Fashion Hints for Islands Women
pp. 61-62 · Read in the full issue
By Therese
EVENING brings gaiety and brilliance in its train. Chinese blues, mandarin reds, and royal purples lend themselves to the glorious gowns for glamorous nights, when all goes merry as a marriage bell.
Mermaid, Victorian and classical lines vie for supremacy and slinky silhouettes grace the cocktail hour. Like an Arabian night is the lovely figured gown of orien tal design. A deep V-decolletage graces the slim tunic which tops the sweeping skirt, and shrieks sophistication.
A swinging hooded cape of black makes a dramatic entry when thrown over a clinging gown of purple shot satin, with ruffles of silver at the throat. Sea green satin sheathes in slim perfection the lovely form, slender as a birch tree. A coat in deeper shade, with huge bolster sleeves, makes it of even more striking beauty.
Cascade draperies give classic lines to simple evening gowns. With modified epaulettes and draperies that slim the hips, the gown of peach satin, its draper ies and epaulettes lined with rust, is lovely to look at, delightful to wear. Alluringly feminine is the frock of crepe romaine, moulding the hips flatteringly with clev erly arranged diagonal tucks which sweep to fulness at the hem.
The bouffant frock still holds sway for the debutante. In spotted net with groups of guaging on shoulders and hips it is the spirit of romance.
A tiered dress of black tulle floats buoy antly to success. Rhinestones wink in its murky folds, and slim shoulder straps a.nd a flower trimmed corsage endow it with the charm of youth.
Shirring is used extensively. A Chinese red morocain ripples its bodice diagonally in soft drapes, shirring to fulness in the same attractive way its softly falling skirt.
Navy, black, grey and brown are having a tremendous vogue for evening clothes and are meeting with surprising success.
Long coats cut with high waists and with sharp revers claim attention for day and evening wear, as do the popular jac kets which grace the evening blouses and skirts.
Skirts need no heralding. They are short and tight for the day time, with cleverly covered divisions to give width for sports occasions. An extra skirt is always essential, so the check or plaid wrap-over is ideal.
Gay little short sleeved blouses of ging hams and crisp cotton breathe smartness and efficiency. Waistcoat blouses are smart and sporting with the new square set-in sleeves. Fresh and crisp little blouses of guaged taffeta are delightful for afternoon; while lames, satins, and georgettes are correct for evening hours.
Linen suits and open mesh sports frocks are light-hearted wear for the tropics— run-about suits with narrow skirts and basqued blouses and frocks that button from neck to hem.
A little jacket frock of flat tucks in alternating colours —light and dark blue, biege and brown, pink and raspberry—is buttoned up to its demure collar with wooden buttons and encircles its waist with a suede belt clipped attractively with buckle of wood.
A chic little frock of navy silk trims
itself with white buttons and covers its slim perfection with a swaggering swash buckling coat of white, with large navy cuffs. A white hat, navy banded, com pletes the ensemble. A two-piece ensemble with basqued blouse gathered to fulness at the bodice front is swathed with a wide belt and tops a pencil-slim skirt sporting the übiquitous split.
Interest for day wear centres around the shoulders, neck and sleeves, and there is a wide variety for choice. The new throttle neck is charming for the tall woman with a slim neck. It can be achieved with frills of stiffened chiffon, taffeta, or a pique lined collar crisp and fresh.
A good style for the short woman with a plump neck is the revered bodice extend ing to the waist. Wide sleeves with fitting undercuffs make the hands slim and graceful.
Lacings and patch pockets offer lively interest plus charm for the sports frock.
There is no obvious fulness in out-door clothes. It is subtly achieved in its clever cut or by pleats; or shaped inset panels give necessary width.
For active or spectator sports wear in terest comes in the panel skirt, fitting collar, and pockets on skirt and bodice.
An open V neck line on the sports frock is a happy change and, with the addition of buttons down the front and back, and fulness at the top of long sleeves, leaves nothing to be desired.
Buttons and belts are still headlines in the fashion world and present themselves with infinite charm and variety for the most exacting taste. A black and whit© zephyr frock with white Quaker collar, and large softly falling black artist’s bow, has a black patent belt and black and white shoes to march it on its way to chic.
A pert upturned sailor hat of white straw, patent leather banded, fills the wearer with intense joy.
A frock of polka dot cotton with open collar, frill encircled with organdi, is crisp and cool the clock round, and full of youthful charm.
A detachable collar that can be worn back to front according to mood goes over a slim fitting jumper whose long sleeves are tucked at the wrist with turn-back cuffs to match its unusual collar.
Crepe georgette afternoon gowns with soft pleated bodices repeat the pleating note in groups in the skirt and the full to the wrist sleeve. Soutache embroidery with its military note, holds its popularity and does amazing things to simple after noon frocks. Lingerie touches freshen the dark frock surprisingly and lift it from gloom.
A simplicity that is both charming and chic is in the afternoon gown of lilac crepe with tucked bodice tied with a softly falling bow, brilliant clipped at the neck line, and with sleeves cascading to slim ness at the wrist.
In shoes, the übiquitous court, cut slightly higher, still holds sway. Patent leather shoes, with bag to match, are al ways good for formal wear. Bronze shoes are delightful with wine coloured dresses, and the two-tone shoe is sure of an en thusiastic reception.
Coiffures have undergone a happy change. Innumerable curls, praise be, are no longer the demier cri. Fashion decrees neat, trim, sophisticated heads on which may perch the provocative and flippant creations called hats only by virtue of the fact that they are worn on the heads.
There is individuality in every quaint model, and milady’s choice is as varied as the winds.
Material hats are legion and sport matching bags. The halo hat for the young and very sweet becomes a travesty on the woman of mature years for whom the curved brim with downward slant is infinitely more becoming. Velvet flowers on winter hats, in lovely colourings, are original and charming.
The evening coiffure calls for imagina tion. Feathers, birds on the wing, or wing only, flowers perched at all sorts of unex pected angles, make it gay and attractive for gala occasions.
Fra Angelica hoods and capes of varied and lovely materials are worn by the loveliest ladies this season with a charm indescribable.