Chat From Paris

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 98, 22 October 1938, Page 19

Chat From Paris

SUMMERS' SMALL PEOPLE

Pai'is. is at all times,, even ihese ofi preoccupation with international and grave affairs, a place of" youth-timej gaiety • and chic. It i^. as ' though the j controlling adult minds spare no pains to keep gloom at bay when it comes to those small people who claim the right of joyous years. Designers appear io-have spent special times on experiment with garb for the seven-to-fiiteen-year^olds so that one is struck, again and again, with the commonsense chic that is displayed in wood's and gardens and everywhere where children are gathered.. Many of the new lines are-followed that give our adult summer wear,a new interest this season, but often one notices rather more original themes that might well be adopted for one's own f rocking. ■ PLAYED DAY FROCKS. Take, for instance,.day, and more or less'■■play, frocks which. I have sketched for you.- It is : obvious that Miss Parisienne of tender years is not unaware of her attraction and the pleasant experience of looking ones best. , Broad shoulders, which still to be stressed so far as we are concerned, are cleverly accentuated for the, ten-1 year-old. The plain dark material is cut/both back and front, in two panels that turn: sharply in at the waist and flare • shoulders and hem.. Check, or) otherwise contrasting material either in colour; or design j is used for sleeves, collar,.;and sharply-flaring side panels. A\ zip! fastening secures the frock from hem td heck. Nothing could be simpler to dbri or less restricting for every kmd of childish exertion; No belt.is required-and the child's lack of waist is* a problem overcome. Notice the jutting of the "yoke" to form decorative pockets. These can, of course, be real or fancied —or, yet another alternative, the lines can be foUowecl with zip-matching braid as a decoration merely. Oh the other hand,. s£yc(ur child Is one who has reasonable uses .for-a pocket or so, the slope could 'be lessened anu.' sufficient depth given to afford accommodation for, at least, a pocket handjcerchief. .'. A GREENWOOD FROCK. This frockVwas in brown and green -rrthe check in two.tones bf green, the central panels a richV woody brown. Brown, shoes completed an effect of elfin neatness for one small blonde be ; au'ty. The little sister follows '•. all the right also, in her working out, of a summer garment for .1938. Notice .that the central ■ panel: is cut with a" subtle:; difference that is alto-; gether more pleasing 'for a really young child; The yoke is set higher ani'd ■■■'• is' pocketless. . Rather a reversal of colours is used and the zip opening^ is at th'er neck only. ~..:.;''"

These lines are so obviously successful that I recommend the mother with imagination to make her own experiments juggle them to her fancy. JSquaJly successful they. would be in orie : material only and definitely jolly, with • seams- picked out and stressed jprit'h.'coloured or fancy braid,- or even

the daintiness of lace —which, by the way, marks the season for us all.

TUCKED YOKE OR SCALLOPS. For the more party occasion or the "best frock" the tucked yoke is a charming and\ simple style. Accompany this with full puffed sleeves that pull in well above the elbow to a. similarly tucked band. "Little girl"' I fullness can be gathered in discreetly back and front to hang with straight lines. The very youngest looks truly delicious in the con.pletely smocked yoke, if you can achieve it, again back and front. For the older girl, perhaps in early 'teens, above-elbow cuffs can be quite, wide and turn up instead oi down. Give *hem, then, a shallow' scalloped edge finished with narrowest lace and see that the collar is shallow flat and scalloped and edged likewise. If you prefer buttons to zips front neck-to-hem openings can be, in this case, achieved with large matching scallops'and narrow "pretend" pockets can be set aslant, lace-decorated.

{By Margret Manet.)

A matter of interest was the,provision for elderly people in housing, both married and unmarried. They did not seem to have to huddle in old-fashioned cottages, nor were they in institutions. But they were provided for in either well-built modern cottages or else in suitable flats. These last of the? one-room kind with kitchen and bath" equipment seemed in great favour with old unmarried men and women, and they had a really good and bright resting place for the eventide of their lives—places where the light came in, and there was every opportunity for them to.be either solitary or sociable according to their inclinations. These places appear to be quite well known in Norway and Sweden as well, and it was found that Parliamentary women or those in social service positions were, all well aware of what was being done, and in many instances had helped a great deal towards the good results attained. Of course schools are wonderful in those countries and being so much nearer the centre of things the newer methods have been in use for some time, and the young people have had the benefits. It is a strange, thing that in the "Antipodes" such different ideas should have taken such deep root, and have remained with such persistence. The interesting educational conference of last year should, and, perhaps, will bear fruit in time, but so far as can be seen at present the same old ways are still going on here, though there is a great deal of talk about what might be arranged in the future.

Colourless liquid nail polish is a handy preparation for various purposes. If it is applied to silk stockings when a thread bas been caught it will help to prevent laddering. If pearl buttons on washing frocks have become dull tney may be brightened by a coating of nail polish. Ornamental buckles, wooden beads, and various kinds of artificial flower trimmings may be strengthened and preserved if a protective coating of nail polish is carefully brushed over them.