SARAH CHURCHILL'S BLOUSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 107, 1 November 1941, Page 13

SARAH CHURCHILL'S BLOUSE

FATHER'S SPEECH DOWN THE FRONT

(By E. Ruth Sibley.) LONDON, September 8. Adaptation is the keynote of many new fashions in this year of restricted purchases and smaller wardrobes. Interesting evidence of this was displayed recently hy Miss Sarah Churchill- —seen lunching last week wearing a tweed suit and silk blouse, on the front of which was printed a quotation from one of her famous father's speeches.

When comment was made on her family loyalty, she opened her coat to display one of the "London Wall" slogan scarves that I wrote "about recently, and which she had cleverly converted into a blouse, remarking: "Father's speech just happened to fall down the front."

Incidentally, the slogan was the famous "Give us the tools and we will finish the job," and this scarf has had an enormous success in America.

With more and more women being drafted into the Services one wonders who will be left to purchase the new models designed for the coming season. Possibly that is why most collections are shown for the export markets where they can do a double service for the country by keeping alive, and indeed increasing, the scope of the fashion industry and at the same time earning valuable exchange for the war effort.

TAILORED IN LIGHT MATERIALS.

Such a collection which I have just seen had been devised to beai all transport delays—an important factor in fashion. The models had the expert tailored touch, for which this country has long been famous, but being made in the lighter weight materials favoured in the Americas.

Egg blue' silk shirt, with matching woollen skirt, box-pleated all round, with youthful blazer coat, the edges and pockets bound with coral, was a delightful spring model.

Also a suit of brown jersey with the longer jacket which had a jumper of cyclamen pink jersey that covered the hips, and a brown beret high at the side, with a cockade of cyclamen pink ribbon. . .

Scarlet slacks and blouse, with beige and red checked tweed jacket, and three-quarter length tweed top coat lined scarlet, made a gay and practical country ensemble. My sketch shows a new model that has been much admired—stone beige woollen and red crepe—completed by a bulky top coat of stone beige and red plaid. Removing the bolero, the new long blouse-top dress is extremely elegant for formal occasions. The beret was revived in a dozen different ways with these new ensembles.

(By M.H.C.)

The Scheme of Things

It seems a strange thing that .just when our world—though far from close touch with the conflict going on at the other end—would be so glad of some bright sunshine and pleasant weather to cheer things along, the sun should have developed "gigantic measles" and have presented us with the most de^ pressing winter and spring known even by the oldest inhabitants. It is a curious perversity of things, as warmth and brightness, would undoubtedly have helped the nerves of people, especially those who are enduring- personal losses. The worst of it is thateven astrologers cannot say when "Ole Man Sun" will feel better and give hope perhaps that the Christmas holidays may be ' really pleasant and acceptable. .• .

"Hope springs eternal in the human breast," and maybe the: summer holidays will turn out better than bargained for. It is to be hoped devoutly that people, if they lack good weather, will be more careful than .usual to prevent drowning accidents, which are such a distressing feature each year, particularly of children who want watching continually and should never be "foot-loose" at any time without one adult to watch them. ■■-.■•

Then there is the question of restricted lighting. Several suggestions have been made about the wearing of armbands of a light colour, etc., but these might easily be forgotten when leaving home in a hurry. A Wellington woman who had to go to an appointment in the usual evening twit light, simply took her white handkerchief out of her pocket and. .waved it gently as she walked across the roads where there was riot a specified crossing with the most satisfactory results. There were many cars, as it was just picture time (in spite of petrol restrictions), and cars either slowed down or avoided her by going nearer the centre of the road, and she went on her way with perfect comfort." It is only fair of pedestrians to do their part to avoid accidents and not put all the. stress on the motorists. Some of the latter, sad to say, are of the "roadhog" type, and unless people are very "spry" on their feet they encountermost unpleasant experiences. Notic-; ing people about it is astonishing how many have to walk with the aid of a stick, some suffering from war disabilities and others.. from . the muchdreaded, arthritis. These and the shortsighted need special consideration.

Another disability to the pedestrian is the number of cars jutting but fr,om the footpathsy often on both sides of the street. In such places when people want to cross the road they often find a quick-driving motorist flash by just, as - they are off the footpath, and on account of the pace of the car have not seen it approach. These things should not happen—people nowadays should drive moderately and everyone should be on the look-out. In these' times also when the population of the country is lessening necessarily ..it seems too bad . that valuable lives should be lost absolutely unnecessarily, just by the carelessness of pedestrians or the selfishness of motorists, or, again, by the neglect of people when bathing to take proper precautions. In the' evening the ''waving handkerchief is recommended as easy and effective, for surely even in these "skimpy" days everyone must carry at least one "hanky."

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