SPRING SUNSHINE AT HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20264, 25 May 1929, Page 6 (Supplement)

SPRING SUNSHINE AT HOME.

FEMININE FRIPPERIES.

CHIC BLACK SUITING.

[special to n.z. herald.— copyright.] LONDON. April 5.

Spring sunshine and the approach of tho Easter holidays lias successfully banished our winter outlook, and pretty clothes aro appearing in the parks and streets to match tlio gorgeous blaze of spring (lowers one sees everywhere.

Tailored suits in town have replaced heavy coats, and how trim and fresh they look!

The black suit is still the first favourite with very smart women, but the navy and fine checked suiting is almost as popular. Lunching in a very smart restaurant yesterday I took note of the many new suits. The first to attract mo was in fine navy blue hopsack (quite the newest material this season) with an over blouse of powder blue crepe that had a soft jabot front. The skirt was quite plain and wrap-over, and the coast, which was cut just below the hips, fastened with one link button. A tiny navy hat in finest felt was well pulled down over the wearer's left eye, where tho extra width of brim gave a particularly smart effect. Another suit in black fleck suiting had a blouse of heavy white satin, tucked into the belt of the skirt and the nock finished with a tie-bow of the same satin. A turban of folded black felt and fine straw was worn with this, a cluster of white camellias in the lapel of the coat, a silver fox lightly thrown over one shoulder, and white kid gloves! En passant, let me remark that among the best dressed crowd white kid gloves, after their long banishment, are coming back. A very smart suit in nigger and beige suiting had an over-blouse of beige crepe satin. This was cut on waistcoat lines with points and tiny pocket, and a double row of chased gold buttons. The natural red fox which is so very fashionable was worn with this suit, and a little folded felt hat that had one ear pulled through a gold buckle completed this very smart get-up. There is a positive craze for matching; I had heard, of it in Paris, and now it has reached London, and everything you have matches everything else or you are not considered well dressed.

Of course, the wealthy woman has innumerable complete toilettes, which match to the very last detail of handkerchief and flower.

This gives the not so fortunate ones an even better reason for sticking to one-colour outfits, so that an interchange of accessories is possible. They have gone so far as to dye furs mauve, pink, and blue to match the various coats, but as I do not believe these will be popular, probably we shall see even more fawns, browns, and greys. If the frock is fawn or red, then coat, hat, shoes, etc., will match exactly. Red shoes promise to be fashionable. A moderately bright blue is already quite ordinary. Nearly all the fawn shoes are kid, and not suede. Lizard and all variations of snakeskin elaborately worked with patent leather are exceedingly smart. The lizard and patent leather bag is made to match these shoes, and is particularly smart worn with a black toilette when the stockings should be gunmetal and not beige. Speaking of stockings, cotton or wool—never silk —are now worn by the Parisienne with tweeds and travelling clothes, and theso are always the same colour as the with brown, fawn with reptile, and grey with grey.

In afternoon dress the shade of silken hose that best harmonises with the gown Will be chosen. If your frock is powder blue, you should wear grey stockings; with red, the skin colour beige; and with black, gunmetal. Fawn dresses should match fawn stockings exactly. With gloves it is the same, for obviously one cannot have red or blue gloves; in this case the gloves and stockings match exactly. All of which sounds very complicated, but if one chooses the colour that is most becoming and has all one's clothes ranging round that one shade, it is easier and cheaper to give the impression of always being exquisitely turned out. The black satin tailor-made is a very charming vogue. It is seen in all types from the correct coat and skirt to tho jumper and skirt. The cardigan suit in black satin promises to be the most popular; it is extremely useful, for it can easily be worn under a coat or in tho house, and it is intensely smart with a fox fur and a little turban hat for smart luncheons or afternoon functions. The one I have sketched had a waistcoat blouse of heavy parchment satin with points to match the pointed yoke of the skirt; marcasite buttons to match tho mounting of tho black antelope bag, a single string of pearls and cluster of cremo kid gardenias completed a charming ensemble.

My other sketch shows a circular black skirt with a fine woollen jumper in tho fashionable nasturtium colourings of orange, yellow, and beige, with a belt of stitched satin and dull gold buckles. Tho idea of woollen jumper and satin skirt sounds odd, but tho woollens of to-day are so fine, and somo are absolutely in lace patterns, that they harmonise wonderfully, and make a useful and yet smart frock for the house or under a top coat.