GUIDE TO SPRING SHOPPING

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 6, 26 August 1927, Page 6

GUIDE TO SPRING SHOPPING

"It is a duty as well as a pleasure for a woman to get new clothes for. spring,’? said Miss Britten, in a tall ’ on Spring Vashions from 2YA last | week. "Of course, I do not reeom-. mend reckless expenditure-indeed, such wanton conduct is sure to bring just retribution. Every woman must cut her coat according to her cloth. "But don’t be downhearted if you can’t splash. Have you ever noticed how oiten the woman with the small dress allowance outshines her friends who are better off? It is greatly a matter of careful buying. My advice is, don’t be in a hurry. Make it your business to know what is fashionable. Don’t choose anything too startlingly "different" if you cannot afford a good varicty of clothes. Don’t slavishly follow any style which does not become you. Thank goodness, there is a sufficient choice of colours and variation of silhouette to enable every woman to look well. Distinctive Hats. *Milliners have evidently decided not to be outdone by dress designers this season, for if our frocks are now individualistic in style, our hats are every bit as distinctive. It is useless to lay down the law on the subject of the large and the small hat. Certainly this season the very large and the very stall are both ultra fashionable, but in between these two extremes there are many other styles. from which to choose. Since individuality in dress is now so important, individuality in millinery is equally necessary, and the woman who finds that neither a large nor a small hat snits ner had much better choose a style that does and stick to it. "The wide picture hat is certainly very popular this season, and in the newest models the brims droop down softly over the face, Brims are rather important. Sometimes, for instance, a hat will have a very wide brim in the front, but will be ent right away J

at the back; other brims are. folded at one side to give a fan effect; and some hats either have their . brims ‘Inuch wider at the sides than the . front, or else they have no brim, to "speak of at the back and front, but quite a wide one at the sides. The | very small hats, of course, are almost . brimless, but they até usually softened by feather mounts, which are placed over either ear and lie against thé cheek in most attractive fashion. _ "Crowns are nsually folded or pleated in some way, to lend them individuality. The high. crown of ‘last seas ° son.is no longer very popular; the new crowns are decidedly lower, and some of the latest picture hats have quite tiny crowns, which are in most effective contrast to the width of the brim. ’ "Even during the summer, hats are made of felt, although a special lightweight summer felt is used for warm weather wear. The finest . crin- . oline straw is used to make picture hats, and others are | carried out in Tuscan straw ‘or in| the new Visca straw, which is equally fine and pliable. Bangkok straw is always fashionable, and Bangkok hats are just as popular this season as ever they were. "Amongst the prettiest hats I have seen lately was a model of rose pink lace which had a-brim of rose pink tulle and the Jace of the crown down over the brim, and was cnt out above’ the tulle in points. Another hat of green lace was trimmed simply with a narrow band of velvet in exactly the same shade of green sewn round the crown. Black hats continue to he popular, and sometimes, for these, two materials are used. I saw one hat which had a_ folded crown of black satin and a plain brim of black straw, but this brim was softened by a coveritie of fine lace. Another hat, an English model, was made of_black tulle and lace, with two large La Tosca roses at side back. "There are smart tailored hats of felt and straw mixtures for wear with tailored suits. Viscas and lizard felts trimmed with gros grain are cood for general wear. ©The new picture hats are more elaboratelv’ trimmed. T have seen several models which have had very large, vividiv coloured organdi flowers placed right on the top of the crown in front, but this is an eccentric fashion and I hardly think it will be a popular one. ‘Many of the spring models are showing in Bolero effect, snd while I think of it I must pass on to vou ‘a new idea for turnine an afternoon frock into an evening frock and vice versa. The secret is a detachable bolero with lone sleeves. ‘The example I saw has a square neck and fastens at left with four buttons. This can be worn when an afternoon frock is required and dispensed with for evening wear. The sleeveless frock underneath has a long straisht bodice and skirt with inverted front pleats. The hin line is low and a narrow belt above it ties in a bow in front. Of course, such a sarment must he planned with discretion. Moire silk with -a satin back is good, as the holero and skirt can be made up with one face, while the bodice shows the réverse. ‘The use of a reversible fabric "saves ever so much ‘matchine’-for black frocks especially-and is always successful. "Outstanding features for this sea- son are the pleated and tiered skirt. Tiers are especially prominent in frocks -of chiffon and georeette, givine a wictnresaue effect, without exareveration. The hip leneth coat in single and dou-ble-breasted effect is going to be worn ‘a good deal with check tweed or self skirt to tone.: Spring coats have 'smatt straipht or helted lines. All ladies with slieht fieures will be glad to know that the iumper suit is still fashionalle, and the new styles are prettier than ever. "Two piece jumper suits in crene de chine are very pretty and will no doubt be much worn as the weather sets warmer. Sleeveless cardieans and coatees, in plain shades, or with the new horizontal stripes, are useful for sports. Laces and Trimmings, "Tizard skin designs are smart in fabrics, and, of course; reptile and calf skin effects are going to be popular for all accessuries such as shoes, bags, belts, trimmings, hat bands and vestees If you are lucky enongh to have lengths of lace put away-especially black, white or beige lace-now is the time to look it out and use ite The all-lace dress will be much worn, also a half and half scheme with chiffon or georgette is a very, marked note in the spring mode. Coat dresses of Jace will be worn over slips in contrasting shades-say blue over. pink banded with silver or gold. Lace and georgette ensembles featuring the long cloak are delightful for smart receptions, race wear and so on. The long-sleeved dinner gown is made attractive by sheer lace or half lace and half chiffon sleeves, , "Tucks are in great vogue, whether in small pin tucks, neck to hem panel formation, sunburst groups, or diagonal lines, "Pringe is a strong feature and is used by leading designers in spiral effect. Buckles are distinctly. chic, A metal buckle may be the sole trimming of a felt or straw hat. A pearl buckle may fasten one’s belt. Rhinestone buckles are used as shoulder ornaments on evening gowns and buckles apnear also on accessories, , "Bows are also smart and ate seen everywhere.