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By Jessie Tait,
FASHION HIGHLIGHTS for SPRING !
SLEEVES
...and
THINGS
FOR the daytime there is a
distinctly new silhouette.
Wider sleeves, shorter skirts,
wider skirts and broader belts. Shorter
skirts means an inch or two shorter
than we've been used to. Wider skirts
means full-flaring skirts. These are
shirred or gathered at the waistline and
bell out towards the hem.
There are skirts pleated all the way
round, knife-pleated, accordion or box
pleated. There are gored skirts and
bell-shaped skirts. Sometimes the shir-
ring is just across the front, leaving the
back and sides straight. Schiaparelli
pulls her skirts up in front.
Above these short full skirts there are
wide belts, of leather, ribbon, velvet,
or stitched fabric. These are worn very
tight. So don't try them unless you
have a slim waist.
Sleeves are perhaps the most im-
portant part of the new spring fashions,
except on tailored or sports clothes, when
they are invariably big.
Puff sleeves, very full, come into tight
cuffs, either, just above or just below
the elbow. Draped sleeves, instead of
being sewn into the armholes, are draped
and tucked into the neck of the dress.
Very full sleeves are shirred into the
armhole, and again into a tight band
at the wrist. Leg-o-mutton sleeves are
again full at the shoulders and tight
from the elbow down. Short sleeves are
shirred from the armhole, for three or
four inches, then flare out. Some sleeves
are so big that they form almost the
entire bodice of the dress. Other sleeves
loop, coil, drape or hang from the arm
in strange, intricate ways.
Bodices and Necklines
WITH full sleeves bodices are either
plain or shirred. With simple
sleeves—and there are still some about—
bodices are draped and full. Necklines
are either high or low. There are lots
of white touches at the necklines.
Flowers are worn under the chin, bodices
gathered on drawstrings, or smocked
and pleated.
Shirring is everywhere. At the waist
of day and evening gowns, across shoul-
ders, around necks, and at wrists. Whole
sleeves are shirred, as are yokes on both
day and evening frocks. Full peasant
bodices are shirred into a high round
neckline. A band of shirring is any-
thing from two to eight inches wide
from the waist down. Sleeves are
shirred into armholes, and waists
shirred.
Practically every dress has its own
jacket or cape, a short suit-like jacket
or a loose flaring one. The new length
for these is between hip and three
quarter length. Capes are any length
at all. Print jackets and capes are
worn over plain crepe frocks, and vice
versa. One-color jacket with a con-
trasting dress; dress and jacket in one
color.
Your topcoat will be of sheer wool or
heavy crepe, in black, beige, or a color.
They fit at the waist, flare slightly at
the hem, have full sleeves, shirred
sleeves and yokes. They are worn over
print dresses, and are lined with the
print. They seldom match the dress
beneath.
Suits
THE ever-popular tailored suit will be
hard to beat this spring. These alone
have remained almost unchanged.
Waists are nipped in, lapels are wide,
skirts are short and straight. You will
wear flowers in your buttonhole. Pastel
woollens, thin pale tweeds, heavy silk
and tweed linens, rough, firm cottons
are the materials used. You will prob-
ably wear a frilly blouse or jabot, a
dark blouse, or a bright, contrasting
one.
Colors
FOR daytime there is pink, in every
conceivable shade, worn alone or
with navy-blue, black, grey, or dark
green. Pink frocks, hats, gloves, and
bags, and even pink kid shoes are worn!
Black, navy-blue, a new dark blue (called
carbon), grey, oatmeal-beige, bright
none Help
green, also all the pastels, and bold
vivid prints.
For evening: All white, mauve and
orchid, pink, pale grey, all sweet-pea
shades, amber, violet, and, again, prints.
Materials
FOR day frocks, smooth crepes, sheer
wools, prints in large floral designs
showing lots of background, tweed and
silk linens, also crepes with shirred and
ribbed surfaces. For evening, filmy
chiffon is first favorite, then lace
especially pink; taffeta, plain, shot,
crinkled and checked; floral prints,
hand-painted silks, heavy satins, crepey
crepes.
New evening frocks are made of
chiffon and have very full skirts, long,
full sleeves, and wide belts or sashes.
Shirring is featured at the waist, arm-
holes and wrist. There are tulle and net
frocks, with full skirts and off-the-
shoulder necklines; taffeta picture
frocks, lace frocks, draped frocks, folds
and loops around the body in Grecian
style, Arabian, Hindu and Persian
drapery. There are still a few straight
tight frocks, but as a general rule your
dress will be very full at the hem, and
trainless. Decolletes are very low.
Flowers
ARTIFICIAL flowers are worn on
everything—suits, day frocks, even-
ing clothes and hats. They are used
in big bunches, cut out of print and
tacked on a plain material, or in gar-
lands, posies, necklets.
Hats with flowers, hats with veils,
little sailors with upturned brims,
sailors with straight, stiff brims, off-
the-face hats, large, straight brims, and
little toques that have their trimming
well towards the front. Flowers are
perched centre-front. Most hats tip
well over one eye, and crowns are shal-
lower than they've ever been. There
are berets that are long in front, and
close-fitting at the sides and back. Thin
felts in pastel tones are good for
spring. Straws can be rough and shiny
or fine and smooth. Pique is used a
great deal.
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