Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982), Saturday 17 October 1942, page 7


BE CHIC. . but coupon canny

HERE IS an engaging little frock designed for your rustic moments. The childish pinafore is made from an old evening gown of red silk linen highlighted with colorful cotton braid, and is worn with a crisp

white blouse and a youthful white straw hat.

. Even though you're living on a shoe-string, you can renovate your old togs and greet spring looking as pretty as a picture.

By PEG McCARTNEY

GONE are the days when we used to steer

clear of clothes because

they were practical.

To-day the dread has

been taken from the word "sensible," and utility togs are pretty sure of instant ap-proval.

Old fashion flies show us that the popular styles of the last war were incredibly dull and drab. A rather shapeless navy-blue suit with a black hat was the all-purpose outfit of those days.

How different to-day when every woman is demanding bright colors to counteract the sameness of the style that is threatening our present fashions.

Though practically everything we wear is pretty strictly rationed there are no restrictions on color, and this spring promises to be a season of cheerful and vivid new shades.

The British Color Council feels that morale is definitely helped by seeing women in civilian occupa-tions and those on leave from the Forces in styles and colors as far removed from the khaki and blues of the services as possible.

"Romantic London" is the theme of the new colorings which include Thames-blue, a little deeper than royal-blue, with a touch of grey in it; Mayfair-lilac, a mauvy petunia; and Abbey-wine, a spectacular crimson that is particularly effec-tive for accessories.

The colors are not only attractive and becoming-they are planned for practical use. There are scarcely any pastel shades as they get dirty so quickly, and there are no drab tones like grey or fawn, as they, too, nearly resemble uniforms.

Important accents

"FROCKS and suits should be

vivid, accessories rather neutral and very plain," say the experts. "Try-a Lombard-gold (it used to be called pumpkin-yellow) frock with Thames-blue hat, belt, and hand-bag."

Another ingenious way to look like careless millions and not spend a single coupon is to experiment with some fetching home-made trimmings. Collars and cuffs cost coupons, but not if you make them yourself with lace, and garnish your hat with a lace frill to match.

As yet ribbon has not been rationed, so it is much in demand for home-made trims. Plain skirts are given a touch of gaiety and chic by the addition of large scroll de-signs in half-inch frilled ribbon. Necklines are brightened by sprays and circlets of ribbon flowers, in the intricate ribbon work that used to be so fashionable for cushions. Pockets are edged with ribbon and so are the cuffless long sleeves which the regulations demand.

GIVE new life to a dull white flannel skirt by adding vivid green jersey insets and a surplice blouse in green jersey striped in white.

A length of fine, crisp, brightlycolored veiling has endless possi-bilities. The new rather small straw "boaters" are trimmed entirely with veiling, though none of it falls over the face. It is swathed round the crown and tied in a fly-away bow at the back or set snood-wise over the back hair and brought up through two slots in the hat, between crown and brim, and tied in a flat rosette bow in the centre front.

Now that collars are couponed, a large square of veiling doubled corner to corner and tied with a reef knot in front makes an effective unrationed substitute. With plain round necks, a twist of veiling round the throat and a large bow under one ear give an elegant and soften-ing finish to the ensemble.

Sashes of veiling are popular for semi-evening frocks. They are tied in large flat bows or knotted with long ends hanging to the bottom of the skirt. They are usually matched up with a twist of veiling

round the hair.

A veiling rosette or pompon is used effectively instead of a flower spray to brighten the lapel of a tailored suit. Sometimes for this the veiling is either sequined or

beaded.

TAKE ONE black straw sailor (doesn't matter if it's years old), garnish with a couple of

frothy ruffles made from the skirt of an

organdie evening gawn, and, presto, you have a summer model that is worth its weight in

flattery to any woman. The ruffles overlap the brim of the hat to provide welcome shade on sunny days.