsel fancy velvets—a wealth of beauty.

The come-back staged by taffeta seems to be permanent. Cloque taffeta in a crinkled finish is charming for evenings. Shot taffeta in subdued shades gleams and glints by the fireside during an afternoon “at home.” Woven spots on shot taffeta add to its colour tones. A short swagger evening jacket in taffeta is crisp and dashing.

* * *

Tinsel cloque fashions smart gowns and bridge coats.

Printed georgette is graceful for afternoon or evening.

A gown of metallic crepe owed everything to correct cut and the material.

To be noted is satin grano, a dull fabric with lacquer satin reversible back.

A charming deb. frock had imitation flowers bunched under the projecting shoulder capes.

A frock in figured satin, slimly cut, had an overdress of black net, high to the neckline and with cape sleeves. Over a plain slip, the net itself may carry the decoration. Shirred silk gloves are showing for evenings.

* * *

The renaissance mode calls for jewelled belts. We read of them, months ago, without much interest, but here they are in our shops, and how our eyes sparkle! Each to her taste, but I want my jewelled belt to hold in the filmy folds of pleated georgette.

As regards afternoon gowns, don't forget “feminine frills” and the interest of sleeves, particularly the three-quarter length bishop affair and the slit variety.

Suits form the basis of the wardrobe, whatever the season. Will we have linen suits again next summer? I think so! For now, however, we envy the friend with the man-tailored suit in what we used to call exclusively men's suitings. Our own suit in rough woollen is smart, but not quite so smart. For the country holiday, however, it is definitely superior.

* * *

Blouses are mostly made to be seen, judging by the attention paid to sleeves. A combination of raglan shoulders and bishop sleeves appealed to me. All varieties of neck finishes are seen, neat or frilly. It seems not a matter of what type of suit you are wearing but of what you prefer.