FASHIONS ABROAD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27573, 15 December 1950, Page 2

FASHIONS ABROAD

New Ideas From Many Countries

A new fashion-look had been launched overseas to make women look trimmer and “ more ladylike,’’ according to Miss Mildred Long, a Sydney fashion merchandiser, who has just made an extensive exploratory trip overseas. Just before returning home, she had a “ sneak preview ’’ of the fashions designed in Paris and London for the summer season of 1951. Next summer, she said, women will be wearing: Pencil slim skirts with fullness flaring from the knees. Shorter hemlines—about 14 inches from the ground. Neat little hats worn forward and square on. Longer, tighter gloves. Plain, neat court shoes. And carrying long umbrellas with everything. In three months Miss Lang travelled more than 40,000 miles, visited hundreds of retail stores, and attended dozens ot fashion shows. She saw Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, London, Paris, Rome, and Switzerland. The Men In Rome ” The best-groomed and Jffest-tailored women in the world are still on New York's Fifth avenue," she said. “But the most elegant women—and men—are now found in Rome. It is just as interesting to see the smart men in Rome. They are impeccably tailored,' and complete with gloves, cravats, and walking cane. Most of them favour a soft felt hat rather than a homburg or bowler. “ New York and Paris have extremely different ideas about fashion,” Miss Long said. “ The American trend is to reproduce in volume; in Paris the one aim is to look individual.” Paris was now showing winter suits with a definite rounded line. There was a curve into the waist and a rounded line over the hips, but tight at the bottom of the jacket. Shoulders were more square and back to normal. “A ‘ noneck ’ effect was the biggest Impression of Dior’s mid-season collection,” Miss Long said. “ Jutting collars came up to the ears and well out as far as the face, to hide the model’s chin and neck. Craze For Velvet “ Velvet is the biggest craze in America now. It is used for everything from coats to gloves, shoes, handbags, and even water-repellent velvet swim suits. To be smart in America, you’ve also got to push your sleeves up to the elbow, on your tailored suits, coats, dresses, everything. I thought all the women looked as if they were going to do their washing, but It’s the craze—so they follow.” Pearls were out in America, and so were scatterpins. Instead, women were wearing chunky costume jewellery, mostly in rhinestones and gold. Also new was the reversible coat copied from Paris. One side was tweed or flannel,-the other velvet, so it could be used for both formal and casual wear.