Fashion Hints for Islands Women
pp. 61-62 · Read in the full issue
By Therese
LOVELY as have been the materials of past seasons, those presented to us this Spring are more delightful than ever.
Novelty fabrics, in cottons, linen, and silk, that wash and wear like mad, are printed in all conceivable and inconceivable de signs.
Evening is romantically heralded by chiffons, crepes, embroidered organdy (for the jeune fille), sheer laces of cobweb fine ness, satin, tulle, stiffened silk and cotton nets, and cottons of an almost unbelievable charm, in plain, floral, or figured effect, and in colours rivalling the rainbow.
Day time clothes are of plain colour or quaintly figured with flowers blooming and beasts roaming. Non-crushable linens are a god-send, as are the near linens, also of the uncrushable variety, but at half the cost.
Quaint little bob-tail bunnies in colours that would turn the real live rabbits pale with envy, scamper boldly on a field of palest green and go to the making of a most fascinating frock, whose only trim mings are three large buttons and a vivid sash knotted on one hip.
A navy and white polka dot bolero jac ket and skirt has as an accompaniment a crisp white blouse. The jacket has a demure Peter Pan collar, and wide tie ends. When a small-boy sailor hat, white gloves, and two-tone shoes of navy and white are added, chic steps abroad.
A diagonal check frock of shirt-maker type picks out its predominating colour and matches it up with belt, hat, and gloves.
Short sleeves, buttoned bodice, slanting pockets, and tailored lapels, imbue a morn ing frock with crisp charm. Its slender skirt is kick-pleated, thereby giving ample freedom of movement.
Lots of stitching and two front pleats in the skirt, are the features of a demure little frock of linen in pink or blue. The Peter Pan collar, pockets in both skirt and blouse, and the belt, are trimmed with rows of stitchery.
Two panels of pleats give a swing to the afternoon frock of georgette or crepe. The neckline is high, but is softened by a bunch of narrow multi-coloured ribbons forming a jabot effect. The sleeves are the new three-quarter length and the gay ribbon note is repeated in miniature.
The square yoke of contrasting colour comes to gladden our hearts, since it pleases the eye and makes humble obeis ance to the pocket. One dress becomes many by this clever lightning change pro cess. The sleeves, which are merely a short extension of the shoulder, are in one with the yoke, which buttons to the square top of the frock with three or four large buttons, front and back. It is particularly' attractive in two shades of blue, green and white, or any colour combination that ap peals.
Dark blouses top light skirts. Gentian
blue goes with navy, brown with pink or string, and so on. The skirts are well tailored and the blouse whatever style cap tures your wayward fancy.
Devastating in its simplicity for the eighteens and just about twenties, is the smocked Russian peasant blouse topping a^ brief skirt. A gay peasant’s handker chief covers the head, tying beneath the chin, and is ideal for the tropics, where the übiquitous sunshade of cartwheel proper tions keeps treacherous suns at bay.
Lutle-girl shoes of black patent leather. and socks, white or brilliantly coloured,
rolled to just above the ankle, complete a picture joyously youthful.
If your wardrobe is to be an all service one, you must possess a suit of sorts.
Your choice is endless, since whatever jacket appeals it is happily correct. It may be the bolero with its toreadorish air; the waist, finger tip, or three-quarter length; the straight and Chinese; the loose swing back—so cool and comfortable —or the little basque jacket. Always the skirt is slim and well tailored with kick pleats or slight flare for necessary width.
There is nothing more feminine and alluring than an evening gown of lace. It is an ever present need and possesses the happy knack of being always right. Fra gile designs are woven by fairy fingers on the finest nets, but for all their cobweb fragility they have surprising wearing pro pensities.
The masculine dinner jacket with col umn slim skirt is still popular for evening —suitable for the tropics in white pique.
The evening decolletage is generally low front and back, but with paradoxical charm and an unexpectedness that is startling, it lifts the front of its bodice high to the throat line and defiantly bares its back to the world.
“My mother bids me bind my hair” — and since the binding is of such attraction,
we rush to do her bidding. Bands, broad and narrow, multi-coloured or plain, gleaming or glittering, keep wayward locks’ from straying when evening zephyrs blow.
Top knots of flowers go to the head of a sculptured gown of satin, statuesque and lovely, that metamorphoses its wearer into “A daughter of the Gods, divinely tall And most divinely fair.”
For the young and lovely, comes the
romantic frock of palest pink organdy, scattered lightly with stars, silver em boidered. A sash of deeper pink ties in a huge bow at the hip.
A gown of pale grey tulle floating like drift down over a foundation of rosy pink is like the first pale flush of dawn. Its waist is swathed with a vivid sash and a posy of mixed flowers is tucked in the de colletage. Over it goes one of the new pleated tulle coats or capes—multi-col oured and more brilliant than Joseph’s coat.
Unusual and dramatic in effect is the treatment of the so chic black and white combination. A gown of black georgette, with pleated skirt, veils itself with a coat of stiffened white net of large mesh. The coat top fits closely at the waist, while the skirt floats widely floorwards. The billow ing sleeves are caught in a narrow band at the waist and are held in place by in visible bands. Their colourful note is repeated in the decolletage.
Hats are varied as the whim of woman little-boy sailors, little-girl bonnets, snappy boaters, and picture hats flower trimmed with single blooms or blossom covered. Stitched hats of pique linen, taf feta, and even tulle are really delightful.
The tulle is stitched in layers till it as sumes the appearance of finely woven straw.
Belts are colourful and wide with buckles of most intriguing design. Scarves are gay and flaunting, and all the fashion world is ablaze with colour to greet the Spring.