The Suit For Many Occasions

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 297, 7 March 1928, Page 5

The Suit For Many Occasions

“I know you’ll think I’m crazy,” said Marcia, “but I want you to do something for me. Something impossible.” “Any little thing like that, darling—of course.” “Well, I can absolutely only run to one new frock—a day one, 1 mean. Evening ones have just about ruined me, with these awful uneven hemlines making all last year’s look wrong. And this one-day frock has got to be exactly right for morning shopping and to go out to lunch in, and perfect for tea or a matinee, and the very thing for a restaurant dinner or a small dance club or a theatre when you needn’t dress. I know it’s impossible, but will you try?” I tried, and herewith is the result. Marcia is black-haired, slim and with a fair skin, so black suits her. As velvet is so becoming and is destined to be such a rage this year, we chose black velvet—but not a frock, which

A Harmony in Black and Beige

could hardly be exactly right for such different occasions. A cardigan suit, with a perfectly plain little hip-length coat and a wrap-over skirt, bordered with a velvet band stitched in heavy black silk. With this there are two jumpers, and the whole character of the suit changes according to which is worn. In the morning or for lunch, Marcia will wear the beige washing-satin jumper, either fastened to the throat or with the collar unfastened, forming a V-neck, and beige stockings exactly matching it. (If she had been a ‘‘blonde,” I should have advised a silver-grey jumper and stockings.) For tea or dinner or informal evening wear, there is a gold lame jumper, which material, besides being very chic this season, gives a cheery sort of note of luxury and . festivity. It is striped and tied at the neck with black ribbon. (Marcia chose both her jumpers without sleeves, as she said it

gave more variety when she felt like taking off the velvet coat, but long, tight sleeves would be equally becoming.) With the ribbon bow, a shoulderflower would be superfluous on this jumper, but a black velvet one is pinned on the coat when the satin jumper is worn. With either variation, the shoes should be either of black antelope or patent leather, the hat black, and the handbag of antelope or black velvet. Don’t forget that the buttons on the little coat must be kept black. It was rather a temptation to have them in black-and-gold, but it would not have looked quite right with the morning jumper. Of course, this outfit is not meant for the street at this time of year; it would be much too warm. But if you liked to carry it out in a good satin, instead of velvet, and did not give it very hard wear, you would find that it would be quite possible to go on wearing it with a fur when the weather grows cooler again. What ornaments with this costume? Oh, that’s easy. Pearls or crystals or gold beads or chains. But no coloured jewellery, whatever you do. It is meant to be a harmony in black and beige, or black and gold, and any touch of colour -would just be the end of it altogether.