The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-04
Fabric Is
Ideal f01"
All Ages
BY ROSETTE HARGROVE
NEA Service Writer

DARIS, Dec. 4.-The novelty Of the
L season is the lace afternoon
gown. With styles generally SO
strongly inclined to the ultra
feminine, it is not surprising that
such a dainty medium as lace has
come into its own again.
Undaunted by the general trade
depression, the French lace manu-
facturers have never before offered
such a choice of novel ideas and
every couturier has taken advantage
of this opportunity.
The new dull surfaced laces made
timely appearance in connection
with the end-of-the-day gown. Few
women invited to formal afternoon
function or a cocktail party relish
the idea Of rushing back home to
change if dinner at fashionable
restaurant is to follow or if the
party IS prolonged into picnic
meal and bridge.
An ordinary silk afternoon frock,
however smart, is apt to appear a
little too informal as the evening
wears on, and that is why the Paris
couturier created the lace afternoon
frock.
MOdernity Triumphs
Machine-made laces can be very
favorably compared today with any
of the so-called classical hand
made laces such as Chantilly Irish
lace. culture, point d'Angleterre,
needlepoint and others. While all
the old-fashioned patterns are still
copied, the modern offer newer de-
signs and are equal in beauty.
Bauer, one of the leading lace
manufacturers in France, created
for this season q cotton lace with
shiny surface specially designed
for day wear. Combining the weight
of cotton with the appearance Of
silk, this makes an ideal medium
for late afternoon frock, as it can
be tailored as ordinary dress fabric.
Chantel offers a charming after
noon or informal dinner ensemble
of lace and tulle combined that is
proving immensely popular. 1t is
carried out in shadow tulle that
looks like applications of mousse
line at a distance.
Fits Figure Closely
The dress fits the figure closely
we'll below the hips, where rather
wide hounce is attached. -Four rows
of fiat tulle ruching decorate the
hem of the skirt, which stops well
above the ankle. The top OF the
dress is composed Of a tulle yoke
with a transparent effect, slightly
decollete in a square both front and
back.
Over this is worn short, straight
bolero with moderately wide sleeves.
A formal hat of velvet trimmed
with uncurled ostrich plumes COM
pleted the ensemble, which could
be worn under an afternoon coat
of cloth trimmed with fur or a fur
coat. Without the bOlero, the dress
is sufficiently dressy for an informal
dinner party.
Worth has el afternoon two-plece
gown of silk and cotton lace in a
pastel pink, and Lelong shows one
in the new midnight blue and two
in dark brown. Patou has one in
the new carOub brown.
Another Of Bauers novelties is his
Angel-Skin lace, dull surfaced like
the fabric it is named after, which
comes in a rather small, all-over
pattern. Still another is his vel
vet" lace, all-silk, that looks like
embossed velvet.
Lace Ideal Fabric
Wool laces in minute modernistic
floral designs are used for informal
afternoon frocks, but more especially
for blouseS, sweaters and, in the
larger patterns, for contrasting cuffs
and collars on dark dresses.
Many informal evening gowns are
fashioned of lace and tulle combined
or two-colored laces. Worth has
one very successful model in a fine
black lace with an emerald green
lace yoke, sleeves and deep scalloped
band hemming the skirt.
Jenny has an interesting collection
of afternoon gowns combining crepe
de chine and lace, the latter intro
duced in the form Of organisations
in the bodice in the form of trans
parent yokes, bows and intricate in
sertionS.
Lace is an ideal fabric for the
young as we'll as the older women.
A black lace dress is always an as
set. 1t wears well, seldom gets
tired-looking-decidedly an advan-
tage for any one who is often in
vited to weekend parties-and does
not get old-fashioned as quickly as
the more fashionable silks and vel
vets.