NO IDLE DAYS.
THE " NEW POOR." [SPECIAL TO N.Z. HERALD.—COPYRIGHT.] LONDON. Nov. 12. Very few women lead completely idle lives nowadays, and the number of those who only run a house or bring up a family is_ daily diminishing. Ag the " New Poor " increase the class fantastically described as the " Idle Rich " is rapidly disappearing, and women who never anticipated earning a penny, much less a living, are tackling all sorts of unexpected jobs. These social changes naturally affect fashions—as a largo percentage of women to-day spends the hours from nine in the morning until six in the evening in one dress, only changing into " something different " in the evening. Yet they are just as interested in their appearance and fashion in general as those who still have leisure to change more frequently. There are two garments that are immensely important to the busy woman, namely, a winter coat and a spring suit. Anyone who has difficulty in managing on a small allowance should concentrate on these two particular outfits, with as many suitable accessories as she can pos* sibly acquire. Afternoon and evening dresses in comparison do not matter to the woman who works, because she does not wear them all day and every day. It is a temptation to have a lovely new evening frock, but it is not much use cutting a dash one night a week and being seen in a much too short and rather shabby coat the next day and many days after. There is no fun wearing a lovely afternoon frock under an ancient coat, longing for the moment you can shed it and show off your pretty gown—the chances are that everyone keeps their coats on and you have no opportunity. Believe me, it is a new suit in the spring, and a coat in the autumn that counts. If you only have a pound or two to spend invest it in a sensible way, and get other things if and when you can afford them. This year changes of fashion are unusually drastic, and anything older than last year's clothes seem to be hopelessly short and quite wrong in silhouette. But the girl who can do a little dressmaking is to be envied, for by raising the waistline and adding a basque or frill on the hips—at the same time lowering the hem, if possible—she can bring many dresses up-to-date. Spring suits will interest you more than our winter coats, so I will describe a few early autumn suits which are good for all seasons. There is so much latitude allowed in the modern tailored suits that every figure can look well in one if care is taken when choosing the style. The young girl who can wear anything and look well does not have to bother whether her coat is long or short—it is usually just a becoming colour, and what she fancies. Undoubtedly the smartest suits and tailored ensembles at the moment have I quite short coats with a shaped waistline or nipped in with a tight belt. If, however, you have broad hips, and what is still more difficult—a broad back view—avoid a coat of this description. Nothing is more disastrous to smart api pearance than a tight-fitting skirt on a j broad figure below one of these little coats. Tailored ensembles to-day need not match, for this is very much a season of the odd coat. But there must always be a relationship between coat and skirt, and accessories must also " belong." A short black or navy coat can be worn with a black-and-white check ' skirt and white blouse—or over an entire dress of red, white, yellow or a mixture '■ tweed! { In the same way. if you have a com- : plefe tweed ensemble—either coat and bess, or coat and skirt—the tweed coat :an bo worn with a plain-coloured fabric like jersey cloth, fine facecloth, etc. In this way one can ring innumerable changes at a moderate cost. The smartest top-coat for betweenseason has a storm collar worn up, military fashion, very wide revers, deep gauntlet cuffs and a belt, but no fur. Round tho neck is worn a plaid cravat of soft wool, closely worn, to look like heavy silk. A jaunty little hat at a decided angle and a smart cane are the fitting accompaniments of such a coat, which is immensely becoming to the English type of woman. As with coats, so with dresses—nearly evory one is belted. The touch of colour on a dark dress is often supplied by a bright belt which matches the handbag and hat. Gauntlet gloves look well over these dresses, whore the sleeve is plain at tho wrist. Some of the new gauntlets are like tho military gloves—split up at tho all are quite flexible. The Oxford shoo is very fashionable for sports clothes once more, and the low-cut Oxford—or thoso with a strap laced over the instep—are smart with any type of woollen dvess. For silk, crepe or velvet suits or dresses, the court shoe, or one with" one narrow strap over the instep look more in keeping.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21076, 9 January 1932, Page 6 (Supplement)
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850NO IDLE DAYS. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21076, 9 January 1932, Page 6 (Supplement)
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