A “Clean Sweep” Sale—and so it was. Passing now, I see no remnants of the heavy, dark, warm fabrics, the furs, and the clear glitter of the winter evening mode. All are swept away underground, or wherever out-of-season stock is kept.

The change seemed to begin with neckwear—young-looking bows and frills, fronts, bibs and tuckers frothed over the counters and found their way into shop windows, posed perkily against gay backgrounds of prints and voiles, seersuckers and piques, all manner of cotton fabrics. Having withdrawn one's eyes from the kaleidoscope of cottons, one could notice the silks, real and artificial, neat in small geometric or flower designs, or flamboyant with large floral sprays.

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But the cold wind still nips, and a window full of spring tweeds in real new season colourings assures us that cottons can wait. Tweeds in overchecks, tweeds with bright nubs flecking them, really large and glaring plaids—here is material for skirts, suits and straight swaggers.

Suits for spring are classic in mannish worsteds; or if you want something casual, more knock-about, choose a plain skirt and plaid coat, or viceversa. Have the coat, in swing-back style, a box jacket, or with a backyoke and pleats for fullness.

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Hats are intriguing, and many of them are ready to wear now before the weather improves, and woollies are discarded—and everyone knows the rejuvenating effect of a new hat.

Hats are small. I noticed particularly a glengarry in velvet and corded ribbon, a Breton sailor with a new and jaunty tilt, a pastel felt with a folded crown and the inevitable forward sweep of brim, numbers of small “bonnets” in wisps of straw or material filmed with veiling in various fashions, a few smothered in flowers; some with perky feather mounts. Coarse, shiny straws will be popular; but, of whatever material, be sure you have a toque.

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