Fashion Hints for Islands Women

By Therese

MORE gorgeous and varied than ever before are the new materials and colours—greens, golds, scarlets and pale lovely rainbow hues combine to add attraction to beautifully textured materials.

Filmy chiffons, taffetas plain and beflowered— scarlet poppies and heavenly blue morning glories scattered riotously on a primrose ground—shot taffetas, gleaming phosphorescently; others with the pale, soft beauty of a changing moon; diaphanous tulles; dull crepey things that cling lovingly: cottons in fascinating designs and colours that make up beautifully, launder perfectly, and look cool as a sea breeze; all these and more come to gladden the heart of Woman, the darling of the gods.

Colour contrasts reign supreme. Emerald green with scarlet, with gold, with the thick creamy beauty of the magnolia; an emerald scarf or kerchief on a midnight blue gown; dusty pink with prune and so on ad infinitum. Laces, taffetas, chiffons are woven with silver or gold thread that glitters and gleams with the moving light.

For the young and very sweet is the white chiffon gown, silver woven, and shirred from waist to hips, from whence it drifts in ethereal folds to tiny silver slippered feet. There is breathless romance in the full skirted taffeta evening frocks now forcing their way to success. Picturesque and old worldly, there is a charm about them that is irresistible with their full puff sleeves, off-the-shoulder decolletage and entrancingly slim little waists above voluminous skirts.

In direct contrast and shrieking sophistication is the prune streamline gown with low decolletage, one shoulder strap only boasting a diamante clip, the other perfectly plain, and over all with careless abandon swings a dashing cavalier cape, lined with dusty pink— unexpected and delightful.

For the adorably feminine jeune fille there is the little hooded cape (reminiscent of nursery fame) in printed organza, worn over matching bouffant gown that boasts a taffeta petticoat. Flowers wreathe the hair and an exquisite flower bracelet completes an altogether entrancing picture.

Taffeta petticoats for chiffons and laces swish rhythmically to the wearer’s move ment and, if the heart desires, allow a fascinating glimpse of contrasting ruffle at hemline.

The toast of the evening is the devastatingly lovely gown of white satin, with diamante stars scattered wickedly-wink ing over its slim perfection.

Capes of all varieties grace both day and evening wear, and since capes are the dernier cri there must be at least one in your wardrobe. Only those of tall, grace ful proportions dare flaunt the cavalier types. The diminutive figure must choose elbow fitting capes, while the long cape hanging loosely from shoulders gives an incredibly slimming effect to the heavier figure.

Blouses are frivolous and lovely and make our penchant for skirts more understandable than ever. Skirts are delightful —slim, straight, and slightly shorter, they are made with flat centre pleats, slimming panels, slit, and sporting. Their tremendous success gives much scope for the clever individual. And the economy of them! Several blouses of negligible cost, but much ingenuity and attraction to one well-cut skirt, and the dress budget is reduced by half.

The shirtmaker frock is a universal favourite and deserves its popularity, since it can be worn by all types with infinite success. Wear it with one of the new sling scarves—a straight scarf tied lengthwise with knot at neck —caught through your belt which should be in gay contrast to the frock itself.

Cotton frocks are of simple line, with lots of white in the way of collars, bows, etc., to add an enlivening note. It is remarkable how a touch of white will make gay last season’s frock with crisp charm and alter its jaundiced outlook.

There are milkmaid collars, Puritanical ones, and turret-like affairs with square bits cut out here and there, collars pleated and tucked with fluted edges, which offer untold charm to the cotton frock—the love of our lives and a salvation for tropic dwellers.

In the daytime mode slender waists are emphasised by wide belts and flaring bas-

ques, beneath which the streamline continues. Fashion is indeed like Woman —a mass of contradictions. Natural shantung is having a revival. It offers such opportunity for clever colour contrast. Gay scarves lift it to the heights—sling, hand kerchief or a gay little knot at the neck have equal appeal.

Little sun tan tops—the type made with a man’s large size handkerchief or a square of gay silk caught at the neck, and tied at back with a cord of sorts —make the most intriguing little blouses for beneath your suits, and are absolutely ideal for tropical wear. Have several of them, for

you will be delighted with their coolness and their very definite charm.

Be careful always in your choice of accessories. Always must they be good, for they make or mar an otherwise perfect toilette. Hand-sewn pull-on gloves are by far the smartest wear. Hogskin in its natural shade is much used for gloves— for cooler climes, of course —and are very correct wear.

Flowers —real or artificial —are worn with everything from grave to gay. There are linen buttonholes for trim suits, and little tri-colour field flowers in cotton which are attractive and “Jubilee-ish” and carry an undeniable air of gaiety. Lovely roses trim necklines and shoulders or are tucked snugly in at the waist.

Belts are extremely attractive. Two brightly coloured dog chains buckled together make an amusing belt with their brass studs and all. Gold and silver kid belts are heavily beaded and shriek chic on a simple black evening gown. There are bags to match —festive affairs.

Large lace or georgette handkerchiefs lend charm to evening gowns. Initials, embroidered with beads or silver thread, make them distinctive. Clever little lace fans add lovely contrast.

Stitched hats match linen suits and cotton frocks, or happily contrast. Some sport tailored bows, some nothing at all,

but each and every one is piquant and charming. Hats with pique crowns and straw brims are good news for the tropics.

Sailor shapes are to the fore —the small

straight brimmed affairs so smart with the tailleur, or one can wear a large brimmed hat with equal success, if it be of tailored simplicity. Then there is the modish halo, for perfection only, and scarcely suited to pitiless, revealing tropical suns.

Careful coiffures are called for by the new hats —bare foreheads for the sailors; softly curling Hepburn fringes for the picture hat and halo; and always must the hair be dressed high.

Lingerie is enchanting. Adorably and most romantically new are the long sleeved nighties—lovely things, demure and high necked, and with such an expensive air, with smocking at shoulder and necklines.

Attractive wraps cover the nighties. For the boyish tastes there are snappy pyjamas, slim and masculinely feminine, as are the tailored dressing gowns of such verve and dash that go with them.

Japan and the League

After a statutory delay of two years, Japan officially withdrew from the League of Nations on March 27. She definitely intends to maintain possession of the Pacific Islands held by her under mandate, and as long as she conforms to the obligations laid down in the terms of the mandate it is unlikely that the League will attempt to transfer the administration of those islands to another nation.