for Women

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 168, 18 July 1942, Page 3

for Women

HONEST STRATAGEMS

SAVING COUPONS

remodelling the mode

'By CORISANDE)

LONDON, May 30. ration vf clothing coupon lation might have been made an B ri j mblin g. but women fern fa Jth g USed t0 facing fresh P rob " rpriVt.fn J ? yt ar g° es on > so that cut, Rn an 1 . J . cou P° ns from 66 to 60 Jmd the decision that the new allowance must be made to last for call™ W3S acce P ted Philosophi-

nn l rtift ner i ally agreed that it's im- " keep up a good appearance in wartime; somehow it's got to be combined with the economy that 1 Pledged to practise. w?r has changed our outlook on clothes. To-day the woman who can anord to buy the few expensive clothes to be had is less envied than tnose whose appearance depends on tneir ingenuity and resourcefulness. Xne one is merely a matter for coupons and cash, the other involves the exercise of intelligence and taste in solving a not too easy problem. All over the country dress cupboards have been overhauled as a preliminary to making new clothes from old. We've been making all sorts of discoveries, finding treasure trove in the shape of old favourites that were judged to be of no further use. discovering that year before last's models are not really very 'far removed from present-day "styles. Simplicity is the paramount feature in wartime fashions. Elaborate prewar evening and other frocks are being conscripted for wartime services.

Exclusive dressmakers are cooperating in this dress transformation business. Mannequins parade in new models less for the benefit of the few with money to spend on new clothes than for the patriotic who bring dresses of last season and the season before to be renovated, remodelled and brought up to date.

Apart from the "exclusive"' establishments, almost every store has now a renovation department staffed with experts ready to solve any dress problem with which they are confronted at prices from a modest two or three guineas.

There is no end to the devices for extracting every ounce of service from old clothes. Latest discovery is one that takes the shine out of "a suit with good service to its credit.

If and when new clothes must be bought the average woman will find that utility models are far from being the drab garments the title suggests. More and more of these are being shown in the stores. For suits one can choose between checked and diagonal tweeds or plain friezes. Skirts are roomy so that the shape will be good for prolonged wear, jackets are the new long length.

Sixty or more types of cloth have been specified for the utility scheme, so there's a pretty wide choice.

Utility dresses are made in a number of woollen materials. Many have embroidered yokes; short sleeves are featured and novel tucked effects. Summer models in linen or near linen are decorated with hand-drawn thread work.