THE DAY OF THE BLOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 307, 24 December 1912, Page 7

THE DAY OF THE BLOUSE.

DRESS AND HYGIENE. FASHION NOTES FROM LONDON. (From Onr Lady Correspondent) ~,, LONDON, November 16. ChrirtniiM- is not yet, though exiled New Zealanders have now posted the last budget that can hope to reach home in time to bear its evidence of good wishes —but there is a Christmas sharpness in the-air, and as sooii as that arrives there comes, too, the company of cold ones to break in—and rightly, perhaps —with their misery and subtle mockery on to the joyous business of Christmas planning and buying. This week, as the writer wended a way westwards to test the thermometers of fashion in the West End fhe army was in its place, and will be there, we "know, till after Christmas. Bine faced ragged men set ugly wire snakes in motion under one's nose, thin women in shawls or jackets, called so because they once deserved the name, spread out pathetic wool bootees wheed. lingly; strapping youths that ought co be at man's work* wind lip insane tin toys that salute you for a penny, or tiny i motor oars whose chauffeurs hake startling risks for twopence. Mice, i*abbits, Teddy bears, hatpins, sjfcuds and, of course, matches, and all manner of clockwork wonders help to make up the scene of London streets.

Last year was a season of antimony. This year is one of leather and all the relations of leather, and very dainty and delightful trifles are being made for presents, ranging from sovereign cases for men to complete toilet-table sets for both men and women. Of pale grey puma skin the last are very handsome. THE NEWEST BAGS are of beaver calf, and are known as armlet bags. Some are round and of pleated skin caught into brass clasps, others flat, square or oblong; but, instead of the long cord that has been fashionable, there is now only a double stiff strap of the same akin as the bag. PEAKED MUFFS of fur or plush, cut into three points, and edged "with silk fringe, are novelties. HEELS of evening shoes grow more and more elaborate, so tlrat quite high heels have again to be worn. The ornamentation is nearly always in imitation diamonds. SIDE SASHES which occasionally provide the only j touch of distinctive colour in a toilette appear this week. They are sometimes attached to a high or normal belt, sometimes only to a large chou ot flower, are worn at the left, nnd generally are finished with a fringe of some kind. One seen this week was on a dress of pale blue charmeuse under a tunic of guipure lace. The sash was of pale mauve ninon, the ends being finished with crystal fringe. Another was a dress of white charmeuse under a very fine rose red tunic edged with a deeper red bead embroidery, with a panel sash of black charmeuse. The most effective of all was a reception sewn of dull chimpagne coloured silk /trimmed with wide meshed black net, | and "with a double sash of deep violet silk fastened to the waist with a gTeat velvet rose of the same shade.

BEADED WINGS on fur hats are new ideas. An uncommon looking toque seen on a lady with grey hair, a few days ago, was of gTey squirrel with wings of imitation turqouises and very pale coral. BLOUSES. It is undoubtedly the day of the blouse once more, and consequently the dress with a coat to match is not so uni'er-f-ally popular as it was last winter. Afternoion blouses are being made of very rich materials and rather plainly, as these should be fashioned. One afternoon one for a matron was of pale grey moire, trimmed simply with buttons covered with grey charmeuse to match, a charmeuse Robespierre collar and turned back cuffs. SILK EMBROIDERED BLOUSES are also fashionable, and even these are made up rather severely, though with a slight pouch above the waist. In order not to spoil the plain effect, any embroidery should be of a flat doscript'on.

Slanting pockets appear on many blouses, and the small coloured handkerchiefs so popular at present give an opportunity for an individual touch of colour to a neutral-tinted blouse.

HAIR BANDEAUX | in all sorts of fanciful shapes and filmy materials are developing at a rate that should make them a craze. Not only ospreys, black, white, and dyed, are worn, but these are now ornamented in various intricate ways in smaller wings, circles and lines of paste. Marie Stuart caps of gold and silver net, of black beads, and ninon edged with beads, indicate a low evening coiffure, and a new fashion is a stiff, low coronet of iridescent tubular beads, ending at each side in a cabachon of pearls worn just above the ears.

SILVER AND PALE PDJX together present a pretty combination for a dress for a young girL A design of this week was made up very simply with a band of coral beads on the round dccolletage, and a large silver rose at one side of the high waist. THE LATEST! Hailed as "the latest evening cap" by one large firm is a concoction that will be. welcomed not 6o politely in a theatre, for it is nothing less annoying than a coronet of pleated tulle, very high at the back, and rather low in front, that will, one cannot but surmise, give a dark, tall woman the appearance ot an American Indian in war paint. DRESS A_ND HEALTH. A useful little health programme, since it is decidedly to do with drees, is not out of place in a fashion article, and was given at a lecture, a few days ago. by the well-known doctor and writer Dr. Elizabeth Sloan Chesser, at the Institute of Hygiene: — Dress in the minimum of clothes which will keep you warm in the conditions you have to live in, and wear that little as loose as possible. Be active, and go in for exercises, whatever the weather may be like. Keep the feet well covered, and impervious to the damp. The secret of health is not to worry very much about it. Remember that work is the law of health. COFFEE STAINS on any woollen material can be removed by Uie use of glycerine. Rub it over the stain, and then wash the place with Juke-warm water, and iron the material on the wrong aloe till dtj.