Fashion Hints for Islands Women

By Therese

“My love in her attire doth show her wit, It doth so well become her.”

A CHARMING tribute to a soignee woman —and where is she who would not delight in the ability to move mere man to poesy? There is nothing so rhythmically lovely as the well-groomed woman who has given the most exacting attention to the minutest details of her toilette. She is endowed with witchery, beside which mere beauty of face and form fades into insignificance.

And this is an achievement possible to every woman who cares. A little time, a little thought, and perfection will be yours—perfection achieved through so many lovely mediums. Line, colour, de sign. new materials glittering and gor geous, are all in league to give us that indefinable something called charm.

Woman is distinctly feminine this sea son. She has developed curves, but curves with a difference, so that in these days of stream-lines she sheathes her rounded beauty, lightly controlled by all the art of the corsetier in a supple elastic weave which moulds the figure along the ap proved lines —lissom and slender.

There is romance in present-day clothes well in keeping with the return to femin inity. A black crepe gown classically cut, is held aloft by glittering shoulder straps. Kiltings outline the bodice and wander up and down the hemline of the slashed skirt in a most unusual way.

A lilting lyric is the exquisite backless gown of white and silver lame with all its fulness drawn to the back with a sil ver cord. It is worn with the new square toed sandal, a fitting accompaniment to so much beauty.

Charming for the ingenue is the even ing gown of white tulle, scattered with gold sequins. Its demure high neckline is banded with them, and a belt of the same glittering loveliness ties into a bow at the waist-deep decolletage. A hint of sweet confusion that is entrancing is in the diaphanous folds of the bouffant skirt.

Ravishing is the gown of golden taf feta, reed silhouetted to the knees, then flaunting boldly a huge flounce which ends up the side seams. A bow of enor mous proportions is at the waist-line, and when worn with a green cape of ostrich feathers and green accessories, it is a complete tone poem.

Evening wraps in styles infinite and varied are lovely to behold. Feather capes in the most exquisite shades hold their popularity. Dashing cavalier capes, brilliantly lined with some con trasting colour, swing jauntily and debonair from our shoulders. Wasp waisted jackets for evening are fascinat ing and different. Taffeta coats fall to the toes, covering loveliness with charm.

The newest length for afternoon frocks is from 6 to 8 inches from the floor, while many of the newest models sport uneven hemlines. Box suits, Edwardian in in spiration, are an advanced fashion which can be well and safely adapted to tropi cal climes. You may have smocks in stead of tunics if you will; smocks, with a little girl air about them that is fas cinating in the extreme. Roumanian peasant embroidery adorns their primness.

Collars are legion, chosen from all pages of history—Medici, Queen Christina, Cromwellian—and they do unbelievable things to little frocks. These, with in terchangeable gillets, jabots, belts, etc., are the answer to the prayer of those of limited means, and are chock full or possibilities for the ingenious minded tropic dweller. Indispensable is the plain well-cut frock that miraculously becomes a whole wardrobe by its lightning changes of bits and pieces.

Gay bandanas muffle the throat or tie

at the waist line of a white sports frock, making a vivid splash of colour that is exciting. The slim straight skirt with its single pleat back or front is ever present, keeping the slim line while yet giving freedom of movement. And the blouses that go with it are delightful.

Little bits of soft femininity with bows or softly falling cascade draperies, and sheer designs with tailored touches, all designed to please at infinitesimal cost.

Bodices of afternoon gowns go draped back and front, terminating at the waist in large bows. Window-box fronts, with upstanding pickets of frills or pleats bor dered with flowers, are a delightful inno vation for afternoon or evening gowns, and spell definite charm. Wide armholes with wide loose sleeves, as sponsored by the lovely Duchess of Kent, have a host of devotees.

Bring out your exquisite little bits of perfection in the shape of the Victorian enameller’s art and joy will be yours. Old World posies peeping demurely through glittering points of paste are hailed as treasures and seized with avidity by the discerning, as brooches, clips, and buckles for all occasions. Bits of scintillating paste adorn the hair with charming effect.

A star twinkling here, a single stone gleaming there, give a touch of light and beauty to the coiffure.

Hats? Surely the craziest conceptions of the brain of the mad hatter, but ab solutely intriguing withal. Such charm do they present that even the most jaded tastes are whetted anew. High hats with stove pipe crowns or pert gnome-llke peaks, flat hats with scarcely a crown to call their own, Salvation Army bonnets, demure and Belle of New Yorkish in their strong appeal, hats feathered and hats plain, flowered or beribboned. Never was there such a wide choice of headgear or such a gamut of styles to suit us all.

Sandals, with jewelled straps are the definite mode for evening wear. Roman, Grecian, or what you will, but sandals they must be. Gold and silver kid, bro cade, made of materials to match your gown, all offer untold charm. With the toeless sandal comes the sandal stocking, sheer right to the toes, through which varnished nails gleam alluringly. Open

work stockings have become the mode since the day of the slashed skirt persists, and are exquisitely lovely in design. Crepe hose, dull and crepey in appearance, are the vogue. Expensive? Yes! but of ex cellent wearing qualities despite their cob web sheer.

Gloves are magnificent. They are made in kid, suede or silk, with long or flared gauntlets. Embroideries in pastel effects adorn them, and lace motifs and ruckings figure among the trimmings. Gauntlets, in a new fabric of almost wafer-like thin ness resembling loofah are most attrac tive. Lace mittens are worn with charac teristic modesty, with the bouffant even ing gown of Grandma’s days.