NEUTRAL COLOURS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17916, 11 January 1930, Page 13 (Supplement)

NEUTRAL COLOURS.

FOR THE WELL-DRESSED WOMAN. 'Colours are admittedly more insistent in the summer fashions than they have been for several seasons. But neutral shades, black and! black and white, remain importarit, and lor some people the wisest choice of all. Women who contrive to be always well dressed on a moderate expenditure nearly ahvays base their wardrobes on one or two of these alternatives. j ' ... They may* and very possibly will, have an occasional day or afternoon or evening gown in some lovely colour, vivid or restrained, as suits them •best; but most of the colours they indulge in will toe limited to hats, scarves, bags, and similar accessories. It is going to be rather difficult to follow this rule this year, because the colours of the moment are unusually alluring in the new fabrics: but it is a rule worth remembering. The woman with an unlimited bank balance and plenty of spare time does not need to remember it so often, unless she finds that black or neutral shade really becomes her better than anything else. Other people, with neither time l'or the careful matching which the indulgence in colour demands, nor the wherewithal to pay for a multitude of accessories, find that it saves them endless wear and tear and improves the general effect of their appearance. A Few Suggestions. If you still love beige better than •the other neutrals, you can combine it with the nasturtium tones which are being stressed so strongly this year; and also with red, with some of the cleaner greens, and some ol the stronger blues. , If you prefer grey, you can add' ycnlow to the list, and will have a wider choice among the greens. Black gives you unlimited scope .n the choice of its companions. 'lt is particularly good with yellow, and with the less rusty reds. A wardrobe in fact which would see its owner through the majority ol rural and urban occasions might be happily based on grey for country wear and for morning wear in town, and black for afternoons and more formal occasions. A cardigan suit and top coat in one of the light-weight tweeds in grey could have a jersey of silk or fine wool in yellow, or yellow and black, a grey or yellow hat, and a scarf which matches the jumper. ™ere are certain shades of hair to which yellow is not kind, but the owners of these can use red, deep rose, or a combination of a light and deep blue and a thin line of red as aUeinatrves. An extra dress of w’ool or stockin ette, in red, yellow, or blue, would be useful both for country or town and the cardigan suit will change its. je sey for a silk or satin jumper in town, and its scarf for a fur stole. One good black frock is woith three coloured 1 ones to the woman who can wear black well; especial if her dress allowance is not too elastic.

If— If black is 'kind to her at all it is very likely kinder than almost an} m!n ß else, I for daylime occas.onsj add neither she nor anyone else »11 ■ w of the froclc so easily as if it weie in -colour. The IF, however, is a la ßlack n insists on being associated loTouA'Ne .kin does bot matter -so much, because black is ju as effective on the- brunette with a pale olive complexion as on the blot d with peaches and cream; t s as kindly disposed towards silver r towards hair that is in gold J ‘ in chestnut or black But black ha Black satin is always happy wjjh bei rr e This year it is being used the paler shades of brown and with srrege as well, and. this compromise between grey andi beige lo°ks ver} well on many women who are not too ■successful with a definite gre> 01 definite beige. nftpn used The pale silk or satin is often usea to make a rolling collar on a black dress; it occasionally merges into a kind of waistcoat front, and is sometimes used for the upper part of the SlU Lame gold or silver is also helpful in making a black dress lo less black; this again will appear as a .collar, perhaps also as a yoke; an chic women who can stand extreme severity and magpie effects may weai dead white collars and cuffs in satin, crepe de chine, velvet, ermine, 01 two -thicknesses of organdy muslin.