Evening star., 1951-11-02

| Because California has been ac-
cused of so much eccentricity in
fashion, wild use of color and
prints, we were, frankly, agree
ably surprised to note that most
of the collections have been shy
on excess f1ashiness, and very con-
servatively elegant. as in the case
of Peggy Hunts things. The use
of nylon flesh marquisette to fill
in yokes on dressy clothes origi-
mated with her, and she has con-
tinued this f1attering and decep-
tive fashion trickery. Most of her
Offerings were shown with petit
coats and the easy fullness to the
skirts make them pretty to watch
in motion. The test Of a dress is
not how it looks just sitting down
but how you move in it. Comfort
being one of the prime consid-
erationS!
And comfort it is that De De
johnson specializes in. She feels
wearable. casual. dresses, coats
and costumes should be available
to American women. Shorts are
shorter here. And a combed cot
ton three-piece bathing suit with
scalloped slit shorts. plus a short
pleated tie-skirt, is De De john
son hit. Nancy Chaffee wore
them at Wimbledon tennis
matches. De De likes to use stripes
for playwear. One two-piece lake
blue striped play suit with a
dirndl-type skirt with. a striped
blouse with a solid yoke inset is
a star of the collection. Intro
duced four seasons ago by Miss
johnson were her suede separates
that come in colors. light camel
beige, white. gold (and the gold
rush had nothing on the Califor-
mia designers who are rushing to
let women glitter in all their
fashions) red, pecan and taupe.
Fireside slacks in this heavenly
fabric were expertly tapered, with
the lower leg of one embroidered
with hearts and rhinestone trim
ming. They were worn with a wide
cummerbund that fastened with
hooks and eyes.
Pure silk pongee is a "returnee'
to the fashion scene and you'll be
seeing a lot Of this lustrous and
beloved fabric. The johnson way
is to trim it with Schiff1i en-
broidery. A new look is seen at
De De Johnsons in a cork linen
that possesses a tweed appearance
complete with rougher feel and
look. For the brides who want
to 'look pretty for him at all
times" there's a dress which GER
tainly doesn't fall in the "house
dress" category but is meant to
wear for chores. The cotton
apron petticoat" dress with a
halter top, self belt. back closing
apron over a full dirndl-type
skirt comes in gray and lemon and
will make any little woman" ele-
CANT. Imported Swiss mouche, a
lrayon fabric made from wood pulp
that originated in France and
wound up in Switzerland, exported
to America, is very well handled
in coat dress with snap-on pique
collar, and contour belt. This was
designed for Esther williams for
her barn storming" tour around
the United States recently.
Shades Of the Southwest
How" may be an old Indian
expression but Joan Roberts OF
California showed us HOW it is
with sportswear out here that has
a definite southwestern approach
to it. One of her lounge outfits
is composed of Indian pants that
are long tapered slacks. with lac
ing in back, topped by a jerkin
that is sleeveless. with a laced
neckline. all made up in a cotton
print featuring an Indian process
sional.
From Joan Roberts comes fab
ric news that convinces us that
so long as the world Of fashion
can put out new developments
like this, it will continue to rank
high in the interest of women
Guaranteed washable, a white
cotton has tiny stripes Of black
patent applied to it. Cotton sat-
in here has had the shine re-
moved, and instead OF denim this