Fashion Hints for Islands Women
pp. 44-45 · Read in the full issue
(By Therese.)
EVENING clothes are more charming than ever—glamorous and exciting, and breathing sophistication in every line.
Black velvet roses trim the neckline of a mushroom pink evening gown which has as its accompaniment a debonair knee length cape lined with black. Elbow length gloves of black velvet, and shoes of the same dusky hue and fabric, give additional -charm.
We follow the backward trend with our evening gowns, leaving the front quite plain. The bustle is returning to favour.
It takes the form of a huge bow of taf fetas. or ruffles of self material, starting waist high and sometimes ending in a frilling, frothing, frivolous train.
Trains grow in popularity. With even ing gowns featuring this graceful line, ruffled or kilted under-slips are worn— often in contrasting shades. They are the direct and delightful solution to the prob lem of what shall be worn with our trained gowns to avoid the revelation of a large expanse of nether limbs when one lifts one’s train to tread a measure.
There is a definite vogue for lames and brocades, gold, silver, or colored to rival Joseph’s coat, and they undoubtedly make the fortunate possessor an intensely seduc tive siren, while Circe fades into insigni ficance beside the wearer of a jet trimmed model of black with sweeping lines.
Particularly lovely are the blouses, waist or hip length, very low at the back and worn with a skirt of velvet or satin in one’s favourite colour.
Lames and brocades are also used to trim some of the smartest frocks, by way of collars and scarves, and glittering sequin epaulettes add glamour to an otherwise plain frock and lift it to the heights.
“Say it with flowers” is the watchword of the season, and real or artificial you will wear them with everything, and on every occasion possible, if to be in the vanguard of fashion is your ambition.
Coronets of real flowers adorn the locks of the ingfenue, while the older woman risks her throw on a single flower which she wears behind the ear in approved tropi cal style. In either case the result is en rapport.
The floral buckle is a delightful idea for a belt of folded gold tulle. A posy is pinned at the low V decolletage or tucks snugly in at the waist line. We attach a posy to our evening bag or wear a necklet or arm let of our favourite flowers, and the world is ours.
Slim jackets, flared coats, swathed scarves, vie with each other for popularity for smart evening wraps. As the winter loses its icy blast and the swallows fly south again, the collar of fur is discarded \in favour of the scarf of satin, taffetas or georgette in shapes innumerable, and often as not in vivid contrast with the frock beneath.
Remnants of lace, bought in a moment of madness at some sale in the dim dis tant past, may now be unearthed and their
purchase justified, for they make the most charming- scarves and collars.
Tulle continues to be a firm favourite, and whole fairylike frocks are made of this diaphanous gift of the gods. Tres chic is the gown of black velvet whose yoke of double flesh coloured tulle is fin ished high at the neck-line with a ruching of velvet. The result is at once daring and demure.
Afternoon frocks are fresh and feminine.
Crisp organdies and lace ruffles combine to make them so. Tub frocks are more attractive than ever and their variety is infinite.
Charming crease-resisting floral voiles, again make possible our old love, the large and shady garden hat. It is so kind to us, hides our tired lines, and shades us be comingly.
Cottons come to us in gorgeous colour ings and steal our hearts. Banana yellow is the newest shade, and a sports swagger in this shade possesses dash and chic.
Box pleats have been resurrected for tennis frocks and as always are admirably suited for sports clothes. The shirt waist frock, which is so definitely the vogue just now, shows them with success.
Sailor Influence
Barnacle Bill exerts his influence over us. We wear the Barnacle Bill sailor with aplomb. We know it is the last word in chic, and care not one whit for the horn pipe travesty with which the opposite sex greets us on sight, and we join in their hilarious criticisms, believing the cause worth while.
The sailor influence extends to our sports clothes which we trim with em broidered nautical motifs, the approved
sailor collar or anchor buttons, and so on ad infinitum.
Taffeta Hats
Taffeta hats are being hailed with delight.
In all sorts and conditions of weathers they keep their smart crisp air and £rove their worth for all occasions.
Transparent celophane is hailed as fashion’s friend. It is being used to trim provoking little eyeveils and ties into rav ishing little bows under the chin. Plaited strands of coloured celophane makes an attractive belt for afternoon or evening wear, and the same note is repeated as a necklet.
Barbaric jewellery enslaves us. Very few necklets are worn, the high neckline being adorned by a jewelled clip, but we wear bangles of beaten Moroccan silver Avhen and where it is possible to beg, bor row or steal them, and suffer gladly the resultant twinges of conscience.
Lingerie
The newest lingerie is truly devastating.
The nighties have puffed sleeves or sport charming little capes or jackets, and look like sophisticated evening gowns with their graceful, clinging lines. Alencon lace has pride of place for undies, and sleeves and yoke of this lace in rose, beige or ochre, allied to lustrous white satin, are the whim of the moment, to which every feminine heart becomes a willing victim.
A lovely rose silk lounging robe has its softly falling double georgette collar in lighter tonings, and is caught at the side with velvet ribbons to tone. It is com pletely alluring.
The very best undies are cut on the bias and give that delightfully slinky, svelte line we seek so eagerly.
Elaborate coiffures are demanded by the new evening modes, and mean hours of preparation and infinite patience. Tight little curls, soft bunchy ones, plaited or twisted round the head all have their place in the scheme of things.
Stockings for evening are the sheerest of sheer right to the toes, for the dainty little evening sandals are guilty of never a toe. Flesh should be your colour choice, when lacquered toenails will gleam through their sheerness intriguingly.
Beach Clothes
With the coming of warmer weather, beach clothes again demand our attention.
The indications are all in favour of shorts which really are a tremendous success.
You may have them box pleated, looking for all the world like a little school girl skirt. They may be severely tailored with a trim fitting divided skirt to cover them, or the very, very newest, and surely the most delightful idea, wear them with a belted coat that reaches to within about four inches of the knee, and swings open from the waist. A gaily coloured belt is worn and the result is one hundred per cent.
Bathing coats poach on our walking coats, and achieve infinite charm, carried out in a vivid striped towelling. They tie high at the neck, and have capacious pockets which simply shriek “Hold every thing.”
The button-on skirt and hankie top worn with shorts, will be the most popular for beach wear by the courageous. A man’s large handkerchief will answer the purpose or a square of brilliant silk. The square, used cornerwise, forms the top which ties round the waist with a knot at the back, and has its top corner caught round the neck with a narrow strip of the silk. In this you bare your back to the sun and bake to your heart’s content, and the envy of your less courageous friends.
Quaint little beach blouses are decep tively modest, for they are quite devoid of back, while presenting to the front view, a demure little quaker collar, which
leaves one utterly unprepared, and makes doubly obvious the fact that woman is a mass of contradictions.