FOR WOMEN NEW MATERIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 83, 8 April 1943, Page 3

FOR WOMEN NEW MATERIAL

LONDON FASHIONS "WOOD SHAVINGS AND RUBBER" LONDON, Jan. 9. One important result of clothes rationing and "utility" styles, is that any woman—if she uses her coupons well—can look smart on very little money, writes Joan Littlefield from London. I recently visited a show of spring and summer fashions, organised by Percy Trilnick. All these will be on sale in the shops at prices ranging from £1 4/ to £12, and in colouring and style they are any woman's dream. One feature of the show was a new material, reminiscent sometimes of a thin woollen, sometimes of thick linen. Called "Bahama Sand," it is made, I was told, of "all sorts of bits and pieces, including wood shavings and odd scraps of rubber." It dyes well and is turned out in a number of exquisite colourings and attractive patterns. One frock of this material, with a linen-like finish was in a flowered pattern, with flared skirt and a blouse buttoning up the front and finished with a white pique cohar. Another example of this fibromaterial, said to' be the nearest approach to wool, was in plain, dull gold, very simply made, with narrow belt and buttoned up front. Other frocks of this material were in both large and small checks. The cottons are all in gay colours and cost only between £14/ and £o. All have elbow-length sleeves ancl narrow belts of their own material, tying in a bow either at back 01 front. Many have patch pockets or else the slit variety into which you can plunge your hands. One example had a green white-spotted top and a red white-spotted skirt, with huge patch pockets. A navy blue rayon frock had a pale green bodice, striped diagonally with blue. The most attractive woollen frocks were in thick Rodier material. A royal blue one, with three-quarter length sleeves and pleats m front, had a leather belt in stripes of blue red and fawn. Another in emerald green had small breast pockets lined with scarlet and a very, wide threecolour leather belt, tied in front like a sash. Each was priced at about £I Jackets of suits still have high revers and narrow belts; skirts are short, and often have pleated fronts. —Auckland Star and N.A.N.A.