Fashion Notes for Island Women

By Therese.

LIVING up to your clothes is essential in these days when chic is of para mount importance. Your complexion, your hands, your hair must be given the closest attention if you will achieve that well groomed look. Your poise, the way you stand or sit, may mar the perfection of your toilette.

Sleeves have lost their exaggerated air and have become commonsensible again.

Long or short, they are now only mode rately full at the top. the slim straight sleeve being worn in many instances. shoulders matter tremendously and little epaulettes give the necessary width.

Continuing the slim look, nothing could be more svelte than the new tunic trend.

In chic silk linen (it washes well, too) it is one hundred per cent. chic. This material is very popular just now and justifies its popularity in every way and what matters most, is of negligible cost.

Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor! Buttons?

But, of course! and you may be sure we add that extra one to ensure that the rich man will be our fate. Buttons are greatly in demand. We wear them with everything and the more the merrier Even our evening frocks boast them.

Adorable little diamente things that wink wickedly at the mere male.

Plaids are still in favour. A plaid blouse whose oatmeal skirt has belt and buttons of patent leather in the predomi nating shade is really delightful. Oatmeal linen is excellent for this scheme, as it contrasts so charmingly with vivid trimmings and accessories.

Ship ahoy! You must have at least one sailor collar of pique on your cotton frocks. You may be ambitious, and even wear two, but the lower one must be of the same shade as the frock, or a decided contrast. A pique gob cap, and you will be the pride of the navy in your nautical array. Try it in one of those lovely shades of blue, and so cool and fresh will you look that you will be a sight for tropical eyes, and. let me whisper it — "blue is man’s favourite colour.”

The high neckline is making another bold bid for popularity. It is, however quite unsuitable for tropical wear, and though we may hanker after it, the very wise will avoid it altogether. Besides, there are very few among us who can wear it successfully, so its avoidance should cause few pangs.

Skirts are very straight and slim, and when fulness is required it is just knee high. Many frocks are cut on princess lines, always a winner, and they are frankly simple in design.

Red lace, with the addition of a cur rant velvet sash, marks you as something different. The sash must be broad, with long tail ends falling from a soft bow.

The back line is of great importance on evening frocks, and cowl draperies give a graceful effect when falling softly from the shoulders of a frock that carries a plain front. Less back is seen than for merly, and backs are cut so cunningly that only glimpses of the skin are re vealed here and there.

Fashion decrees that we are to glitter so gather together your old stock of beads and transform a plain evening frock into a thing of beauty, with beaded designs.

Outline the leaves and flowers of a lace frock with tiny bugle beads, in silver or opalescent, and you will have a frock fit for the fairy princess of “childish fan cies.” It is easy to accomplish, too; but time and patience are necessary attributes.

Cultivate the latter and a feeling of in tense satisfaction will be the result.

Hip length coats of plain shades are being worn with white sports frocks; and when a striped silk waistcoat is attached to the shoulder seams you are very chic indeed. Sports frocks continue plain, with either flare or pleats and in many cases are backless, hence the decided use fulness of the little jackets. A new jacket is of check, with whitq revers and white puritan cuffs with double button links.

Belts are an important accessory and should not be overlooked in the scheme of things. They instantly put life into a last season’s frock, and are made of everything imaginable. Even curtain rings, lacquered to the desired shade are threaded together on a belt of material or ribbon and are the cutest things.

There are belts of string, of window cord plaited together, of woven braid, and they are all delightful.

Hand-made flowers are worn with both day and evening gowns. Artificiality seems to add to their charm, and they are worn at the shoulder, high on the neck line, in the front of the bodice or at the For the very young, a garland of field flowers at the waist is adorable.

Lovely life-like chrysanthemums in those beautiful cream and golden shades adorn the V-shaped back of an evening gown Clusters of violets are tucked in the waist of an afternoon frock and achieve unde niable charm.

Posies of flowered chiffon are delightful and very easy to make. A few graduated circles of chiffon, a little wire and a few etceteras and the flowers are yours.

The mesh effect in gloves, shoes, hats, and stockings is still sought, and charac terises one of the most important of this year’s fashions. And why not, when thev are so cool and look it?