Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-01-02
The Better Half

Right now's about the time we
all feel like stealing a long march
on the robins, crocuses ct al.
And I don't know a better way
to do it than via new blouse.
Certainly pretty top to a skirt
is the quickest (and most pain
less for your budget way to
beckon spring to your wardrobe.
Lots of smart gals take their
spring suits out of the closet
right now anu start wearing
them with their coats slung. cas-
ually over their shoulders. Some.
how last years spring suit seems
new in January. To brighten
up your little suit, there are won
derful striped rayons in deli
cious candy stick colors. There
are also tricolor Mexican stripes
that are very new and spirit
lifting. Then there are the
usual navy-and- white and brown
and-white variety that look new
est this year in a blouse called
Quaker Girl" This is a long
sleeved affair with a deep "
shaped yoke outlined by fold
of the material that manages to
give a pin-neat, Quaker girl
look. Very good-looking, we may
add.
There are also the perennial
polka dots. They bloom every
spring, putting new life into an
old suit, The prettiest of these
has a convertible ruffled collar
that may be worn high or low
depending on your suit, your
mood and the occasion.
OF course, spring and prints
are synonymous. and a print
blouse is sure sign of that
balmy season in any wardrobe.
There are big flower prints or
rosy apple prints-both of these
on white rayon jersey grounds
that are very fresh and feminine.
We also liked a monotone print
with cascading ruffle that's sure
fire with any man-it's that fiat
tering.
Bows are still with us-ad in
f1nitum, it seems although we
can't say we mind too much be-
cause they are really about as
f1attering necklne as a girl
could ask for. And as to the
frllls, there seems to be no limit
to those either. Blouses seem to
be trying to make up in orna-
mentation what suits lack and
the new blouses are foaming
with ruffles, lace touches and the
like that will spill out over the
new collarless jackets this spring.
One of our favorites is a long
sleeved white crepe with soft
"a gla n shoulder, embroidered
eyelet ruff1es at the throat and
wrists. At the same shop. they
are also showing-in white and
spring pastels a shirt made
wonderful with waffle quilting.
There is inch-wide edging of the
stuff all-around the convertible
collar, whole cuffs of it, and
small patches down the front
holding the pearl buttons. It
all goes to show a blouse can
have a lot of fenlininity with
nary a frill in sight.
But-getting back to frills
again (and YOU will again and
again this spring. don't miss a
gem of a blouse made of AL
luricel, buttoned with jet. 1t has
standup petal-effect collar of
honest-to-goodness Irish crochet
tied with a demure black velvet
bow:-and it's dream of blouse
to wear with good suit or a
short or long dinner skirt. A
budget-priced beauty that's al
ready a favorite is a collarless
crepe with deep cotton lace
edging on the jabot and mirror
buttons down the front to re-
fleet all this glory.
From our standpoint, we give
the vote this spring to the cot
tons. These tub-worthies are
not to be overlooked, with clean
ing conditions what they are.
For instance, there's a nursery
fresh white English broadcloth
with a cluster of eyelet flowers at
the neck that would be equally
a knockout with suit or with
Stacks. Mems white shifting
makes another blouse with long
sleeves, and convertible ruf1ed
neckline that's so pretty you'll
be looking for excuses to doff
your jacket, And the best part
about it, both of these are as
washable as hanky.
When you're blouse shopping,
don't miss the new portrait
necklines-so pretty they more
than Justify that name. One