SOME NEW NOTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 19

SOME NEW NOTIONS

The weather, the shops, everything it seems, conspires to lead our thoughts from the present to the not far distant future when summer is really and truly with us aga; n. An excellent idea this, for there is no more fascinating pursuit than collecting a summer wardrobe when we may take our time and have plenty of fun as''we study the latest clothes before buying.

Swim suits and sports togs are advantageously displayed in windows; frivolous millinery graces waxen visages behind the glass and daringly colourful footwear and accessories are arranged to catch our eye and titillate our fancy; beauty preparations appear in new tonings and we face the burning question once more of whether to tan or not to tan. It rains and these things seem ridiculous and out of place. The sun shines, just for one day, and they are suddenly sensible and immensely desirable. But for those who do not see the shops or for you who want even more advanced knowledge, 1 here are the facts that you may assimilate at leisure. FOR SUN AND SURF. First, let's talk about the new suits; for sun and surf. They are breath-: takingly surprising, they are new,; they are different. You have never; seen anything quite so diverting of' their kind before' except perhaps in." early snapshots of", the first belles; emerging '' ; modestly from bathing! machines at the water's brink way; back in the starting years of the cen--tury, or you may have chanced on the' inspiration for other models while; perusing a historical or geographical; magazine depicting peasants of fCen-: tral' Europe in their native costume. :

There are only two influences that have resulted in a revival of more modesty and the peasant trend respectively. Though actual bathing suits, on the whole, have changed very little except to become even more abbrevi-: ated, the accompanying over-skirts,: shorts, boleros, blouses, slacks, wraps,: and the like are in the ascendancy. A; beach suit of the coming season, will; comprise of anything from two to four; pieces, sometimes more, not to mention; sundries such as, hats, sandals, head--kerchiefs, beach, bags, and other nicknacks.

This summer, there is no doubt, beach clothes will appear in as many styles and designs as land clothes, having as much individuality as any other phase of fashion. It remains a matter for personal choice whether one shall be demure in a flowered costume, dashing in tiger-striped and leopardspotted creations,, or workmanlike and tailor-made in dark or white colour schemes. There are just these three definite schools of thought and then their many variations of line and style. The most pronounced trend is that of the dressmaker suit. In print or tflain cottons these are "tops" for elegance and economy. Easily made, they are individual and match up exactly with detachable skirt and full • gathered dirndl skirt. SATIN SOPHISTICATION. Then there are the satin suits that are sleek and slippery as a seal, sophisticated too. The dressmaker play suits are demure, the satin togs sophisticated so what are the good old knitted favourites like. Well, they boast nautical patterns, stripes, spots, checks, and., chevrons. A point which they have, in common with the satin and lastex suits, but

BEACH CLOTHES FOR THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SUN

minus the lustre, is their smooth fit and clever design. Women like the new firm up-lift tops, styled to give plenty of support. Light-hearted youth may fancy suits patterned with scarlet lobsters on green grounds, little figures of Jack Tars and cqloured sailor's knots on white grounds and these are made with low shaped tops and are mostly skirtless.

b *■. Over these- go beach coats,: either short, long, loose, or fitted.; ; Some are : shaped like nightshirts, others tailored ; like top coats, arid there are some of the •, sweeping lines of a: tea-gown. Terry-towelling is a .grand, medium.Jeven better are print coats having a lining of coloured towelling. ," .' " ' ■ "We are; just as ' liable to '.tie 1 og'r' curls-up in a piece of fish-netting oir a .'kerchief ■ as' wd are to ,don. a novel bonnet or wide-brimmed sun hat. -Jn the sea we will, tie the headkerchiefs; even over the conventional rubbe'r'cap,: just for attractive effect- . '• - ' -s '■ ■. \ SUMMER; SANDALS/ ' ' Shoes for "the beach ancl 'pr'ome'nadej are in no less varied a mood.'The high; cork soled ones: I. have told;you', about before are. the excitingly new ones -but! there are flat-soled, types , thaj ' are; almost as intriguing.' Toes/ ( always show and draped bands arid'straps''.'of cotton or jersey material bind firmly ( round the ankles in much the same manner as a ballet shoe. .. Leis of rubber flowers, actual , "seashell necklaces are all delightfuTfbliies that accent these fashions for sunny •days. Some bathing suits,, ike the "dernier cri" in evening gowns, are strapless and held up by no visible "means of support- though actually clever boning and fitting does the1 trick. - '•!.-'

So these are the trends, feminity either demure as a daisy or sophisticated as a siren; extremes of revealing suits' and modest coats; masculinel'y "tailored slacks and shorts, suits of pin striped fabric like a man's lounge suit. And a word about slacks—often as not they are fuller and shorter, being cut off eight inches above the ankle like a fisherman's so that wading or paddling provides no obstacle.' , These are the greatest fashion excitements of the pending season. Even more delightful than the draped satin or crisp pleated taffeta afternoon dresses, the all-white ensembles, the fuzzy little angora sweaters in pastel tones, the chubby, marabou evening boleros, the striped sports blazers, the muslin and handkerchief linen evening gowns, the fans, the plumes, or the 'dainty shoes that we will wear are the beach and play clothes for they are the ones we hope to wear the most. M.R. i