SPRING FASHIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 3415, 29 August 1919, Page 58

SPRING FASHIONS

FINE.DISPLAY AT THE D.I.C. Fashion is air expression of social history, and recognising this there were many who feared that a "frenzy of luxury" would be the aftermath of the war, and that women of all classes would revel in personal splendour. But the nation is now settling down and looking facts in the face, and the effects are to be seen in fashion. The most notable designers are creating gowns on the simplest lines, and extravagance has nowhere run riot. Yesterday a Daily Times reporter was invited to inspect the display of spring fashion... which is being made by the D.I.C in this company's commodious showrooms. COSTUMES, SILK JERSEYS, / BLOUSES, ETC. Smart tailored costumes are much in evidence again j in fact, it is said that no ladies' w-ardrobe is complete without a smart dressy costume. The styles are principally replicas of French models with sacque coats and long French revers. As the tailored costume becomes more and more masculine in style, so the waistcoat gains in popularity and variety, it is made of linen, flowered silk, suede, tucked muslin, and even lambs' wool. These are buttoned from the neck downwards, and have some decidedly novel collars. Some waistcoats are cut exactly like.a man's, with roll collar and revers, many of them have a tiny breast pocket into which, instead of a handkerchief, is tucked an artificial flower. Two costumes which appear as outstanding styles are in a cloth of brick shade, with sacque coat and pleated skirt, a smart vest in navy blue with a large pointed collar, the coat is smartly embroidered at sides in a pretty blue shade; the other is in a cinnamon brown shade. The coat is a semi-saeque shape, three-quarter length, with long French revers; the skirt is plain with -.oversewn seams. The vest calls for particular attention, being made of fawn and saxe lambs' wool, a long length, and elaborately trimmed with buttons. Silk jumpers are much in evidence, and are particularly novel and are sure to soon become very popular. One smart style is shown in jade 'green with border, sleeves and a touch on the collar of black and jade chequers. Woollen tunic jerseys are similar in stylo to the jumper, and are quite different to the usual wool jersey. They are very becoming and girlish looking in appearance. They resemble an oarsman's jersey or sweater, and are loosely knitted with a plain shade for the body, with the collar border and "cuffs in a bright contrasting shade. Blouses are shown in endless variety, but all have the Frenchy touch and are exceedingly dainty, with a tremendous amount ».£ hand work about them. The matei-ials are principally Georgette and crepe de chene, in shades of cream, champagne, lemon, and pink. MILLINERY. One is lost in wonder at the profusion of stylos shown. Quite the leading stylo this season is the new American Fifk hat, and the predominating style shown is in coarse glazed straw with extra wide brims in such shades as mastic, saxe, emerald, brown, and navy. One could not imagine smarter or more becoming styles. Large picture hats are much in evidence in lizerao straw and leghorn, trimmed with flowers, feathers, or ospreys. The writer noticed one particularly smart Lezare hat trimmed with black ospreys in a most chic and charming shape. Another dainty little white Georgette hat, trimmed with white wings, was a picture of loveliness; whilst a bright cerise leghorn hat trimmed with navy Georgette and handmade flowers in yellow, vieux rose, and mauve quite convinced the writer that this season the hats could not well be improved upon. UNDERWEAR. Such ?md dainty underwear one thought it quite impossible to produce. Fascinating from the point of clever, new styles, pretty trimmings, and sheer soft fabrics, Empress Josephine's seamstress went back a thousand years in order to discern "novelties" to' startle the haute

monde of Paris. To-day the designers have returned to the days of Apocrypha. Elaborate camisoles, ladies' under-garments generally, many of which are hand embroidered, and novelties in the sheerest and softest of muslins and silks and the daintiest of colourings are in evidence. The display is such that no woman could hesitate to indulge her fondness for the filmiest dreams in lingerie, as most of the garments displayed over-surprised me for the lowness of their prices. The materials in vogue are. soft white nainsooks, flesh-pink lustrous bap-, tistes, "witchery" and "plusse" crepes, and crepe de ohencs. —28819.