London Fashion Notes Specially Written for "The post"

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 82, 3 October 1931, Page 9

London Fashion Notes Specially Written for "The post"

LONDON, 7th August. London in August from the fashion expert's point of view is an and waste, but it is no longer the deserted city it used to be when dust sheets enshrouded (ho furniture and the family departed en masse. , One still hears tales of Victorian days when people pulled down their blinds

and pretendod thoy had felt town, rather than acknowledge that they had been obliged to remain through such an unfashionable period. ■ We may return to Victorian fashions, but,1 thank goodness, we shall -never tolerate a revival of such a narrow-mindod outlook, and to-day many people stay in London', during August from -choice —to enjoy the luxury of spending- their days leisurely and with no social engagements. ' ' Tho famous Regatta Week, at Cowes is as popular as ever, although several well-known yachts have not been commissioned this year. Yachting is an expensive pastime, and economic blizzards have touched all sorts of people, so everyone is grateful to' the King and Queen, who have once more given encouragement ito,those who organise the regatta by arriving in Cowes a week earlier than usual. Fashions at Cowes'always follow more or less- conventiohal lines, *with, much, navy blue, blue and white, all-white, and red and white. This year, however, even Cowes has had to accept the trousered garment. I do not mean the beach-pyjama-lido-like garments of bizzare colourings which are to .be seen at ...all the coast resorts. Those seen at Cowes are real dark blue serge, neatly cut and seviceable, and stangely enough, worn by the smart women who go automatically to Cowes.and are the only ones who could successfully.change the traditional fashions. , , . Trousers,'are now part •of everyone'sj

/holiday outfit, and once we have accepted the idea it is easy to understand their popularity. One is neat for any occupation, whether it entails strenuous exercise or merly lounging at full length on the shore Also one can wear a minimum of clothes uudorcanth, even dispensing with a suspender belt and stockings should a heat wave descend on one, and still remain adequately clothed. ' Two fashions stand out at all the holiday resorts. First the smartness of spotted fabrics, and secondly, the popularity of the three-cornered handkerchief scarf. A very chic outfit consists of a dress of white silk navy spotted, with a short white or blue coat and a scarf of red with white spots. I think the secret of the popularity of spots is that they give such variety to materials and modes, and yet they never have a "dressed up" look, which often happens when floral chiffons and crepes are made into even simple frocks. "Consequently. & spotted frock is equally suitable for-morning or afternoon. ' The little beret which milliners are endeavouring to banish is still .fashionable with summer frocks, but. it is showing the influence of the new hats. It has been rescued from its perilous position on the back of the head, and its smart angle is now well forward, and pulled down over one eyebrow. Indeed, I never remember such a sudden and complete change in millinery fashions. , . The Ascot hats already look old-fash-ioned, and that is chiefly owing to the altered manner of adjusting them. From wearing them as far back on the head as possible, we have rushed to the opposite extreme, and every type of hat is now tilting forward. : A very pretty fashion for. warm days which has caught on during the last few weeks is the newt little sleeveless jumper; with cardigan to match' made of pale coloured broderie'auglaiso worn with black crepe maroeain or dull satin skirts. ' / Green and yellow are two of the favourite colours, and, of course, white. I have also seen it in' beige broderio with the skirt of dark brown crepe, and white'with dark marine blue. ■ In Berkeley street yesterday I iaw a very successful warm-weather, outfit; In bro\yn and beige crepe (the design a broken; uneven check) that had a border .of' "shilling spots" in brown on,beige. The skirt was pleated with' the border showing About three/inches from the hem. This spot border outlined the. cardigan coat round the neck and he^n, and formed a narrow belt round the waist. A crochet cap in beige straw pulled- forward over one eye and beige gloves pulled over the wrists of the cardigan, brown and white shoes, beige stockings and a beige lizard skiii bag, completed a toilette which convinced me that strict attention to colour schemes and details-are still the most important features in good, dressing. . . Later, I was meeting a friend who arrived from Paris by the Golden Arrow, and her travelling kit impressed me as the most ideal'as well as being intensely smart. -Once more, it was beige and brown. A "polo" coat of soft beige woollen fabric,' with collar turned up carelessly and belted with a brown patent"'leather belt, to match a tiny leather flower in the 'lapel;.- A .snjart brow,n- hat of the Robin Jlood variety, with a tiny beige quill. Brown leather bag and shoes, beige gloves and stockings, and underneath a thin: frock of beige crepe roinain with the new box pleats in front and plain back., .■ . Her smart luggage in beige fabric wjth a brown fleck, strapped and monogrammed with brown, completed a matching ensemble that was as suitable as it was smart. She is, I '.might add, a beautiful middle-aged woman with silvery grey hair and brown1 eyes, and' the clea.n lines of her toilette made her look ten years younger than her real age. —BUTH SIBLET.