EPIDEMIC OF COLOUR.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 93, 21 April 1908, Page 6

EPIDEMIC OF COLOUR.

VIOLENT CONTRAST IN SUMMER FASHIONS. LONDON, Feb. 27. Spring and summer styles, writes a fashion correspondent in Paris, promise to be somewhat' startling, for plain materials are almost taboo except for afternoon and ceremonial frocks. Travelling wraps and walking costumes are chiefly to be >made in big checks, plaids, and stripes. Contrast is the order of the day. Dark brown or blue tailor-made cutaway serge or cloth coats over striped or cheeked skirts that have the appearance of cotton, even if made in thin wool look very well. A broad horizontal band of the same colour and material as the jacket at about six inches from the hem of the skirt shows that skirt and jacket were made for each other. Many have the ever-popular Japanese sleeve, but in this case a more elaborately cut coat is worn. The ordinary sleeves are small, threequarter length, with little fulness at the shoulder. Japan influences the milinery, too, and. stacks of hats in "Nippon" Ngtraw are waiting purchasers. They are in "brightest magenta, a blue almost peacock, crude green, and every tone of copper and pink. There seems to be an epidemic of brilliant colour, for everywhere one is struck by the startling hues. The prettiest Nippon hats are those of which the under-brim is tinted a contrasting colour. A black hat is trimmed to match a magenta or green un-der-brim, and the result, strangely enough, is fairly quiet. The tpque is come to stay. It has proved itself too* becoming and useful to be cast off.' Only it will be in tulle or straw, or, prettiest of all, entirely of foilage, except for a wreath of flowers near the face, and a clump of them arranged aigrette fashion with a tuft of the leaves at one side.

Shoes have been made "right" arid "left" as at present for more than 2000 years. The Romans hal ;r su perstitition-against putting on the left shoe before the right.