TIHE MICH1GAN DAILY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1942 Styles Dictate Mor.ale Raising Bright Colors Ruffles, Drapes Follow NewTrend In Femininity; Dressmaker Suits Replace Severe Tailoring. By SHIRLEY RASKEY The underlying rule for spring fashions is feminity, and don't for- get it! Forget about incorporating the military idea into your new out- fits-the men dislike it. When they come home on furlough, they don't want to see their lady-loves looking like faded replicas of the men they have been with for the past months. In keeping with this rule are ruf- fles which will be found on every type of dress this season. In fact, the stylists have gone so far as to put them on coats. One shirt-waist dress has a ruffle extending from one shoulder around to' the other. Spring coats have ruffles in place of collars. Another dress has a ruffle down the front and around the skirt. Colors For Morale It is said that bright colors are good for the morale, and milady is taking this statement to heart. Checks and stripes will lead the print parade. And, by stripes is meant big, wide ones. More and bigger prints will be seen in both daytime and eve- ning dresses. This season prints are synonymous with colors, and don't be surprised at the combinations for they shall not be ordinary. Side-draped, wrap-around frocks ire gaining popularity. These fea- ture slim skirts and bloused bodices. "Side-swiped" is the common, de- sexiptive term applied to this style. Princess gowns have maintained their status in the spring fashion picture. They are usually long-waisted with pleated skirts. Chemise Comes Back A "re-do" of the chemise frock is the belted tube dress. This is cut full, straight up and down, drawn in at the waist with a belt. Two- dresses-in-one are found in the new apron or overskirt gowns. Featured in cottons, this style may be found in date dresses. A checked or striped dress is covered with a plain apron or overskirt.' Remove this and you have another outfit. Slim skirts with bolero jackets complete the picture for spring daytime dresses. Dressmaker suits are taking the place of sport suits. This, too, is in keeping with the new law of femin- inity. Silk dresses with wool jackets are the rule in this line. Reefer coats, on the princess line, are often com- bined with these frocks to make two outfits out of one. Process Reversed The last year's custom of "short for evenings in, long for evenings out" has been reversed this season. Eve- ning dresses are growing definitely shorter. The new informal dinner length is midway between ankle and knee, with an emphasis on full skirts. The ballet length for dancing dresses, of Winter '41, has been shortened slightly. However the design is still reminiscent of the ballet costume you wore to dancing school. Dinner at home, on the other hand, requires a real evening dress. By real is meant feminine and long. Make it pretty, but not overdone, for this season women are dressing according to the tastes of men. Bright Housecoats Speak Of Spring I Qay Variations In Blouses Add Flare To Suits By BLOSSOM MINCHENBERG Blouses will be colorful and con- spicuous this spring to accent the ever-popular light or navy suits. The tailored short sleeve style and deep yoke neck add spring pep to solid color suits and a red and white stripe brim-up hat to match, completes a neat outfit. For the feminine styled suit, choose blouses with fluffy jabots. They're gay, attractive and perfect for Gau- cho neck styles. The jabot blouse is shown mostly in white and in off shades of blue to go with the popular navy. Try Stitched Neckline If your new suit isn't V-necked, a high round stitched neckline is a perfect choice. Stitchings extend down the center of the blouse in a wide margin. Lace and tucks are featured on an additional style for this type of outfit. Peter Pan collars outlined in lace and hand stitching, forming a V design in front add a bit of femininity. For campus wear, long sleeved ray- on silks head the list. Wide and bold colorful stripes in the simple tailored style guarantee attention. They are especially popular with flannel slacks for spring picnics. Dot- ted white stripes, with long narrow collar and adjustable cuffs, is choice number two. Add Pique Bow Remember the narrow striped chambray with white collar and cuff' that was found in every coed's ward- robe last year? This spring some- thing new has been added; a white pique bow over a Peter Pan collar. Jewelled studs and cuff links are featured on rayon crepe blouses. Because new blouses add to the usefulness of a suit and give it new moods, choose them for strictly tail- ored wear or adding dressy touches. Now to the ever popular white class- ic. These are chosen for tailored tweeds and bright wools. The shawl collar is broad and extends low. Tucks and lines are found in just the right places. The square shoul- der line and short sleeve make it "suitable." The low V-necked Gaucho collar remains popular this spring. Long wide sleeves and the one button feature are right with it. It's also super for lounging in the dorm and for topping slacks. Alligator SkinI Heads Parade Of Handbags Purses and bags a. e bigger than -ever this season. Maybe it's a good thing though, because there's lots of room for busy women to carry their Red Cross First Aid booklets and bandages. Saddle leather, and alligators are probably the most popular of the purse materials for spring. Kelly green seems to be a favorite in ac- cessories, as many different styles are fashioned in that color. The sad- die leather bags have a color scale of their very own. They come in every possible degree of brown from light beige to deep luggage tan. These bags look stunning with shoes of the same shade, and they're sur- prisingly easy to match. Many of the models are completed with sad- dle-stitching. Alligators Top List The alligators are number one on the "hit parade" of bags without a doubt. Every shop shelf is full of these beautiful, but more than dur- able pocketbooks. They come in ev- ery imaginable color. They are bright reds, wines, shades of brown and green. With the new red shoes daring- ly coming into the fashion parade, red bags are seen on the racks again this year. They come in alligator and smooth, soft leathers. One smart looking bag has a half-moon lucite handle. Black patent leather, the eternal spring bag, is seen with vari- ations. Some are lined with Kelly green and others with bright red. Snakeskin Also Popular Navy purses are a necessity of any spring season, but this year they are playing second-fiddle tosomany unusual bags. Snakeskin, used with matching shoes, is a highlight of the selection. Much of the gray snake- skin is seen decorating the more med- ium-priced black felt bags. Like the alligators, the snakeskins are really exquisite in red, green and even navy. Large as the spring bags are, they are lovely looking, particularly in the envelope styles. Gathers are very prevalent, and. gold and plastic are most popular for handles and other trimming. Knitting Kept NeatlyI With fashion remaining in every woman's heart in spite of the war, knitting bags are becoming more and more streamlined. The latest is known as a "capsule," a convenient ai iangement made of rayon faille. You can cram your yarn in this red. white and blue kit, sling it over your arm, and face the public gaze anywhere. Why not try scenting your new little flowver hat with matching col- ogne this spring? The effect is de- lightful and unusual, if you don't mind having butterflies gather about you as well as men. It's a charming new way to wear your favorite per- fume. and your rating as a clever and ingenious individual will go way up. You will vie with the first spring blossoms for fragrance and attrac- tiveness. As slzetched. ) AM \ S * ~' Spring housecoats are mostly of have been shortened to street length. light, slimming materials in splashy These are usually styled with full prints with large spring flowers, skirts and short sleeves. To finish They'll be washable, too, as popular out the cool, spring evenings terry demand. has dictated. Cool seersuck- er will play an important role in this cloth would be practical, or for warm part of your wardrobe as it's so easy summer evenings perhaps silk or satin to keep looking fresh and neat. would serve your purpose. Zipper fronts or wrap-arounds are Stripes Found still in vogue, but here's a new note Since stripes are new for spring -short, dress-length models with long bodice and full skirt that these may also be found in house- you can use on the beach when sum- coats. One style features grey and mer comes. . white stripes with a wide, full panel Short sleeves also take their place of rose down the front. This panel is as the days grow warmer, but long nipped in at the waist with two strip- or three-quarter length sleeves are ed ties. Short sleeves, and V-neck- still popular, especially if they are line complete the design. loose and full. The style pictured copbines so- Pockets Useful / phistication with comfort. Black with Large patch pockets are no more large white. flowers, it satisfies the useful anywhere than on your house- sophistication requirement. The full coat where they're so handy for hold- skirt and short sleeves answer the ing all the miscellaneous things you comfort problem. Small waist, pick up during a morning, and if you gathered bodice, and puffed sleeves want to add a personal touch, have flatter milady's petite figure. a large monogram on the lapel or Remember, women of - Michigan, collar in a contrasting color, comfort is a prerequisiteq for study, Following the present wartime rule and nothing is so comfortable as a of fewer clothes many housecoats well-fitted housecoat. TISH-,U-,TEX CASUAL t qtfloat And Jow, a versatile casual of lovely Tists-U-Trx -fine "double-life" felt that is chic, yet not too dressed-up! You'll like the new note of contrast- ing edge-stitching on crown . . . the smartly de- signed band! Black, Brown, Navy, newest colors. JCOk Green will be appropriate for pieces of your wardrobe this spring as al- ways. Rich greens, pastel greens, dark greens, all look fresh and cool as the budding trees and the new grass. And green suede purses and shoes are such rich looking acces- sories'. . ; . Spring ait JilCOB S 0 N' S .....~. 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