FASHION FLASHES

Chronicle (Levin), 24 August 1946, Page 7

FASHION FLASHES

— — .. . . — ■ "C30 AND SEW" (Contributed bj- the Sarah Anne Rhodes Fellowship in Home Science.) Round and round the wheei of fashion goes, never stopping, everyone knows Gay crisp cQttons, summer wardrobe jewels, are making their sdebut and the ever-whirling fashion cyclo is flashing hints of new designs. These fashion. flashos eome none "too soon for the faj-sighted wur.drobe planner. Early forecasts are her starting signal. With fabric and scissors, needle and thread, she wisely blends the liues yhe wears best with those fashion decrees best. Shrewdly she utilises leisure hours for building her' summer and holiday wardrobe. An examination of new fashions dis- - closes, as in history, that there 's uothing really new. lluther, it's the lhanner, the how and where of seams and gathers, pleats and drapes, which makes fashion news. fcUecve lines will star in the season 's fashion parade. A fow months have see'a their transiti.on from long sheaths or triin, short sleeves to the preseul opulence. The new sleeves sport ' an abundance of material. Eor party wear we shall see old-fashioned looking double pulfs and long, full sleeves gathered into a dainty band or hared abovc a buttoncd cuiT. For the first time iu many years the clbow-length sleeve will ! appear very often, both in dresses and suits. lieininiscent oi' the long-popularj ; I>ushed-up eifec.t, they will drape over . elastic bands or taper into iniportant ' looking culfs. , Neclcline news will have a quickjsilver character. Maity nqck cJQsings • will be high under the ehiu with an old world- air, Others will be Jinished with bands, rounded yokes or small demure collars. Summer'^ higN stylc neckline, the.flattexingly. seoypcd-.away curve wilj be widely accepted for bqth formal and ijrfo'ruial- party 'frocks One of tlie most versutiJe uecldincs will have a low squafed-uwuy or scooped-out. front. J.t c.an be dressed up or down by means of j a round-collared dickier a sof-t scarfr with jowelled pin or a daintily tucked i vestce with cm broidered neckruff. ; Though delinitely of a sophisticatcd nature, fashion 's trend towards during- 1 ly low, w'ide neeklines persists. Figure-hugging waistlincs, Avhetherj I bclted, wrappcd or simply iitted, willi ■ continue in tashion 's silhouette. Coats, j skirts, dresses ahd jumpers will all; feature the smallest .jiossible waistsj above ever-widening skirts. Bressed and unpressed pleats, gathers, flarcs, peplums and huge pockets will help to minimise the waist- and give a generously .curv'ed waistline. Length as well as iiuo will spell news! in skirts. Already noticeably longerj than in war years, skirts will be lengthened even more during tho next i'ewj. months. Soon they should reach thei centre of the calf. Wise home sewersJwill guard agaihst bop, eless.lv out-datedt garments bv making larger than normal ! I hom allowaaces. i I Movement and swing will distiijguishj I young skirt" fashions -aud smart dress-l makors will allow them as much full-i ness as possible.. Those who prefer to avoid i'ullnoss between waist and hip I will like the newly .pop.Ular yoke-topped skirts with pressed or unpressed pleats. Bopular, too, iylevthe, attractive tio or snap-on peplums ' made of tlie shrne orj contrasting materiU'l". T'This fashion is aj true i'riend of tho budget-conseious' planuer, as the peplum can. be utilised ' iu giving.the narrow,. skirt of last sea-^ son's dress an up-to-date air. 1 ; Dress lines will repeat -the fashion j story in kaleido'scopiq manner, oh'erhigi cndlcss possibilities i'or amart-looking garments Which may include oue, two; or many of the newest trends. While' advance styles liint at lowcred waist- ! lines, more tangible forecasts indicate! the probable use of ricli bfaids and con-.| trust collhrs and trimmings on bothj 1 dresses and suits. I'liough we have voted every season a suit season, these basic wardrobe pieced will be even more popular as thei season advances. While tlie jaeketa of the more drossyj suits, like their skirt partners. arel growing longer, tlie classic 'teen-age: jackets, cardigan or notched collari styles will not be groatly a/fected. ' Olose runner-up to the classic suit in; popularity are the battle jucket outfits. i fhis season they may blouse above thoi all a round pleated skirt, or gored skirt' with their long sleeves gathered ou toi a buttoncd band. BJazer-styied jacketsj closely belted and buttoned, in pl;til;f and plain colours will also be favour-1 ites. I'he sliort, snug busque jacket.l worn over u wide gathered skirt, a high } style last year, will agaiu be in vogue. | 'Teen agers and young women alikej will top oi! with boxy jacket coats in loud colours. These short. perr coats 'have many uses as they can be worn over tailored or dressv suits, skirts and i

sweaters, dresses, and mav even solve Ihe young girl 's eveniug-wrap probleiu. 1 Full gathered skirts, uniess. of formal length, are to be avoided with these jackets. but straight hanging all-round pleated skirts or skirts with fullness tu! the front do them justice. Also popu-i lar will be the longer coat, tightly belted at the waist and wrist, and thei full swirling three-quarter-length coat' with large pompous-looking sleeves. 1 With moftf and' more muteriaJs • (ind- ; ing their xvav to t.he eounters, cho'n-o of ) | material this season should be Jess of a problem than* in tilie past. lMaid, ! check and slfiped muteriaJs are ]>redicted- as well as'sof i shudes of 'blue, green,'. turquoise, rose, turf, beigc, honey and ! brlght clear red. i ; Since the fasliion wheel is ever whirling, there will, of course, be many additions to these fashion Ha she k. But they represent the earliestl summer lights. They give Tlie' green signal to "go and sew. " ' "