Fashion Hints for Islands Women

By Therese

SURELY the modern woman has touched the knees of the gods, since all the world seems in league to shower her with gifts that charm. There is no stereotyped style for her to follow, for there are silhouettes innumerable from which to choose. Slim as a reed, bouffant as her Victorian ancestors, Grecian as a goddess, sophisticated as a Medici, what ever she will, success is her portion.

Her choice of colours, too, is as varied as an artist’s palette, and with the magic of her supreme artistry she blends them, till the result is glamorous beyond dreams.

Day-time silhouettes are in the main straighter and slimmer than of yore, and to vary this the basque is used to good effect in giving that hour-glass line so much used by the Couturier in the new season’s clothes. Smart simplicity is the keynote of the hour. Morning clothes are trim and tailored, but with never a hint of masculinity in their well cut line.

Both day and evening skirts are slit to give necessary width, or they go gaily aflutter with soft draperies.

The tunic keeps its well-earned popu larity and is always charming, giving as it does such scope for individuality and clever combination of colours.

Capes appear with tremendous success; for festive hours and the newest type sports a softly draped cowl collar, or the hood of the religieux, while some fasten at the back with softly falling bows. De lightfully feminine with their soft appeal,, bows are used to advantage on all sorts and conditions of clothes.

The high neckline is fast disappearing, for which many breathe a sigh of relief, since it is becoming to only a favoured few. The low and infinitely more becom ing square neck is well in the vogue.

Indeed, so very attractive is it that many gowns sport it back and front.

The V decolletage, reaching to the waist, loses its terrifying moments when with it is worn a brassiere of gold or silver lame.

The effect is ravishing in the extreme, and simply shrieks sophistication.

Flowers add charm to both afternoon; and evening gowns. Trails of forget-me nots and daffodils cascade softly down the draped bodice of a blue chiffon, which clings lovingly to the knees and foams into frivolous flounces —one, two, three.

Detachable sleeves are a marvellous in novation, and be they long or short are equally desirable. Little short sleeves are banded with exquisite flowers, which hold, them cunningly into position. A touch of flattery is given to the classically moulded evening gown by a delicious, little ruffle at the square neck, held erect by a spray of half-blown roses.

Cellophane trims are delightful, and a huge bow on a bouffant chiffon gown is entrancing in its fairy-like effect.

Fascinating and intriguing are the scarves that metamorphose into the most delightful wraps. They are heaven-sent for the ingenious woman, who regards them as a medium for perfect selt expression and drapes them in ways in numerable. Evolved in lame, chiffon, dew sprinkled with diamante or heavily sequinned, tulle ruffled and gathered, there is about them an indefinable charm that is irresistible.

Wing effects are still sought. A sewn across the back neck-line extending the full length of the half sleeve is caught at either side of the square neck with the new clips of crystal—that glass with the deliciously dull sheen.

Tucks sound the only note of trimming on many of th© smart models. Diagonal tuckings meeting on the raglan shoulders and at the sides of the bodice form a fish bone effect that is distinctly novel. Row on row of gold stitching gives an expen sive air to the plainest of frocks and adds an air of distinction.

Attractive double tiered collars of lace with cuffs of the same variety spell charm to the frock whose narrow well cut skirt is given dash by a side slash.

In obedience to fashion’s decree that we must sparkle at night the new materials woven with silver or gold thread glitter delightfully. They are designed specially for the cleverly cut gown that moulds the

figure so seductively. A lame tunic is a dream-like possession that justifies itself for formal and informal occasions alike.

The new lames are deliciously soft and supple and lend themselves to clever drapery. They are used to trim our afternoon gowns with results that are particularly pleasing.

An evening cape of tremendous chic is evolved from two squares of lame, the two corners of each square being joined at the back with a large silver button or brilliant clip. The front is held in place by a large loop and bow slotted through buttonholes on either square.

Taffetas and moires still rustle their effective way through the cavalcade of fashion. Coats, afternoon and evening gowns, seek perfection through this de lightful medium. With the addition of a wide sash of taffeta, floral mesh voiles make the most charming in-between frocks for informal dances, bridge parties and what nots. In fact, there is scarcely an occasion that this type of material would not serve in the tropics.

Lingerie lines retain bias with that sleek and slinky fit which is more- than ever necessary with the straight lines that one’s clothes follow.

Stockings are an all-important sub ject with us, n’est-ce pas? Paris decrees stockings of black silk. Ye Gods! We hold our breaths, determined to com promise, and choose off-black-gunmetal shades with the tiniest tinge of brown to lift them from Stygian gloom, and of a filminess so unbelievably sheer that one can scarcely believe them to be the pro duct of human agency.

From the days when to go stocking less was the mode, we have turned with seemly haste, and to the well dressed woman stockings are now de rigueur.

There are so many fascinating shades from which to choose that their come back is scarcely surprising.

Knee-high stockings are delightful and reduce the risk of ladders to a minimum.

In fact they are an absolute necessity to the slim-fitting gown which has the un happy knack of making only too obvious the careless disregard of essentials.

Accessories never lose their importance, and so much of the success of one’s toilette depends on them that they should receive their full measure of considera tion, and not be allowed to take their place along with what we are, alas, too apt to consider the less important details.

Pigskin bags and belts are ideal for the tropics, as are those inexpensive Toya types. The cost of these latter is so negligible that it is possible to possess a wide range of colour schemes to your in tense satisfaction.