MODES OE THE MOMENT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 62, 6 December 1930, Page 18

MODES OE THE MOMENT

Passing Notes by Jane • , > ■ ■'' ' ■ , ■ ■ ■’ 1 Wellington, December 5, : Dear Isobel, — 1 I am sorry you find my letters “not so amusing” as they were. Honestly, I never had the faintest intention of being amusing, but as things strike me, so I try to show them to you. Perhaps the state of the wool market has had a sobering effect, and I am not as hilarious as I was. Can you wonder? And though- personally I’m down on anyone who shows a face of depression, or talks in a pessimistic strain, I’ve got it on my mind that we women should get down to business and do something about the Things which we are to d from morning till night are Bad. Our power is so immense, if we would only use it; in the average case, greater than that of men. The average woman is at the head of something with which she can do as she likes; the average man has to obey orders and do nothing else The woman’s world is a smaller one, but she can alter it She can tell her grocer, in a heart-to-heart talk, exactly what she thinks of him. The clerk who did the same to his manager would find himself without a job. The woman who is putting new curtains up in her diningroom may choose the colour and,‘with some regard to her income, the material of which they are made. It would not even occur to the office boy who is posting the monthly accounts to choose his stamps with a view to colour. He may dislike the green of the ha’penny variety with his whole soul, but to mark his preference for the “Patou Pink” of the penny ones" to the extent of using them instead, would land him in some difficulty. A wonian may alter, the flavour of a curry or a soup or an to suit her own or someone else’s personal taste. . The clerk who Introduces an even imperceptible alteration in a ledger is not regarded with favour by his employer. ■ . ' ■ , , . This being the state of things, it is surely feasible to that women have a very large controlling influence on the worldsnxarkeU We certainly do more'than 75 per cent, of the worlds buy in,,we are taught to recognise the actual power we wield, and the greatei power still within , our scope, there will be perhaps a settling of the world’s problems, When we are properly organised, from, onward, to do our buying with an understanding and calculating eye on the financial aspect of the market in relation to .our own country s exports, Things l g offi silken ’ things, and demanding wool and cotton. If we had begun to do it a year or two ago, perhaps our New Zealand farmers and the Bradford millers would still be prosperous. You may say there are so few of us comparatively speaking, in this Dominion, that our far-off demand could make no impression on the buyers in the great world, who send us what is being worn “at Home. As a matter of fact, Fashion is a wayward minx, and it is always possible that she may look for inspiration to the farthest outpost of the Empire. The song of, our wool sales is a very important item in the world’s commercial programme. If we demand goods made., from wool and cotton, persistently, in their due seasons, the notes of our ah them may very easily carry , round the globe on etheric waves, till only the demand is heard, and not the direction from which it cornea. We shall have to leave wool alone for two or three months, however, and, praying for fine weather, concentrate on cotton find linen. The latter is appearing in the loveliest’forms, new weaving patterns being a special feature for 1931, and the printed designs are original and gaily coloured, of Russian Inspiration. Flame and brown on a white ground, fuchsia and hydrangea also on a white ground, are favourite colour schemes. White is the leading ground because of the whispered importance of white in the coining season. ' ’ There are linens in different aspects for almost every garment and dress accessory. Sheer linen for blouses and undies; striped linen for sports blouses, frocks and pyjamas; herring-bone and tweed-like linen for riding breeches; printed linen for dresses, ■ blouses, beach pyjamas, hats and sunshade. Then there are the linens particularly suitable for shoes and bags. In fact, there is a linen for nearly everything. Cottons too. But I must leave them till next week, by which time everyone, I do hope, will be wearing something thin.—With love, Yours,. ■ JANE.