Ladies' Column.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 701, 10 November 1909, Page 2

Ladies' Column.

FASHION AND THINGS FEMININE. I ' \ !By Ida Mejler. (Copyright.) WALKING SKIRTS. I I The coats of the newest walking I costumes are long, and these certainly J look better with skirts that rest on the ground all the way,round, rather than with those that are short. But ! the long skirt is not nearly so convenient for every day use in the streets as the shorter one, and the busy woman

stiJl clings to the skirt that just clears the ground and saves a good deal of repairing - and braid-binding". Tweed and serge are undoubtedly the materials for coat and skirt costumes that are expected to give really ?

hard wear, while face-cloth- remains unrivalled for smarter costumes. Skirts of thick material, such as homespun, should'be made up plain rather than pleated, or they weigh heavy and are 1 burdensome to the figure. A simple, serviceable style for the skirt of tweed or serge is shown in our sketch. This skirt looks "very well in grey tweed, with two strappings at the foot piped with black velvet and finished with" velvet buttons. The black pipings might be repeated along the seams; or, on the other hand, the prangs might be dispensed with altogether. A touch of black, however, on a grey dress is generally a pleasant relief. The new short skirts of Shantung silk and similar material, already being shown in view of bright spring days, are liberally pleated, the treble box-pleat being used a good deal. The pleats are stitched down closely, to the hips or some inches below.

AS WORN IN PARIS. There is no question as to the trend of the new fashions. The princessEmpire effect is everywhere apparent* and the tendency is towards costume dresses rather than skirt and blouse fashions. The princess dress is varied by the gown made up of a corselet skirt and chemisette, or shors blouse of finer material, with a matching the skirt. The sleeves are ■almost invariably long and, tight-fitt-ing—sometimes of the skirt material, in which case they arc attached to the bolero, sometimes matching the chemisette, the bolero being sleeveless. The simple costume sketched is typical of the prevailing mode in Paris, and shows a corselet skirt and bolero costume of wine-red cloth, with a little fancy braiding, in black, round die neck, armholes and lower edge of the bolero, the chemisette and sleeves being of tucked ecru net. This could,

of course, be replaced by chiffon matching the colour of "the cloth; or the sleeves only might be of chffon, the vest remaining of ecru net. The skirt fastens at the back, also the bolero, the front having a severely simple appearance. The success of simplicity in dress depends on perfection of cut, and it is particularly desirable that corselet skirts should be most carefully moulded to the* figure in the region of the waist, although they are not always required to fit tightly. The loose-fitting- dress, as well as the tight sailor-made or other gown, must be skilfully cut if it is to be really becoming, otherwise it appears a shapeless garment that is most trying to even a good figure. •

A HOME-MADE HAT BOX. Hats, unle'ss put away very carefully, are liable to* be easily spoiled and lose their shape. The brims must on no acount be crushed or bent into a box too small for them, or. the pretty outline will be ruined. A large and convenient hat-box can easily be made from a couple of wooden cases such, as oranges or grocers 5 goods are packed in, each box standing" about 14 high, „and in breadth measuring 13 inches. Remove both lids —which, on boxes of the kind, are usually merely strips of -wood nailed across, and are not hinged on — and remove also the bottom of one of the boxes. Stand this latter box on the top of the other one, thus making one large, high' box. Glue the two boxes together, and arrange a lid for the top one. The lid can be made from the discarded bottom-piece of the upper box. Cover it with brown paper, or newspaper, to make a level surface for the drapery that will follow. •

i'he inside of the hat-box must be lined with holland, stretched tight and nailed in. and-afterwards, brass-head-ed nails, or screws with large knobheads, must be fixed in the box against the ends and sides, these to act as i pegs for hats. Or, instead of nails ana-"*-screws, the box could be fitted with four convex skeleton support? (see small sketch) made of crossed bands of flat wire, or cane, covered with buckram, the hats' being .attached to these with hat-pins. -A; fifth .similar support could, if required,' be- attached to the inside of the lid, the latter ■being covered with cretonne' and hinged j to the box, which must, of course, also I be covered with cretonne — just a loose cover nailed to the top of the box. Hinge the lid with holland straps as well as brass hinges.