MY LADY’S DRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22904, 11 June 1936, Page 17

MY LADY’S DRESS

A LETTER FROM SYDNEY

Dear Phillida-Because they must appear casual, sports and holiday clothes are perhaps the hardest of all to wear, They must be carefully planned, correctly donned—and then forgotten. Yesterday I went to a “barbecue” picnic—sixty people arrived by yacht and motor launch =, 5a [he tach .nd'Zlo^d«Sr" “ Se 53SS (and modest) on a boat than skirts, Tailored slacks of navy blue or white flannel and white linen tweed culottes carried away th’e honours. These last demand a lovely figure and the ability to wear and forget, which I mentioned above, then they can be the smartest of a ll > A perfectly-groomed ash blonde was a vision in white culottes, a white, longsleeved shirt-blouse, and a honey beige polo coat, white shoes and short socks,

White slacks also call for perfect mantailoring, a good figure, and long legs. With these a white polo-necked pullover and a navy blue double-breasted worsted top coat, a navy beret, and white shoes. Cardigans are now most popular in button-up-the-front style, and heavily ribbed. They have tiny turn-down collars and often pockete above the waist. All fancy trimmings—yachte, anchors, etc.—are dangerous, even on yachting clothes. Naval wives (and sweethearts) can sport naval crown brooches on their berets and scarves, but any other jewellery must be very good to be right. Don’t ever try cheap nicknucks to decorate your sports clothes —if you can’t afford good once, go without. For more formal sports clothes—both spectator and active —you will need to dres« warmly. Fur-trimmed top coats are lovely when they are of the correct type. A beige swagger-backed fieveneighths coat with fur facings that begin at the bottom of one side and loop the loop—up, around the nock, and down again—gives the luxurious appearance of fur lining, is nearly as warm and has the added attraction of less bulk. Another way to use fur on a sports coat is to make a tailored collar of it (rabbit is

best for this) or, if you want to swank, to line a huge turn-down collar with pony skin, which only shows when you turn it up to keep the wind from whistling down your back. Swagger fur coats —either hip. thi’cequarter, or full length-are extremely useful and dec°™ tlv . e * ™™’ ri ptv-more are often of the clrcssy \ ancty niore suited to the cocktail party than the sporte field. But some of the closer furs —rabbit (or lapm). pony, caiacul, and astrakhan-make good sports coats. Let aFSKTSS-SS uV » A 35S- W,!» dark on light co onM and yice verßa Pale blue looks delightful on tan, and yellow on navy, Rust is a favourite sports colour, which is also used often for riding suits and jodhpurs. Tan jodhpurs worn with a well-cut matching vest, a jacket ot tan and white shepherd’s plaid tweed, and a soft white silk scarf at the neck is a charming riding costume. Again, hunting green breeches and a coat worn with a white shirt and scarlet tic. n green tclt

Imt with scarlet feather is colourful and becoming. As a rule you will find it is advisable, however, to restrict your riding colours to tan, rust, brown, and fawn—they’re more serviceable, and they stay right in a garment that has to last. On the other hand an unconventional riding fashion sponsored by the film star, Katharine Hepburn, is that of wearing tailored flannel slack suits (which would, of course, be worn for other sports ns well) in shades of tan, brown, and grey, or in navy for sailing. Coloured taiede shoes—a spectator sports fashion begun last season—are now favourites. And very decorative they are when used as colour accents for plain coloured outfits. Try wearing henna shoes with dark blue suits, or green shoes with grey or brown ones. My sketches this week show a stunning swing-back polo-coat in honey beige, trimmed with pole cat, and worn over a brown plaid frock. Beige felt hat with brown band and brown suede shoes are the finishing touches. The culottes in the

other sketch arc navy blue, and the polo-necked sweater is white.

'idahlwhti