COLOUR IN THE STREETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 4 (Supplement)

COLOUR IN THE STREETS.

GAY MACKINTOSHES IN LONDON. Bad weather has taught us to look for and appreciate the bright spots in London, and the frequenters of the old grey city these last few weeks have been grateful to its women and girls (writes a woman representative of the "Morning Post"). The wetter the day the more cheerful-looking they have become, and the depressing streets have been made to bloom like great flower gardens.

| What rich ami cheerful splashes of colour those coloured umbrelkis—rich [reds, like great inverted poppies, bright greens, purples, blues—have made, with their gay mackintoshes to match. Even the much-discussed silk-clad leg has added a note of lightness and cheerfulness.

A winter or so ago there was nothing to be seen on a wet day in our streets hut shiny black umbrellas surmounting dlark clothes, or the everlasting black, blue, or drab mackintoshes, a dreary and depressing sight only relieved by our cheery red 'buses. Xow a wet day is even more full of colour than a fine one, and though Nature sulks and her trees are hare and black, this invasion of colour makes up for her deficiencies.

Wherever there is the smallest opportunity it has been seized. Colour runs riot in the shops, though artist hands keep it from being unpleasing. Even in the daytime they are beautiful, but see them on a wet day as the dusk begins to fall. Knwrald sihsule* of old gold, ruby, royal blues begin to glow from every window aiul transform the dirty, wet pavements into a fairyland nf wavering colour. (J real cascades of some shimmering material, all glimmering gold and turquoise, might have inspired lliroshige for his print of the Moon Waterfall in the British Museum.

Tropical birds ami great exotic flowers arts used for lighting effects that serve to accentuate the fairyland impression, and the great grey buildings., take ou a warm glow from tlie thousands of r.himmering lights.

Colour reigns supreme, and even conservative niaii is slowly hut surely falling a victim to its fascination. It hrts crept into hi« socks. his ties, his handkerchiefs and his pull-overs.