Fashion Hints for Islands Women

By Therese

DAME FASHION has excelled herself in gay clothes and accessories to greet the Spring.

Hats are truly delightful. They take us back to the “gay nineties” and their flower trimmings vie with the flower splashed materials with which manufac turers have enchanted us. The hats come in variety aplenty—quaint Dolly Var dens with clusters of flowers trimming the upturned sweep; crowns massed with blooms; single flowers perched precari ously on saucer brims; and cartwheel shapes with flowers and enveloping veils.

Whatever the styles, all are delightful.

Along with the new hats, hair is given careful consideration. Gone is the page boy bob and top-knots and little side clusters of curls, very appealing in their femininity, take their place.

Clothes have been softened into more becoming silhouettes, in line with the new headgear. Skirts are still short, and shoulders and sleeves are squared with out the puffs of previous seasons. Col our contrasts are as popular as ever, but daring contrasts that somehow must be seen for one to believe in their suc cess.

Violet and pink go hand in hand; green and wine show surprising possibili ties: yellow goes with wine-red; and bright purple-blue with scarlet. Indeed, one can take liberties with almost any colours and still be a success. Three and even four of them not only contrast, but blend enchantingly.

It takes thought, however, to achieve the right effect, but with a little prac tice the colour sense develops and de lightful individual schemes result.

Misty mauves and blues, and soft sweet pea shades are among the new Spring showings; also greens shading to turquoise, lovely com yellows, and beiges, and light browns. Pinks are from the palest pastels to the deepest rose.

The redingote continues to be a de lightful and economical garment. Change the accessories and the slip that is worn with it and it takes on a new per sonality, differing altogether from its original design. The redingote is also copied in frocks by the insertion of a panel of contrasting material, which is repeated in the bodice.

Stripes are deservedly popular. A frock of light or dark fabric takes unto itself a vividly striped sash, adds a bolero of the same striped silk, and im mediately becomes distinctive. Striped blouses are worn under plain boleros and whole frocks of brilliant stripes are delightful for both day and evening.

Navy is seen everywhere. A short sleeve navy frock with the skirt and bodice cut corselette fashion, swathes its waist with a geranium sash and adds a long sleeved bolero of blue patterned in a white lace design. Cerise also is used with navy with charming effect.

Beige nowadays goes with any colour one’s fancy pleases. A beige frock high to the throat is cut away in front to reveal a black cire satin inlet, and a cummerbund of the same satin is at the waist. A large black ballibuntle hat trimmed with cire is a fitting accom paniment.

A burgundy frock with a shirred front of turquoise is caught at the neckline

with a single diamante star and is worn with a wide leafed turquoise hat banded with burgundy and dusty pink. The same dusty pink is in a bolero jacket over a frock of burgundy. Tucks trim the jacket and half sleeves of the bolero.

Tunics are back again, and are worn successfully with pleated skirts. Pleats, by the way, are lovely for day and din ner wear, and shirring appears where

ever possible.

Bouffant gowns for evening are rem iniscent of grandma’s day and go so well with the new piled high coiffure.

Clusters of flowers trim the corsage and a top-knot is perched on the head, with charming effect. The off-the-shoulder line is decorative and has an Old World air.

The full pleated bodice and skirt of an evening gown has a wide corsoletted band and gleaming diamante shoulder straps. This is exquisite in pastel shades and when an accordeon pleated cape of two or three pastel shades is worn with it, it becomes a dream-like possession.

The classical line finds eaual favour with the bouffant gown, and makes a striking contrast to the gown of period ancestry. A slim fitting gown of black has a brassiere bodice of stripes and its flowing panel swirls widely at the back. This combination is extremely chic and demands wide attention.

Frocks with sleeves are suitable for dancing or dining and a little bolero can turn a formal evening gown into a cock tail or dinner frock. Boleros are always right.

Accessories are fascinating. Lace goes to the making of little cocktail hats

which are worn with enveloping veils, or it makes collars and gloves and a dozen and one other things such as bows and bibs and tuckers and blouses to wear under Spring suits.

Dressmaker jewellery still claims at tention though not nearly so much as formerly. Dog collars present themselves with the Edwardian styles and bands of velvet ribbon do duty for this whim of fashion. Patent leather seems to have taken a new lease of life and appears effectively in bags, belts, ribbon trim ming, and shoes. Flowers —real and ar tificial—are everywhere and add their quota to the gaiety of the season’s clothes. Shoes and handbags match and are in the loveliest colours, with the bags in all the shapes imaginable. Gloves are much bepatterned, and most coloured gloves are stitched in white, while white gloves are stitched in red. green, blue, black and brown.