THE NEW SPRING COAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22194, 22 August 1935, Page 4

THE NEW SPRING COAT

BY BARBAHA

VALUE OF ACCESSORIES CENTRE-FRONT FASTENING

With winter winds still lit ins cold outside, it, seems a little ric iculous to be speaking of spring clotheu. Yet the shops are busy unpacking the most delectable, creations, and c. little of that madness so aptly termed "spring fever" is creeping into the ail". Soon restraint will 11c longer bo possible and, in spite of any inclement conditions which may prevail, the spring buying season will be in fu.l swing. During the last few weeks I have pointed out to you the necessity of getting yourself in perfect ''rim itt readiness for your new wardrobe. You lave, I trust, boon doing your daily dozen with praiseworthy regularity, lave been taking good caro of your skin, hair, hands and feet, and so generally making tho most of your every good point. In which case you will now be ready to relax 8. Isttle and leap tho rewards of your labours. If you'can no longer resist a spring purchase, why not begin with a coat? You can wear it right away, and it will form a good foundation from which to plan your spring campaign. Ore of the most charming coats I have i*een this reason is shown in the sketch. It is a copy of a Molyneux model, and is made in * soft black imported woollen material. The front fullnesn is accentuated bv cartridge fluting on the pockets, which is again repeated on the cuffs. Streaks of yellow crepe flash out from the lining of the bulky cape-col-lar. The shiny patent leather belt is ilnished by a square brass buckle. Practical as well as decora ti re is tho fall swagger coat which tops a smart cut-away suit of the same material, men's suiting in mouse brown with a pale blue plaid stripe. The collar js of brown velvet, also tlio buttons and hat, while the wide rerers of tho top-coat ■' are edged with a narrow band of the velvet. This is an advance model, and will be right to wear next ueason as well as this. When choosing a spring coat it is advisable) to select a shade vi hich _is likely to combine successful [y with iseversil colour combination j. Both navy and black are, of course, eminently suitable, and may bu varied in many different ways. Quite a] art from this, they are the colours chosen by the Ibig coutouriers for some of their most (successful, creations. Chanel features a :navy button-down-the-front coat with enormous wing revers of white pique. White pique im used effectively on many coats, and is often placed o-rei: a collar of the coat material. It makes collars, cuffs, buttons and linings to capes, in fact.. Ib is an invaluable acciini; of chic. There is a distinct tendency for the new coats to fasten down tha centire-

fronS, with less wrap over than has been iji vogue of recent y;»ars. They are cut single-breasted and are designed to swing open and show a portion of the skirt undernentli. Waistlines are clearly defined, gmorally witn four to five buttons in re<i.ingote style, in fact, we often sport it whole row of buttons from top to too which are used as the main decorative motif. Swagger and boxy Continental coats are the only non-waist-ed coats seen, and circular skirts n,re becoming more and more noticeable. C.'spes, as 1 think i have mentioned before, are now almost a necessary adjunct to the spring coat. of them are made detachable, and so the coat may be altered at will. .1} ur capes, if you can afford them, a: - e„ of course, ideal. 'Fox, in the sub tin new tones that harm.oniso with yoir coat, is twisted and looped as if n oney were no object. Thrfo and son etimes six skins ko to make orie caje. If you do not wish to bo quite so extravagant you ican make an enuaily charming collar, cape-shaped and edzel with fur, which loops up to be with a bow _ of the coat material under the chin. Schaparelli introduces a bntton-down-the-front coat, with an elbow-length detachable cape, open 10 to 12 inches across the front. Talking of Schiaparelli. I saw the pthsr day on a friend recently returned ■from a visit to America a Schiaparelli model of emerald green fiat crepe with the new letter-box front. This is a slit about six inches lone: placed four inches below the high neckline. In this case it was fastened at either end with two of the most dazzling emerald and diamond clips I have ever seen. The frock was cut on the cross, with long sleeves and a low back, finished \vith a twisted belt and coilcl paste clips. This frock was long and was worn at cocktail time with an off-rJiu-face erinolino hat, which had a nalo of black osprey feathers But, to return to tli> coats. Here is a suggestion. Lay in :i ntock of entertaining coloured scarv js of different, ms.terials, tie silks, crepes wools and woven cottons, and you will find you am never at a lons for a change of coutume. Just as a blou le can change th&, face of a suit, so a n,ca.rf can alter ths atmosphere of a coat >.