MAINLY FOR WOMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1932, Page 3

MAINLY FOR WOMEN

ITEMS OF INTEREST

(Notes by

Marjorie)

historic exhibition. CHARLES THE SECOND PERIOD. LONDON, January 27. Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, is this week opening the Charles the Second exhibition, which has been eagerly talked of and awaited for time Private* owners, from

the King downwards, have lent treasures which would otherwise neyej have been seen by the public. The Duke of Westminster has lent two houses in Grosvenor-place for the exhibition which, ironically enough, perhaps, when one thinks of the King it honours, is in aid of the Young Women’s Christian Association! Not all the exhibits are connected personally with the King, of course, al though all have to do with his reign. Yet the personal records ' have the greatest interest for the student of the Restoration era. There is- the christening set which Charles wore as a baby, the tiny lawn shirt, bib and cap, exquisitely embroidered, seeming strangely simple when contrasted with the heavy baptismal robe that went with them, a great square of cherry coloured satin, adorned with gold and silver lace. Here, too, you may see the little silver toys the King played

with in his childhood, a miniature warming pan, a little cofiee pot, candles with minute snuffers attached, beakers that once belonged, probably, to a complete set, but now . constitute a pathetic reminder of the games played long ago by the Merry Monarch, who was, in reality, so rarely merry. In one room, all the exhibits are connected with his flight after Worcester. There are’ pieces gf wood from the famous oak tree where he hid, there is a lock of his hair given to Jane Lane, who. helped him to

escape, there is a snuffbox of tortoiseshell and silver, with the Royal cpyher and crown set into the face, that the King presented to one of the Penderels. Little jewellery is on view at this ,cx-hibition, although beautiful jewellery was a feature of Restoration fashions. 'We are shown a pair of black enamel and diamond earrings that once to Nell Gwynne, perhaps she put’ them on and noted the effect in the mirror that is hanging in one of the rooms, a mirror most curiously enframed in stump work, with fqur little figures, suppos ed to represent Nell and the King, standing out round it. His Majesty did not give jewellery only tp ladies. There is a diamond encircled pendant, threaded on a finely wrought gold chain, that he gave to Sir Charles Cottrell at the Restoration’ and was worn by all the Cottrells while the

office of Master of the Ceremonies was hereditary in their family'. Actually, the pendant is a medal of gold, surrounded by diamonds and surmounted by a crown of diamonds and red enamel. It was to Sir Charles Cottrell, too, that Charles gave a permanent pass .for the Theatre Royal, a present worth having indeed in those days, when the threatre had become a ‘meeting ground for the famous. The actujh pass is enclosed id a silver gilt case looking rather like a thin watch, with a'finely engraved monogram on the face. One whole room has been given up to specimens of the silver that was

one of the glories of Restoration days. Against one wall hangs a great mirror, wonderfully adorned with repousse silver borders, and there is a table of ebony which matches it, the top having a centre of silver repousse work, with corner pieces in a scroll and floral design. The Duke of Devonshire has lent the silver gilt toilet set that takes up the greater part of one case—the ladies of those days must have known nothing of the joys of

“travelling light,” for these toilet sets, massive as they vjere, accompanied them on their journeys and generally had a wooden case made especially to hold them. Gilt cups pad porringers, silver fruit dishes, piercpd and chased all over in exquisite patterns, candlesticks and beakers, spoons and rose water dishes, are seen here in their brilliant, shimmering beauty, perfect in line, graceful in design, bringing with them the thought of' all the loveliness and richness that helped to throw a cloak of romance over Stuart days, a romance that has never, perhaps, been since recaptured. TAILORED FROCKS. FEMININE LINES RETAINED'. Time was when a tailpred frock was strictly severe with no touch or hint o.f fluffiness whatsoever. To-day fashion has decreed that the soft feminine line can be retained with the simplicity of' the tailored suit. Th’s characteristic rentiers it very sii'table for various The coatfrock may be suggested in the mock-fastening, and diagonal lines, form a garment' ideal' for a day of shopping. It is, however, saved from entire .severity by t|]e puffed sleeves of contrasting material, which lend an air of old-world charm and make a useful frock quite in place at the afternoon tea or bridge table. This frock in autumn tunings and light materials would be favourable for the mid-season weather. It is prophesied that bright colours will be very popular this autumn, so why not meet fashion half-way? Made in flat crepe of Havana brown relieved with Persian red puffs and bindings and accessories to tone, there would be an outfit which would

be cool whilst also brightening the drab atmosphere. Black is always fashionable and this model would look equally smart in that colour and trimmed with the wearer’s favourite shade of green or amber. Warehouses are trying almost in vain to make their customers understand that the modern woollen materials are neither hot nor heavy. There are many types of homespun on the market, at present, which could be comfortably worn in the cooler days of summer, and here again science has made rapid strides. Thess materials can be had in the same col ours and designs as silks. Beige and scarlet, two shades of .green, or black and white would make a garment of utility and beauty.

RECREATION. AN AID TO BEAUTY. “Keep busy at congenial work and . spend as much time as possible in the . sun each day.. These are my two fuu- , damental beauty rules,” says Ruth . Chatterton, the film star. “I prefer to i take my sunning at the beach, but, of . course, that isn’t possible for all. It . is impossible to take a'sun bath every ' day and keep a lily-white skin, but , thank goodness the white skin isn’t the accepted beauty standard any longer. It is the smart thing, as well as the healthful and sensible thing, to have a sun-tinted skin. A skin that has the glow nature intended it to have. There are two things that 1 dearly love and do and I keep so

busy at them that I never have time for that enemy of good looks —worry. First of all I love to play in motiqn pictures. • Next best,' I like to keep m-y own.house, and in between times, I write. It all helps to keep me busy and happy. I don't neglect my exercises with my other work. I get these during my period of sunning each day. Whenever the weather is such that I can, I slip into my bathing suit and take my exercise and sun bath in that. In the summer-time I always have a dip in the surf. “As for the care of the skin., that depends upon the individual. It is necessary for each girl to make a careful study of her own skin and treat it as it should be treated. Absolute cleanliness is one rule that must be observed, of course. Diet may be necessary for some women to retain a beautiful figure. Personally, I have never bothered with diet except in this way. I always eat simple and wholesome foods. I found put long

ago that I couldn’t do my best work unless I felt right, and I can’t overload my stomach with rich food and feel in top form. Getting the proper sleep is another beauty essential. There isn’t a woman in the world, I don’t believe, who can remain beautiful without regular sleep. I know lack of sleep reflects itself in my ap- ;

pearance immediately. I make no claim to going to bed at 10 o’clock every night. I love to entertain and like social life too well for that. When 1 am working, howeyer, I do go to bed by 10 o’clock and usually before that. I have to, in order to do justice to my woi% The beauty angle is just an important incidental. “Keeping busy at work and recreations I love, having a sun bath every day, • and getting the proper rest are the principal ingredients of my beauty recipe.”

HAIRDRESSER TO PAY. MELBOURNE, February 26. Violet Ada Rplfe, whose head was injured by an electric appliance while she was having her hair waved, was to-day awarded £2OO damages against Madame Bates, of Coburg, the owner of the saloon in which the accident occurred. TRANSPARENT TWEED LONDON, January 27. One of Scotland’s surprises for the spring has come, to London in the form of a transparent tweed for the evening. Never before has so lightweight a tweed been made. The length which I handled was white and had an exquisite lace-like appearance. Made up, I could see it tumbling into filmy, loose folds. Suede belts are to be popular for semi-evening wear and will be a most useful accessory to the semi-evening tweed gown which can be made up from the same material in a variety of shades. Scarves are to remain in fashion for evening wear—.worn as separate wraps and not as part of the dress. They should be about 3J yards in length and anything up to 36 inches wide. Scarves of real lace are the envy of all those who have not got them.