SPRING MODELS.

Southland Times, Issue 19546, 9 May 1925, Page 23

SPRING MODELS.

PREVALENCE OF THE TUNIC. (By Dorothy Leyland.) Although we can fairly assume that the Spring fashions are now out, so far nothing particularly new has made its appearance, i Variations and slight differences in the prevr.ling modes of last season are all that is noticeable at the moment. The mr'st emphatic note is struck by the tunic. That, v.e can say with emphasis, is going to be de rigeur. No matter what style of dre ? s you are thinking of choosing th : s "pring, whether Tor day, afterncon or rv?n-ng wear, you cannot go wrong if you dt'cde on one with a tunic; in fact you will h? wser still if you decide on two with ~3ut —ard here is th : s season’s hall mark —it must be eight or ten inches above t.h n bolt in of the skirt is the correct length, and, of course, skirts are el.-o shorter. Long tight sleeves, with cuffs ' falling well over the wrists and hgh (but not necessarily stiff) Directo’re stock tics will be seen on the out-door tunic, the long ample ends of these in most cases matching the skirt, the tunic, cf course, being of a contrasting colour, and perfectly plain and straight. NOT TO BE USED. We hear that large hats are on Dame Fashion’s list, but I think they will remain there. Anyway, there are none at all to be seen in the shops. Perhaps later on, however, we may be tempted from our allegiance to our latest love, the very small brimmed hat with the contrastingly large crown; who can say? We Tnay get some sun this summer, if we get any summer. So long has the cloche type of hat enthralled us, that we have been content to accept it in its very severest form without question, but now we are beginning to assert our independence, (such a demoralising effect has spring on us), and are finding such slavish adherence to Fashion’s tyrannies somewhat oppressive. So we are tentatively and meekly making a bid for emancipation by decorating the tops of the crowns with coloured flowers or ribbons, the former being much the newer. Pleats and tiny pin tucks are to be a distinct feature of spring and summer trimmings. How pretty they are, but oh, how distractingly difficult to manage for the home dressmaker! These, and, of course, buttons, will be much in evidence. Where the pleats are not real they will be simulated, but real or simulated, they will be there. Stripes are also worn by the smart woman, many of these being self stripes woven in the material and of the same colour as the material. Cyclamen pink is gaining a stronger hold as far as colours are concerned. It has made a bold bid for popularity for some time past, but I think it will stand more chance in spring than in winter. It is emphatically not a winter colour, speaking generally, for these of us who are inclined to look pinched and blue when cold do not wish to have this unbecoming effect emphasised. GOOD-BYE WINTER. But on a warm spring day, what a difference! We go out, we walk a little distance and the blood courses through our veins, and mounts into our cheeks, bringing out Nature’s colour there and we wear • a cyclamen pink hat of light soft felt or straw to match, and we know that we look charming; so nothing else matters, does it? Good-bye winter! We’re glad to see you go. This is an age of illusion—or delusion, I don’t know which. We still wear artificial flowers —but what artificiality! They are things of artistic beauty and wonderful effect. Our furs, our feathers, our faces, our nails are all aided by artificial means, the only thing some of us leave absolutely au naturel is our figure; and so we go round in the same everlasting circle. In ten years’ time, perhaps, we shall have to find an outlet for this instinct or craving for artificiality, and it will, no doubt, run in the channel of some absurd contortion of some part of our anatomy! The worst of it is, that unless one is born a Psyche or a Venus, one cannot be a back number in this respect. Life is very difficult, isn’t it?