IN ENGLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20508, 8 March 1930, Page 6 (Supplement)

IN ENGLAND.

SPRING FLOWERS.

and the lure of clothes.

[SPECIAL TO N.Z. HERALD. —COPYRIGH'IV LONDON, January '25.

In spite of unprecedented gales "and a flooded countryside the temperature has remained so mild that we are fondly deluding ourselves that we aie escaping a cold spell this season. Spring flowers are everywhere to further the delusion. Every street corner shows its masses of lilies, and violets, lilac and narcissi to add perfume and 'colour to the most uninteresting thoroughfare, and the shops are already showing the first spring fashions. Generally speaking, these new fashions seem specially designed and selected for the Southern sunshine and balmy breezes which produced tho flowers, for_ both texture and colouring arc of tho daintiest description.. Iu one exclusive salon I saw a vast display of frocks, coats, hats, and wraps all carried in carnation and coral reds, and white. All white frocks, with red coats and hats; and red frocks worn with white coats. Then all-red ensembles including hats and bags, and unrelieved white for suits, blouses and hats. Evening wraps in snowy ermine—and white rabbit. And smart little threequarter coats in red velvet with cape sleeves and scarf collars. Madame assured me that red is now more popular in the summer, and where the sun shines brightly than it ever was when we associated it only with snowy landscapes and robin redbreasts. The new modes show all the charm of the high-waisted and long limbed silhouette and nearly all the newest sports costumes sponsor the waistline belted at the normal place, and a skirt that falls well below the knee often covering the calf. There is plenty of fullness in these new models, usually achieved by pleats that show a great deal of originality in their treatment. One-piece frocks, tuck-in blouses, and two and three-piece ensembles share equally in fashion's favour expressing themselves in new tweeds, homespuns, cottoas, linens and the new heavy sports silks. There are checks, plaids, prints, and an infinite variety of novelty fabrics. Reversible tweeds and knit fabrics are used to model jacket suits in which the frock uses the right side of the fabric, and the jacket turns out the wrong side. There is a new knitted linen which will, I am sure, be very popular for frocks and jacket-suits, while pastel piques and straight cotton shirtings are absolutely the last word in sports chic. It is difficult to decide on a fashionable length for the jackets because they vary so consistently from the three-quarter length coat to the short bolero. One style persists in stopping at the waistline in a wickedly youthful manner. This also applies to the capes which so often form part of the spring ensemble. They may be enlarged collars, or they may reach the hem of the skirt. I am enclosing two sketches seen in the red and white collection, because - they are excellent models for any material. The cape suit in soft red homespun, quite unlined, with a tuck-in shirt blouse of soft silk pique. The second shows a dress of heavy wlyte washing silk, with a carnation red face cloth coat and scarf collar of red and white spotted cravat silk. Both of these models would make excellent tweed ensembles. The latter having the dress and coat of tweed with scarf collar, facing and belt to match the coat lining of plain crepe. The smartest shoe for summer sports clothes in undoubtedly the one of twotone leathers, or buckskin and leather combined. This is particularly attractive when white buckskin is used with brown navy or black calf. To be really smart one should wear all one's gloves longer. With suits and dresses and coats that have tight cuffs the gloves are drawn over the sleeve, and there are all varieties of gauntlets, from the leather motoring ones to the soft suede ones that are not much more than a continuation of the glove. Others lace up the side or are finished with blanket stitch of own material. Scarves seem to be perennial favourites—each season we think they are finished when out come a new crop. The scarf vogue has created another extravagance in the form of a scarf ring. These are as numerous and as decorative .aa all modern accessories, although personally I like best the ones that are roughly cut rings of amber, crystal jade, rose quartz, or any of these types of semiprecious stones. The smartest way to wear a scarf with a ring at the moment is to take one end and pull it round the throat—choker fashion—and pull the two ends through the ling at the side of the neck, leaving one long end to hang down to fhe waist and {lie other to stick out cheekily in a little rabbit's car end at the neck.