Feminine Tastes

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 July 1927, Page 23

Feminine Tastes

DESIRE FOR BEAUTY “THY NAME IS WOMAN” Notwithstanding the fact that no radical changes appear this year in the general motor-car design, the inquisitive and the discerning eye of woman has noted that there are certain changes which make a very definite appeal to her idea of what the ideal car should be. Grace and ease and beauty have ever been qualities sought by women. They make life the pleasant thing it is and, therefore, the discriminating woman looks for those qualities in her motor-car quite as diligently as they are sought in her home. In fact, her town car has come more and more to be the second home of the smart matron, says an American writer. Thus the custom-built body has advanced in popularity. Several factors have been important in bringing this about. The prosperity of the country heads the list. A beautifully upholstered limousine has an important function, but it cannot fill all needs, and so the American woman finds that she must have not one but perhaps several automobiles to give her the comfort to which she has now become accustomed.

With the congested traffic conditions in the large cities, there is a decided advantage in having a small closed car, one of the compact kind into which have been compressed all manner of devices and comforts. Such a car is certainly looked upon with favour by the head of the family, for the maze of traffic is something to reckon with. The attractions of a small car to milady are not only limited to the utilitarian values, but she also finds its intimacy pleasing. And so, a good many needs are to be taken care of before the all-impor-tant “big car” comes on the scene. But it is always there, having functions that' cannot be transferred to any of the other types necessary to the life of the smart woman to-day. But the “big car” is no longer just the big car. Several of the more important companies have centred their attention on improving the large limousine, and the results are wonderful.

You may now have a larger type of cabriolet finished with all the skill and attention to detail that could possibly be desired. The upholstery may be of the finest texture, even woven especially for you. Perhaps you would like a rare tapestry from the famous Gobelin looms fashioned to your taste, or if an antique is more to your liking you need not pine for the want

of it. The automobile designers are in a position to serve you and provide for the best the world can offer. A well-known society matron, who has frequently introduced features in motor-car designs, is the possessor this season of'one of the most novel automobiles seen :in America. She calls it her opera car, and it is really just that. The exterior is somewhat like many others. It is of dark blue, trimmed with pin lines of tan, with a lighter blue to lend relief. The wheels are of light blue and the aluminium hood gives the exterior a little dash, but she has little interest in the effect of her car on the casual passer-by. She was more interested in the interior appointments.

“You know, for several years it has distressed me to be attired for the opera or a ball in something that I have spent much time on, and then, when quite pleased with my appearance, to take the motor which has perhaps carried one all day and of which I am thoroughly tired,” she explained. “It is a frightful let-down. I chafed under it and now that motor-cars can be so wonderful I decided to have one which would either lend or encourage a festive mood.”

Her setting is a spacious tonneau upholstered with broadcloth of a fine texture in a shade of tan so delicate that the soft lights give it the appearance of heavy cream. The low seats are not the soft-cushioned ones that are customary, but are fashioned after the formal chair of a French drawingroom, and at the back are two medallions embroidered in delicate shades of blue and old rose. A vanity case of mosaic inlay also embodies these two shades with soft greens introduced, and the only other touch of colour is a trimming of broadlace of rose and tan which decorates the doors. The collapsible seats are entirely concealed in the floor of the car, protected by pads before the carpet of tan velour is drawn over them.

It is the really creative designer and the imaginative client who have introduced into the present-day motorcar the note of colour that has been sounded with greater emphasis than ever before. Here again the wand of prosperity has figured, as such indulgence would be unwise if one were limited to a single car or even to two. The bright greens and reds and purples that are now used inside and out would be simply too distressing if they had to be faced on all occasions.

Caprice rose, one of the newest shades, is really delightful. So full of life and motion. It fits a motor-car better than any of the shades yet introduced, but it undoubtedly has its limitations. It is a splendid daytime colour and is too dashing for words for a sport model. Several fascinating ones are to be seen on the streets these days, and at least in one instance the owner was conscious of the effect, for she was garbed in a dashing sport outfit of the same shade. A white costume goes nicely in such a car, and so does tan.

Colour inspiration has been sought from several new sources. One company turned to the birds of the tropics and has reproduced their plumage, thus achieving striking effects in shades as well as colour combinations. Other manufacturers have scoured the museums for ideas from the old masters. Of course, paint manufacturers entered into the. conspiracy to please with something new, and it ii

said that some of the paint companies spent months in development work endeavouring to match exactly on paint panels the colours that had been provided by the designers.

The smart town car this year has a predominating colour theme that is repeated again and again. For example, an owner may. select green, something none too sombre, although it is not to jar one’s finer sensibilities. A limpid sea green may be decided upon for the exterior with pin stripes of apple green outlining the body. The wheels are to represent grass as the imaginative creator has turned to nature for effect and carries out the idea of an apple orchard in spring. TAILORED EFFECTS IN CARS Another decided note is the tendency toward tailored effects. There is, for instance, the model that simply could not be used for anything but daytime wear. Its lines are severe and you have the feeling that it had been stitched and pressed with no other idea in mind. In the “tailored” cars leather is used mostly for upholstery. Not the common or garden variety of leather, but fancy kinds that are tooled and otherwise decorated for varying effects.

One of such cars about town has a dark tan exterior outline with thin stripes of blue in three shades, finished with black. Within, the ribs of the top are boldly disclosed, of course heavily varnished. The upholstery is of the tweed family. A heavy fabric of mixed goods of different shades of tan and simple vanity cases complete the severe effect.

Leather also plays a more promiment part as upholstery for roadsters. It has always found favour with this type of ca£, but a great number of custom-made models have been finished with fabric during the last few years. The rigours of heavy wear have proved that a more durable upholstery is preferable for many reasons and the farseeing owners have changed accordingly. The question of dust is much better handled and the upholstery is apt to last as long as the car itself. Speaking of upholstery, there is a new trick that has developed all kinds of possibilities. Taking the lead of the clever housewife, the designers have introduced the custom of variety in upholstery. Just because you are limited to one automobile does not necessarily mean that you must have monotony. Slip covers will solve the problem. Of course, in the beginning they were resorted to for the same reason as they are in the home, a change with a season, but then the idea grew and now the fastidious woman has carried it further. She even has slip covers to match her important gowns. They have great utilitarian value, too, for they can be cleaned and, therefor-e, the car can always have a freshness that cannot possibly be had otherwise, no matter how much the vacuum cleaner and the brush are used. All kinds of fabrics are used for slip covers, ranging from heavy cretonnes to wollen fabrics.

Big strides have been made in the problem of upholstering the closed car in the past few years. After the belief that only leather could be used there was a period when the substitute for it was a matter of grave speculation. Good textiles were available, but they were none too durable for such hard wear and for some time the designers were puzzled. Velours found favour finally, and heavier broadcloths and then mohair was introduced. Now textile manufacturers find that the making of special fabrics for motor-cars an interesting and productive pursuit, and new materials and designs are constantly appearing. Vanity cases have always been obliged to pass muster under the appraising eye of woman. As they become smaller they seem to grow more commodious. Never do you see the large suitcase effects that were once introduced with such fanfare. Instead, you find dainty vanity cases of perfect fashioning boldly attached without any effort at secrecy and serving a definite decorative purpose. Some of the custom-built bodies have tricky vanity cases, but they represent individual taste rather than the trend of fashion. The mode decrees that things be boldly what they are and just as beautiful as the earthly powers can make them.