SHOPPING AT THE SALES,

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 238, 1 July 1908, Page 5

SHOPPING AT THE SALES,

The' following hints -from a Melbourne paper as to sale-shopping .will be of value to. our readers:— V All- the. accessories , necessary for the ; smartening-of a coat costume may be freely indulged in, from the Simple stock collar o'f: silk,'to the fussiest and laciesi . of " fronts." '■• Light lace,"suitable for Making into the popular jabots may also be bought' without hesitat ion. At least . during the whole summer theso 'beautiful- additions to .'our. frocks will be constantly,worn. For the fronts, which consist of one full frill falling to the upper edge of a second frill, threequarters of a yard, of lace is' a fair allowance for ,each; frill;. Chiffon or net should .be made a little fuller; but in,lace tho effect is all the better : if the pattern is not lost ; ■by too close pleating. A two-yard length of lace will make the neckband.-and two good and tho,lace should be about 6in. deep. ;Three yards will make a neckband, with a draped lace frill to the waist. All-over lace : and nets, insertions, and flower-shaped appliques may be freely acquired for blouses, and-for fichus tho softer nets and lighter laces will bo in demand all the summer. Probably hero.the' filet nets and laces, will be popular for some time to come, but in tho world which sets the fashions Irish lace, is most in favour, except for whole evening dresses,, for'which embroidered filet net is much used. No woman need: hesitate over the purchase-of, laco or net for a. blouse, or need regard it as an extravagance. It gives an air. of grace and.beauty that nothing but laco can give; and it stands wear, providedit be not too-flimsy, far. better than silk. If made with a view to washing, and washed and 'ironed,by careful• hands, it will even stand repeated visits to tho laundry, and emerge beautifully fresh and now looking,' If washing is in view, tho intending purchaser should use pale cream or' white, instead of-Paris shades, because the distinctive tone of the latter is lost in washing. Ribbons are not to be purchased just now, unless they be wide enough to serve the purposes of silk. The new hats will demand feathers, flowers, silk, satin', lace, net; but not, as a rule, ribbons. For belts, or for working up into little waistcoat fronts, the pompadour ribhons will bo used;. but there is practically no other place for-them, unless we are in need of a gay evening bag, or have the knack. of making the beautiful' padded French boxes for handkerchiefs or trinkets. Gold and silver, tassels for evening frocks or wraps, gold net, Oriental embroideries, and all tho other beautiful adornments which the shojps aro showing in abundance, will bo useful for a long time to come, and buttons' with cloth-or silk centre and metal or bone rims,- should be sought by those who like to have the newest touches on their gowns. Na'rrow soutache braid will bo usod extensively "for many months to como. Some of tho newest wraps,'both for day and evening wear, are almost covered with a close and intricate braiding; whilst the dress coats, both in cloth and in linen, will in many cases owo their charm to lino braid work. For evening dresses,-soft'materials which will drape well should bo chosen. What are known as "Greek" styles aro very much in vogue. This means that tho newest evening gowns are simple about tho neck and shoulder,: havo a high waist line—a littlo lower than the "Empire" styles—and'have two skirts, the upper, one falling in grnceful folds, somewhat after tlio fashion of tho classical "peplum." Soft satins, liets, lace, and mousselincs all lend themselves well to the new'styles, and so do crepes and liberty silks. An underdress of laco-or- net. .with

a "peplum" of soft satin, would mako a beautiful gown, and givo an opportunity for the use of shorter lengths of both materials than would be required for a whole goivn of either.

To tho house-mother with a family to provide for, and household linen to replenish, the sales are much moro than a morn hunt-ing-place for bargains. Now is tho time to acquire in quantity those materials which aro always in demand, and whoso price, though never lowered to any great extent, is always a few pcnco less at sale time. Viyella, for instance, is a material which no mother should ever hesitate to buy. It is tho best possible material, in rream, colour, or white, for children's petticoats and their first little drawers, and'• in patterns for their nightgowns and wrappers. It also makes most coinfortablo pyjamas, and very satisfactory morning dresses. Though decidedly expensive at tho outset, it more than justifies its price by its satisfactory wear, and the good appearance it keeps. A good navy blue or cream sergo is mother excellent thing to buy in quantity when there aro children to clothe. For small girls, just going to school, an ideal dress is. a pleated skirt of serge hung, on a plain sleeveless bodice, and worn with a neat jersey to match in: colour, and a Tamo' Shanter or sailor hat. Muslin embroideries end torchon laces are always worth buying when their prices are marked down. There is a perennial demand for them for children's clothes, and good torchon lace, in particular, gives great satisfaction in the wear.