Evening star., 1943-06-01

Confronted by rack after rack Of
fashions in miniature, it's small
wonder that a fashion reporter al
most forgets to look for influences"
in children's clothes. Completely
irresistible are the ruf1ed pinafores,
diminutive skirts and frothy blouses
which the small fry will wear this
summer. Gay in color, fattering in
detail and completely washable and
wearable, they will turn members
of the pigtail set into well-groomed
little fashion plates.
There are, however, some signif1-
cant trends in children's summer
clothes. For example, the peasant"
theme is very apparent, with gay
embroidery highlighting many of
the skirts and blouses. Skirts place
great emphasis on bright color in
cotton, rayon, chintz-almost all
fabrics. There are gay floral prints
and stripes, as well as a number of
solid toned skirts, that have huge,
decorated pockets. Play suits topped
by pinafores or by separate skirts
are as popular as ever, in all the
classic styles and a number of new
ones
In many cases, whole ensembles
of skirts, jackets, slacks, shorts and
pinafores are available and afford
a wonderful opportunity to co-ordi-
nate the wardrobe of one child or
dress several alike. Versatile fash
ions are just as important to the
kiddieS as they are to adults, with
the result that many bathing suits
double as play suits and vice versa
This, it seems timely to mention,
is also an important trend in
grown-up play togs.
In looking for special fashion sig
niflcances, the American Indian
theme crops up in summer clothes.
Straight out of the wild and wool
ly west" are shirts and shorts from
New Mexico. Of heavy material
which looks reasSuringly crush-re-
SlStant, these sports togs are deco
rated with large round buttons of
the pottery type made by Indians
and decorated with the familiar
tribal motifs. The Mexican flavor
is apparent in the bright colorS and
gay embroidered landings noted on
many small-fry fashions. Even the
Gibson Girl theme which has been
seen in adult styles this year cfeeps
over INTO the children's departments
with skirts and shirtwaists frilly
enough to carry out the turn of the
century" idea.
Little boys of today are likely
to be more modern" in their
clothes, favoring overalls and cot
ton gabardine shorts worn with
pullover sweaters. Leaving the
d fashions of another era to their sis
ters, these very young gentlemen
are being dressed for comfort,
rather than for picturesqueness
However, even small boys can have
a somewhat "costumed" look in uni
1orms which suggest those worn by
Army and Navy officers. The latter
miniature versions even have gold
braid on the sleeves and diminu-
'ANC oi4OltIOci UOdIUS. / lie ARMY
styles, complete with insignia" are
fascinating in small sizes, too.
Accessories have their place in the
fashion picture, of course. Flowers
and bows for the hair, peasant"
shaWls, dressy little calots and
brimmed bonnets are apparently
highly in favor with very Young
ladies as well as with more mature
ones. Another thing that women
OF all ages have in common this
year is the hearty acceptance of
cotton for every type of clothing
from swim suit to party dress
Mothers are particularly pleased
with the instability and good-Wear-
ing qualities of cotton fashions:
youngsters like their bright colors
and the crisp styles in which they
are shown.
Thanks to sensible parents and a
new WPB order that takes many of
the frills and furbelows off children s
fashions, tiny tots should be dressed
more becomingly and appropriately
from now on Burdening babies
with too many bows and yards of
lace and hard-to-keep-clean trim
mlngs is taboo for the duration.
In New York recently. DESIGNER