Fashion Hints for Islands Women

By "Therese"

sun-baskers nowadays are I; muffled up to protect their porce lain fragility against torrid rays—an ex cellent idea! Vast shade hats, long sleeves, high necks and clog-soled shoes all do their bit in the “fragility” cam paign. They are auite a naradox when worn with shorts, which by the way are not nearly so abbreviated as previously, being almost knee-length. Shorts vie for popularity with the pleated little-girl skirt and are topped by gay blouses,

stripes predominating.

A red and green striped blouse is worn with green cotton shorts, Pushia, white and blue stripes are in a skirt that is topped by a casual shirt of blue linen.

At night you reverse the order of things and informally wear the gayest stripes you can find with a slim skirt of bright linen or jersey weave.

For afternoon, you may still be demure with a play dress, like a schoolgirl’s, of sunshine yellow, the bodice low and square and flanked with puff sleeves.

Three tucks mark the hem.

WHEN away from the beach there are many charming frocks from which to choose. As skirts and bodices have loosened, waists have closed in—not in the wasp-narrowness of the gay nineties, but hugging you in a broad, close grip from hip-line to bust. On many others you will find the stomacher: a deep pointed band that joins bodice and skirt and looks so delightful on the young and slim. Dresses with stretchable bodices woven with “lastex” yarn are as much part of Fashion’s scheme of things for day as for night. They are the natural outcome of those full skirts, that neces sitate tiny waists.

Let your new coat this season be either a bolero, a loose boxy jacket, or one that fits like a glove—or even a full-length coat that turns your outfit into an en semble. With the new fitted jacket dresses, the coat looks like a dress and has a hint of Spring in it.

Hip-length fitted jackets have flared skirts; and loose boxy jackets demand a slimmer line. A printed pick-up for jaded wardrobes is a real bolero stitched down to the V of the skirt and caught with a narrow velvet ribbon bow. A jacket with a wide waist band gives you a wondrously small waist and the skirt flares neatly from your hips down.

Accessories to go with your summer wardrobe are important. They pep up tired clothes and add further charm to new ones. Gloves come in a variety of designs, the plain gauntlet being the most serviceable either in washing suede or suede fabric. Belts vary in width—some are studded with brass and look like glorified dog-collars, but are really in triguing with plain linen frocks; others are of coloured patent leather or macrame.

Attention-getters anywhere are the many-coloured wooden bead necklets.

They are so gay and look really delight ful with a white or pastel linen frock.

There are bracelets to match, too. When these sets are worn no touch of colour contrast is necessary on the frock.

A feather sprig to flaunt in your hair makes your evening more gay, and if you match it up with a long curling feather fan success is assured. To com plete the period picture, pin a cameo on a wide black velvet ribbon and fasten

it about your throat and if you want to carry the illusion still further, tie another ribbon about your wrist.

A new cocktail bag is rimmed with gold and has a cluster of gold balls in one corner to match the necklet and bracelet. These with the addition of black suede gloves piped wih gold kid lift the plainest gold frock to the heights.

HATS for 1940 are presented in all shapes and sizes—low hats, high hats, hats with cartwheel brims, and hats with no brims at all on which perch crazy bows. Whatever their shape or size, they are all charming when worn with suitable coiffure and at the correct angle. There are two types from which to choose: one for women who can wear hair and hats high: and the other for women who should wear their hats low.

All sorts of straws are fashionable, though the shiny straw is the vogue at the moment. Turbans, too, demand at tention for both day and evening wear, and are made in fish-net, heavy crepe or the flimsiest tulles. White hats are worn with frocks of every colour, being particularly chic with black.

Miss I. Lapthorne, a teacher of the Victorian Education Department, who was seconded for work among the Indians in Fiji, under the supervision of the Methodist Mission, returned to Mel bourne in December on leave.

A monument is being placed at Dun combe Bay, Norfolk Island, on the exact spot where Captain Cook landed on October 10, 1774, when he discovered and named Norfolk Island. The prime mover in carrying out this useful historical work is Captain J. D. McComish, who has ac tively co-operated with the historical societies and Government officials in Australia and New Zealand, in hav ing Captain Cook’s various landing places marked by monuments.