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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 10, Issue 8 (November 1, 1935)

Crisp Shopping

Crisp Shopping.

Have your tennis frock this year very tailored. Pleats provide fullness at front and back, at the side seams, or both. Sleeves are present and look tailored too; either very plain, severely pleated, or neatly made in one with the yoke. Buttons, in white, or in vivid contrast, provide a front closing, cluster in a pair at the throat, or hold pockets closed.

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Pockets, by the way, are usefully decorative. They are of all shapes and are attached at divers angles. They show themselves in pairs or in quartettes. Some sports frocks are smartly finished with rows of machine stitching on collar or revers, sleeves, pockets and belt.

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Materials are interesting. Some weaves featuring artificial silks are fascinating, but one must beware of those which are liable to be a problem in laundering. It is safer to buy a pure silk or a linen. Belts are of leather, macrame or self material. The latter, I think, look best. If you choose a white linen tennis frock, make a short loose coat to go with it. This linen coat will form a smart accompaniment to other summer frocks in any material or shade.

As the season develops, linens show their predominance even more. Furnishing linens make one long to redecorate. Among the dress linens are delightful flowered or spotted designs for frocks and the smartest of fabrics for suits—in natural or beige, or in these backgrounds lightly flecked or smartly checked. Two enchanting plain linens are in dull pink and a soft blue. The success of linens, of course, is due to the fact that most of them are now anti-crease. If a hat en suite is required buy enough material for it when you are ordering your costume. Buttons, square or oblong, will accent most of the new tweed suits.

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Cottons are crisp and delightful, whether for house, street, or evening wear. For a frilly summer dance frock what could be more charming than hailstone muslin with contrasting ribbons. More sophisticated is a frock of black net, splashed at throat and waist with vivid velvet. The skirts of summer frocks are fuller, fullness in some cases coming from the waist and not from the knees as heretofore.

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For daytime, too, skirts are fuller and freer. Fullness is supplied by gores, or by mid-front pleats and flares. Some frocks are shirred, or even smocked, at the waist-line. Bodices, too, are full. They may be softly gathered in a frill at the neck, decorated with shirring, gathered at waist and on to a plain yoke, or softly draped and kept in position by intriguing clips. I noticed one model with bodice gathered on to a latticed yoke. Latticed pockets were also featured.

Sleeves for afternoon frocks are very full—puffed, flared or shirred— and gathered in to fit below the elbow. Armholes may be plain or deepset.

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This is a flower season. Flower designs predominate in materials over the also-popular spots, checks and monotone designs. If the material of your frock is not flowered, you may wear a cluster of flowers at the throat, or two or three single blossoms applied flatly down one side of the bodice. Your hat may have flowers flattened on its crown, on its brim, or gently tilting the brim up at side, back or front.

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Shoes to wear with dressy frocks are still high-heeled, but low heels have the right of way with linens and cottons. Light cruising shoes are showing with an open mesh and bar and buckle fastening. Sandal bar shoes are popular. Noteworthy also are toeless shoes with an open sandal vamp.

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