Imperial Valley press., 1942-01-16
MaryHampton Delights Club
With Talk on New Fashions

Smart as the fashions she de-
scribed, and just as fascinating,
Mary Hampton, fashion columnist
from San Francisco delighted the
Ten Thousand club Thursday both
with her lively, entertaining ac-
count of spring style highlights and
with her charming personality.
Gay, vivid, witty. her talk was as
entertaining as it was authentic
for Mrs. Hampton had just come
from Los Angeles where she had
had a previeW of the manufactures
and designers spring offerings.
The effect of the war Oh spring
clothes has brought into play two
types of clothing she said. with
functional clothes for daytime wear
and as a relief from uniforms,
froufrou with emphasis Lu femin-
Unity for evening.
A second happy result of the war
Mrs. Hampton pointed out, is that
with the inevitable shortages in
materials, there is for once no de-
finite style trend, but rather, sey-
eral trends. American women. for
the first time. instead of Slavishly
selecting what they" are wearing,
regardless Of whether or not it is
becoming, may choose clothes which
really do something for them.
NEW TRENDS
Certain definite style trends may
be seen, however, including the
sloping shoulder line, small waist,
narrow tight sKlrJ which due TO
shortages of material is certain to
appear by fall, and which this sea-
son is vying with the gathered
skirt, gathered skirt with its
fullneSs so arranged as TO be flat
tering for the hip line.
Color, said the speaker will pre-
dominate as never before, with big
splashy prints in vogue. Shorter
evening dresses. from the ballerlna
to the street length type, were fore
cast, with gay, colOrful be-jeWel-
ed or nailStudded shoes, and color
ed stockings due to occupy a prom
inent place. For this season, manu-
facturerS have in stock nylon ma
terials, but the time is coming, If
the war continues, When sheer COT
ton stockings will be worn.
A shortage of 100 per cent wool
ems is inevitable but as long as
the good neighbor policy with South
America continues women are apt
to have leather shoes and bags,
but bags will be decidedly different
with plastics and woods used in
place of metals since defense in
dustries need metals.
Other high style features of the
spring season are: much handWork,
peasant designs, synthetic fab
RIGS, boxy jackets, suits with bloused
backs.
DEFENSE CLOTHES
Many of these new trends stem
from the need said Mrs. Hampton.
for clothes suitable to the needs
of defense workers, and of war
time America in general, both from
the utilitarian standpoint and from
the standpoint that certain mater
ials will be needed for the war.
In conclusion Mrs. Hampton de-
Scribed several of the new uniforms
being manufactured for women III
defense industries, which she said
are SO attractive that women
throughout the nation will adopt
them in all probability Pretty
clothes help women's morale, she
declares and cited the experience
of Great Britain in learning that
production increased when the
women workers were allowed their
lipsticks and reasonably attractive
working clothes, and fell when
makeup was prohibited and the
workers clad In strictly utilitarian,
ugly garments.
So interested were the women
that Mrs, Hampton was kept busy