1940 FASHIONS ARE SEVERE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 44, 21 February 1940, Page 12

1940 FASHIONS ARE SEVERE.

Neat and Tidy Season Ahead. Paris designers have set to work on the 1940. fashions with great enthusiasm, for they have discovered that business can be carried on much as usual, even if many of their best purchasers nowill the country do not come to Paris, says a French writer. The- Haute Couture is, as a matter of fact, reviving once more one of France's main de luxe industries, giving employment to thou sands of workers, and making Paris again the world style-centre, A neat and tidy season is ahead of us, if we can judge by the fashions shown. Everything is very shipshape. with no loose and fluttering ends, and those ends which do hang loose do so in a rather dignified and haughty manner. The wartime fashions are somewhat severe, and a trying time is ahead of the woman who thinks she looks her best in fancy gadgets, and would rather wear kindly draperies than take a brisk walk. There's a swing of smart feminine flavour to all back fullness for skirts, 'very, slim waistlines, if not actually waspish, and modilied endorsement of ampler hiplines. Belted Waists. The gathered peasant skirts that had such a big riyi in prewar days were forerunners of the present hipline inflation. You have probably noticed that these. made the girls who wore them look more rounded and more womanly below the waistline. From the waistline to the hemline all is in line. The better your figure, the better the line; you can count on nothing else to help you. Both belted and princess lines are in fashion. You can take your choice. There is no Moused look or pull-in line, the coat being always as > form fitting through the body as a tailor can make it. Gloves And Stockings. Gloves this, season are to lose their flaring gauntlets, and will be straight and worn tueked-in under the coat sleeve. Very dark, very light, or white gloves, are the smartest, and gla.ee kid gloves are replacing the suedes and antelopes we have worn for so long. There are gloves to match the "Crusader" hoods which are now being worn a good deal by" some women. They are made with suede backs in. some dark colour, and with gaily coloured palms. -Stockings also are being seen in dark colours and in seal brown and occasionally black, but when very dark, they must be very thin. Spats are being worn by some women and one thein here and there on the Boulevards. 'J hey are made to match scarves, gloves and even dresses. They may be made of dress fabrics, or velvet or felt. Some lace up the fronts, others at the backs or sides of the feet, while variations appear with button fastenings. Whether these eccentricities will take, is a mooted point. The Parisienne is above all dainty where her footgear is concerned as in every' tiling else, and I very much doubt whether she will reconcile herself to anything so inartistic. Revival of Grey. There is much talk as to the revival of grey, and several models have been seen of grey brown mingled, which is quite a pleasing and original combination. But it is exceedingly doubtful whether grey will oust or achieve the popularity of beige, so very few sk*ins can stand the proximity of grey, it is so apt to torn all but the fairest sallow. Though here again comes in the touch of fed, which may occur in a little turnover collar posed high, like that on a man's shirt, cuffs, strappings and buttons.