MODES OF THE MOMENT

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 273, 13 August 1932, Page 6

MODES OF THE MOMENT

Passing Notes by Jane Wellington, August 12. Dear Mavis, „ ~ , One of the strongest possible arguments in favour of Recovery is the atmosphere of exhuberant confidence suggested by the spring Clothes and materials now being shown in some'of the big city stores. The colours, my dear, are delightful, and the daring combination of drastic contrasts that none ever thought of putting together before are invigorating in their challenge to depression-worn womenfolk. We cannot help responding joyously to their undoubted appeal. • We may affirm that the brilliant, cold, vivid blues are not for us; bitt we shall In all probability bo tempted to see what a beauty specialist can do for us, and have another try, before we give up hope of wearing one or other of those alluring shades. For blue is certainly going to be the dominant note in the spring scale of colour, as green was in the winter, though red, and yellow, and a new light green will all be in the spot-light. , There is nothing new actually being worn about the streets yet, because weather conditions have been of the super-mid-winter variety this week. But there seems a general anxiety to be ready to burst into HoWCr with the first warm day, and there are always numbers of women round the shops. There’s so much to tell you of the new things that I can only tako one sort of garment at a time; and as this is the time of all times for the tailored suit, we’ll take that as our theme to-day. . Following last year’s lead, there is a tendency toward a Still more feminine and frivolous line than used to be thought compatible with good taste in these so serious costumes. The cut is very much in at the waist, broad in the shoulders, and slim of skirt. The most popular materials for their expression are biege and Cheviot, the rough surfaces adapting themselves delightfully to the less formal styles. Reveres are important, also cuffs; but collars tire absent ns often tts no*,. You may have a short, collarless coat, belted into a - high Wliist-line, with wide reveres buttoned back on to the coat, and a silk scarf that indicates, in spots or stripes or checks, the colour scheme for your accessories. The backs of coats are still pannelled and tucked in various designs, and pockets are rather inserted with machine-stitched piecing than put on in the patch method You may have a double or a single-breasted coat, or one that is held together in front by the belt. The cape craze has had a good deal of influence on the tops of sleeves, find sometimes short shoulder cupes $o round. The silver buttons on short coats, the wide reveres and ra.ther selfconscious cuffs, are a little prone to send one’s eyes in search of the nearest bell. But we’ll soon get used to the hollow mockery of the bell-hop appearance, unbacked by any concrete observance of the duties usually attached to that particular form of dress. The more numerous and varied your jumpers, blouses and scarves, the more amusement you will get" out of your tailored suit, for the possibility of entirely changing its aspect by the hat and other accessories you wear with it adds a value to this class of dress that can be claimed by no Other. Have you the one-purl-one-plain habit? You have, I know! Then knit yourself one or two little sleeveless pullovers in lace-stitch In brilliant colours, get hats to match them, and scarves to carry out your several colour schemOß. I saw a lovely ensemble built on ft mustard-coloured, frieze suit the other day, made in the wide-revered, collarless manner, and having a straight, narrow scarf of brown and white and green-striped silk. A very summery arrangement was to be achieved by Using a white lingerie blouse, a white straw sailor hat with a brown-and-mustard band, white washing gloves, brown shoes, and a green bag. The alternative Was a green wool pullover, a mus-tard-coloured hat with a dash of leaf-green on the band, brown gloves and bag, and the thrce-colOured scurf. Skirts are built up above the waist on pdtersham bands to give the “princesse” effect, and shaped close to the figure almost to the knees, either by narrow gbred pieces, which flare slightly towards the hem, or by the arrangement of the godets. The “Hue” is almost exactly the same as it was last year, in fact; but the detail of material and colour is as different as black from white. Even the length of your skirt may be right, but last year’s fW- is definitely of last year, and no amount of hope and faith will bring it up to date. There’s always a catch, itsn’t there? and they were good, those last-year styles- But this year’s things are truly lovely! With love, Yours, JANE.