Sydney Streets Are Gay And Attractive With Summer Styles

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27229, 4 November 1949, Page 2

Sydney Streets Are Gay And Attractive With Summer Styles

How far behind Australia are New Zealand fashions? Dunedin women who returned at the week-end from Sydney feel that there is a fair time lag. The different climate is given by them as ° n< j reason, Australia's freer import control as another, and the increasing cosmopolitan atmosphere of the big Australian cities as a third. Another is that the further one goes south in New Zealand the more conservative women are in their dress. An unusual dress, hat, or even a colour attracts astonished and critical eyes, whereas in a big city tney pass almost unheeded. Syndey’s weather in the past w ?fiv,+er two has been bringing out the “Shier frocks and suits, and the streets are thronged with colour and variety. Xn e shops, too, are putting forth their brightest displays. Linen suits are maintaining their popularity and Small two-piece suits in silks and other light materials are in demand in Sydney’s warmth. Short coats are to be seen everywhere often with ties in materials to match the frock or the skirt worn underneath. In’ tne summer-weight materials stripes are choice and polka dots or figured materials are favoured by many. In the heavier materials donkey brown, American beauty, iced blue and string are in keen demand. Donkey brown, and , bl h e ice are particularly fashionable in linen suits, but greys are to the fore in gabardine. one of the most sought after materials for suits. Hats feature realistic French flowers and feathers. The new look ” in Sydney is now very much out-of-date and few long frocks are to be seen. Fourteen inches from the ground appears to be the longest one can wear clothes there to-day. Parisian and London models are plentiful—at a price. - Ther seems to be notning to stop importers from bringinggoods in from Britain and the Continent, and almost every European country represented in the shops. Costume Jewellery is probably more plentiful and, attractive than anywhere else in the world. David Jones has recently opened a whole floor of exclusive models and the most attractive accessories. Many of them are ox exquisite French workmanship and are very expensive. Ropes of pearls that round the neck three times and tnen casually knotted are the height of fashion and gilt necklets and bracelets are the latest accompaniments. * , One noticeable feature of shopping in Sydney is the excellent service provided. Assistants are courteous and attentive, and in the bigger stores shop-walkers see that no one is kept waiting. There are no " under-the-counter ” goods, it appears, and with so much stock there jseems an eagerness to sell that has not been very apparent in New Zealand in recent years. Express lifts and escalators are provided in the larger stores, air conditioning is in widespread use, and altogether eve JV" thing is made as easy as possible for tne shopper. Moreover, Sydney .shoppers are polite and considerate, so that shopping in the great city is not such an ordeal for the New Zealand woman as might be thought.