IMPORTANCE OF COLOUR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 869, 13 January 1930, Page 5

IMPORTANCE OF COLOUR

ACCESSORIES MUST HARMONISE WITH ENTIRE COSTUME Colour in fashion has never been so important as it is today. The chic woman :s known by the way her accessories carry out the colour scheme she has chosen. Tilings go in sets. You buy your shoes and your bag exactly to match; the smartest shops sell you a set of bag and shoes, or sets of belt, bag, scarf and hat to match. This, incidentally, is not only a multiplication of chic, but a very definite saving of time and trouble, for who does not know the agonising difficulties created by the possession of a beautiful accessory in a colour that cannot apparently be matched in the whole wide world? But accessories must not only match or harmonise with one another; they must be carefully chosen to create and maintain the colour balance of one’s entire costume. You ask yourself. “What colours are the chosen of this season?” and you answer, brown, beige, certain reds, bright navy blue, grey for many women, and always black. So far, so good, but that is not enough. There are still the accessories. You must not think of a colour without thinking of the whole plan for accessories. Suppose that you choose brown as the basis of your wardrobe, you have to think of the bag you will carry, the gloves, the scarf, the belt, the ornament, the hat, the shoes and stockings, even of the handkerchief. Brown i hen —what more? Perhaps this—brown coat, brown or beige dress, beige or orange hat, beige and orange scarf, beige bag, shoes, stockings, cloves. Orange doesn’t suit you and you have a black coat you may want to wear. , Then this—brown coat, brown dress (beige with a black coat), black hat. black fur, black bag and shoes, beige stockings and gloves. Now, suppose that bright navy is the bas s of your autumn daytime wardrobe, what then? This for a honey-beige minor scheme —your blue coat anti dress and hat and bag and shoes; honey-beige for the fur collartie, the gloves and the stockings. . . . You don’t thing beige is so good for you as grey? Then here is a scheme for grey a little relieved by white; your bright navy blue for coat and skirt and hat; the grey for gloves, bag and shoes; grey and white striped for sweater, scarf and hat ribbons.

Black, of course, goes with bright navy blue, and black in itself will form the basis of a whole outfit. Suppose it does, then what shall the accessories be? Yellow-beige, for hose who can wear it. in the form of a blouse with the black coat and skirt, of a hat. a fur, of stockings, gloves and bag frame. There are very few who cannot wear yellow-beige, but some who are over-sunburnt find it trying. For these there will be pale beige and red accessories, blended with sweater, scarf and hatband, the bag kept black, the shoes, stockings and gloves beige.

There are lovely reds to wear this season, gallant reds, definite reds, some with blue, some with yellow in their composition, and for wear with any of these shades of red you will rightly choose black accessories. There are the greys that are so pleasant and yet so difficult. The new metallic blue-grey can lie ageing and can look sad, and it should be faced for the first time on a woman's worst day, so that Us worst, too, may be known. The softer, blended, less decided greys are happier, and with them go the lovely off-blacks or bla’ck itself.

But remember with grey that gloves and stockings must be kept in beige. Colours today, like everything else connected with the mode, have come under the prevailing rule of distinction and sophistication. No mere prettiness of tint, in these modern days, can stand the acid test of chic. And the same colour can he smart or dowdy, subtle or obvious, dull or charming, according to its context. Almost'everything depends on how it is used. A last warning. Sentiment for old bags or belts or ornaments cannot enter into the composition of the smart woman’s wardrobe. The success of a flower in last season's buttonhole is the very reason for discarding it and not for carrying it into this seasons’ new wardrobe. The bag that was such a success with the summer clothes wants this autumn not more success, but a successor.