IT'S FASHION TIME AGAIN AND WHILE THE MEN ARE HIDING THEIR CHEQUE-BOOKS, WOMEN OF THE WORLD ARE GATHERING FOR A FIRST LOOK AT THE COLLECTIONS WHICH WILL DICTATE THE STYLES FOR SPRING AND SUMMER IN 1965.

SPRING AND SUMMER SEEMS A LONG WAY OFF TO MAY IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE AND FOR MOST WARM CLOTHING HAS TEMPORARILY WON THE DAY FROM FASHION. ITALY, LONDON, AND PARIS, WILL ALL BE SHOWING IN THE NEXT FORTNIGHT, BUT THE FASHION HOUSES OF MADRID HAVE SHOWN FIRST THIS YEAR AND HERE'S THEIR COLLECTION.

ON THURSDAY THE "CARUNCHO" FASHION HOUSE UNVEILED ITS COLLECTION. WITH AMERICAN BUYERS IN MIND, THIS COLLECTION PRESENTED SOPHISTICATED ELEGANCE FOR CASUAL WEAR.

FOR A WINDY SPRING THERE'S WOOLLEN SLACKS IN PORCELAIN BLUE. THE BLACK SOMBRERO TAKES A LITTLE COURAGE TO WEAR, BUT FOR THE WOMAN WHO WEARS IT WELL THERE ARE ADMIRING GLANCES ON ALL SIDES. THE BLOUSE HAS A NOVEL TOUCH WITH A HEART-SHAPED DECORATION OF GLASS BEADS. SLITS IN THE FRONT OF THE SLACKS MAKE FOR EASIER AND ELEGANT MOVEMENTS.

CARUNCHO SPECIALISES IN KNITTED WEAR AND HE SHOWS A WOOLLEN EVENING DRESS IN THIS YEAR'S COLLECTION. THE DRESS IS IN PALE BLUE, AND AN INTERWOVEN METAL THREAD REFLECTS THE LIGHT FROM IT ADDING MAGIC. A TRADITIONAL SPANISH RED-FRINGED SHAWL SPLASHES OUT COLOUR.

FOLLOWING CARUNCHO, CAME THE COLLECTION OF HERRERA Y OLLERA. FOR EVENING DRESS THERE'S A GORGEOUS GREEN CLOAK, WITH A HOOD. IT'S MADE OF WOOL AND IS INSPIRED BY THE SHEPHERDS OF SPAIN'S NAVARRA DISTRICT WHO WEAR THESE CLOAKS FOR MORE PRACTICABLE PURPOSES.

UNDERNEATH THE CLOAK THERE'S A BLACK EVENING DRESS. EARLY HINTS FROM PARIS INDICATE THAT BLACK MAY BE THE PROMINENT COLOUR OF THE YEAR FOR EVENING WEAR, BUT BLACK AND WHITE LOOKS LIKE BECOMING POPULAR.

HERE'S ANOTHER BLACK EVENING DRESS WITH A BLOUSE-TOP WITH BLACK AND WHITE POLKA DOTS. THE DRESS IS MADE OF SILK NET -- A MATERIAL THAT MAY WELL SWEEP THIS YEAR'S COLLECTIONS.