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Show KNOW you R wjf NEIGHBOR CRAU LATIN AMERICAN FASHIONS It is a well-known fact that fashions are very directly affected affect-ed by current events. From a material ma-terial viewpoint, new discoveries, scientific developments, shortages due to wars or economic difficulties difficul-ties all, somehow or other, have had their repercussion on the styling styl-ing of feminine clothing. There are, however, psychological factors fac-tors Involved, which stimulate designers' de-signers' creations creations that strive to match, to a certain point the mood of the public and which find their inspiration often in events lending a given atmosphere to the times. Thus, it takes a new International policy for a stylist to design a "Four Freedoms" print, the sudden great vogue for Russian ballet produces the ballerina bal-lerina influence in modern dress, while the current trend in inter-American inter-American relations is what leads the itnerest of the fashion world towards so-called "South American" Ameri-can" colors for instance . . . "Good Neighbor" fashion specialists spec-ialists have turned their attention to Latin America and discovered in the regional costumes of the republics to the south a wealth of inspiration. They have suddenly become aware, for instance, of the possibilities presented by the violent vio-lent fuschias and brilliant oranges beloved of the Bolivian and Peruvian Peruv-ian Indians who seek in vivid colors col-ors a relief from the bleak, barren, monotonous landscape of the high- lands on which they live. As a re- I suit of this discovery, women the world over may today paint their toe-nails a deep "cholo red" or wear smart "gaucho greerl" accessories acces-sories with a black dress. "Peruvian "Peruv-ian Pink," "Brazilian Brown," or "South American Elack" (the same old black re-christened with a glamorous new name for the occasion) oc-casion) are among the novel shades that have invaded fashion magazines and the windows of exclusive ex-clusive shops and department stores. From Peru, Bolivia, and Chile and Argentina and Ecuador, too, comes the inspiration for "poncho styles", the square shawl with a slit in the middle having long been the classical and basic outer garment of Indians and gauchos. The Uruguayan and Argentine Ar-gentine "gaucho's" costume, together to-gether with the Mexican "char-ro's" "char-ro's" both of which are, at least partially, derived from Andalusian men's attire provided the impulse im-pulse for a new vogue of the short jacket or bolero. The influence of Spain through her former colonies is also evident in "romantic fashions": fash-ions": wide skirts with elaborate petticoats, shawls, fans, long earrings, ear-rings, off-the-shoulder blouses. Many a flounced evening gown has reminiscences of the Cuban rumba costume and the flower- crowned hairdo of 1945 could well be related one way or another to the Panamanian "tembleque". This interesting headdress made up of clusters of flowers and pearls mounted on small wires and arranged ar-ranged around the head, shows In turn the strong Asiatic influence felt in Panama, for centuries a port for Oriental merchandise. In the realm of the hat, the off-the-face sailors designed by North American modistes have sometimes some-times a strong resemblance to the head-gear of certain South American Ameri-can Indians who may go to the extreme ex-treme of carrying small purchases in their large up-bnrned brims . . . The "chullo" bright knitted cap with eartabs, used alone or under a wide-brimmed hat inspired the brim mounted on a close-fitting bonnet model of last season, while anyone who has seen a Carmen Miranda "bahiana" headdress need go no further as to the origin of high turbans in Western Hemisphere Hemis-phere fashions. This year's small round cloche may be traced back perhaps, to the little derby-like hat of felt oi ol highly-varnished straw worn by Bolivian "cholas"' (women of mixed Spanish and Indian blood). Not only have Latin American fashions gone to women's heads but also to their feet. Central American sandals and espadrilles have trod New York's Fifth Avenue Ave-nue while the famous Mexican "huaraches" were imported into this country, a couple of seasons ago, at the rate of 375,000 pairs a year. From Mexico, too, comes the fad for heavy silver jewelry, massive bracelets, large rings and earrings, while many gay novelty trinkets such as seed and sea-shell necklaces are definitely West Indian. In-dian. In the textile industry, inspiration in-spiration has been found in many an indigenous motif contributed by Guatemala or Ecuador and the vogue for colored stripes ( may be partly due to the influence of Mexico's Mex-ico's "sarapes." Other ornaments of braided straw, brightly hued twine, gay crossstitched designs, shiny silver buckles are undoubtedly undoubt-edly Latin American in spirit. In this country which has, for a period of five years "been face to face with its own designing ability" abil-ity" in the field of fashion, the predominant awareness in the national na-tional life of the Good Neighbor Policy has. projected itself defini-nitely defini-nitely into the styling of clothing. |