AUSTRALIAN STYLES

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 256, 28 July 1942, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN STYLES

Austerity Clothing

SYDNEY, July 21

“Victory styles” for men’s, women's and children’s clothing tire announced by the Minister for War Organization of Industry, Mr. Dedman. The urgent need to conserve all material available for clothes and to economize in the manpower used to produce them is behind the new regulations. which come into force today. Mr. Dedman said that the new regulations meant that 113 men’s suits would be made from material that previously was sufficient for 100 suits. He added that he was assured by experts that the new fashions followed the latest fashion trends in England and the United States. Men's victory suits will consist of trousers and a single-breasted two-button coat. Waistcoats have been abolished. There will be no double-brepstcd jackets, and no buttons on sleeves. There will be no cuffs on trousers, the bottoms of which will lie limited to 19in. in width. Overcoats must bo single-breasted or box cut. Men’s socks will be limited to, plain stylos and to three shades. They will not be patterned. Women’s frocks are to be simplified, but within limits dressmakers will be allowed to follow individual styles. However. all fullness must be abolished, and no pleats, tucking, or shirring will be allowed. The leg-of-mutton sleeve will disappear. Buttons must be for use and not for decoration. There will be no more evening dresses, and belts can be only two inches wide. Coats must be simple, and no double-breasted garments will be allowed. Service-weight rayon stockings only will be manufactured in future, and these will be made with cotton heels, toes, and upper soles. Because of the shortage of elastic, no more women’s bloomers will ho made. There will also he no more riding breeches, ski suits, divided skirts, nr plnv suits. The victory fashions for children will follow closely those for adults. Underwear for both sexes w'ill not be greatly changed, but it must be perfectly simple.