MAINLY FOR WOMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 April 1932, Page 3

MAINLY FOR WOMEN

ITEMS OF INTEREST

(Notes by

Marjorie)

NEW TRIMMINGS.

(By Hon. Mrs C. W. Forester).

The foundation of -all good dressing lies first in the careful choice of corset and underwear, then m -the selection of the right colour and style of suit or ensemble that will best serve our requirements. Nowadays neither the girl nor older woman can afford to make mistakes in her selection. We must strive to start with a suitable spring suit, which should be of the “tailored” variety. There is a distinct difference between these suits for town and country. The sports tweed suit is essentially a country choice and not suited to all occasions. There are now, however, fortunately many tweeds that do ■ equally for either town or country; the new chocolate brown in a hop-sack-tweed is an excellent selection. Black, so smart in London, is not so good out of it. For that reason brown is the ideal early choice. So many changes can be worked in with the brown coat and skirt. If slenderness is aimed at I recommend the .straight long slim coat with sleeves that just show a little more fulness .from elbow- to wrist, with a small straight collar and the slightest suggestion of an inward waist-curve and flared hem. Certain dressers will not permit of any departure from the slim line, which is always becoming. Novelty can be stressed by choosing the shaped or partially pleated skirt, according to the trend of the coat. Contrasting blouses, waistcoats, or a wool corsage in a lighter fabric can, ring many changes. Noticeably novel are the wide striped effects in crepe de Chine or silk. A waistcoat of striped pink, black and brown on a creamy ground would look well with 'the brown suit, while for after-noons a lighter blouse of beige broderie anglaise, mixed with a coarse coffee lace with a new neck drapery would be new. For country, a waisted wool jumper iu any colour can be worked in with a beret and muffler knit scarf to correspond. The waistcoat should be completed by the striped scarf with wide ends that ties once over. The wool corsage for everyday town wear looks best with a fresh collar of pale-colour-, ed cambric or cream crepe de Chine, with an edging of lace or drawn handwork and dainty wristbands to match. The broderie anglaise and lace blouse is smart for many occasions, but should also have handwork, for this hand-stitchery, either in W001,,’ lace, silk, or linen, is stressed in every collection of interest, either in London or Paris. Buttonholes B?re beautifully made in cotton-crepe, silk, peau d’ahge, or leather. The gossamer4ike quill in hat is either of gold ‘bi- silver composition or in net or lace-cire. Horsehair also shows intricate imnd-wbrk.

Smocking is revived. Buttons and buckles are worked with eyelet-hole embroidery. Dress jewellery is largely superseded by all sorts of interesting faPiais and fantasies worked by fiand. We chain of fine beads wrought With Hilk is far more complicated than the strung string of coloured glass.

iiat-trimming in the way of lacquered ’flowers, 'bws, choux, quills, and feathers is all of the hand-made order.

' Belts, Shoes, hosiery, and gloves, ithough of -the simple order, must not be chosen haphazard. Shoes for the ibrown tailored town suit can have a medium ’heel, With ’thick silk stockings and suede wrinkliilg gloves. Wool and silk hosiery and neatly broghed leather shoes are good style in the country with hog-skin (stitched) or ehhihois gloves. In hats, as in scarves of fabric or fur, we can ring mithy changes. Wool ahd felt for country, st'faw and petersham for ■town.

ROTO M-ANU WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

'On the occasion of the first birthday Of the Women’s Institute at «oto -Manu, h, social evening was faeihl in the Public Hall. All neigh'bottring Women’s Institutes were well represented and the evening was a huge success. The fancy dresses and masquerade caused quite a lot of excitement. Miss K. Gibson, Secretary ■Roto M’anu Women’s Institute winning the ladies’ first prize as “Parcel Post,” and Mr Palmer the men’s first prize as “Darby.” Little Miss Mavis Joseph delighted everyone with the rendering of two songs ‘Dream Daddy’ and “Prisoner’s Sweetheart,” while Miss Ruthie Stewart’s little dances were enthusiastically received. Miss Gibson recited “Clerical Clothes.” Everyone entered into the nail-driv-ing competition with spirit, the result being Miss Murphy and Mr Becker taking the prizes. Before supper the members put on a one-a</t pjlay cadled “Under a, a|isapprehension,” the chief participants being Miss Monica Ryan, “Mrs Huggins”; Mrs Whitmore, “Mrs O’Shannesey”; Njlrs Palmer, “Mrs Jones, Sec. W.1.”; and Mr A. Graham, “Mr Huggins.” Everyone greatly appreciated this effort on the part of the Women’s Institute. After supper the birthday cake with its one little candle was cut and portions passed to everyone. Mr J. Ryan, on behalf of the Women’s -Institute, expressed thanks and appreciation to Mrs Ward and Mrs Coles who had tirelessly played for the dances throughout the evening;. 'Mr Ryan also thanked all visitors for coming. WHITE PIQUE CRAZE.

Silk Pique preferably in white, promises to be tire craze of the spring season, and happily ft is a becoming one! (writes a London fashion expert). At an exclusive little dress display in Brook-street, where tailored, styles were featured, this white silk-pique looked specially well as a smocked top for a corselet-skirt of black silkserge that had a short coat with overcollar and deep cuffs of white pique. The black and silver vogue is popular with the leading designers and • noticed at this show that brown and medlar shades shared favour with the alliances of blue and grey for smart racing suits. Lingerie blouses in many cases contribute the dainty feminine note that must be free from fussiness when race clothes are in question.

MAMMOTH DRESS PARADE.

DUCHESS SEES 700 MODELS.

LONDON, February 23

The Duchess of York sat yesterday among the army of buyers who watched the mammoth dress parade of 700 models wheih is being staged daily at the White City in connection Avith the Textile Section of the Fair. Mannequins appeared in Court gowns and Ascot frocks of British design, fabric and workmanship. The Duchess admired a debutante’s gown in moonlight blue with gloves to match. Another mannequin appeared in oystejl satin with a train lined with pink frills. Before seeing these forecasts of 1032 fashion the Duchess watched a revue of dress for the last 500 years. It started with fashions at the time of the Battle of Agincourt and ended with an evening frock made with •a train such as Queen Alexandra might have worn. The twenty mannequins were selected from over 300 girls, for their 'beautiful figures. Among them was one of the fashionable platinum ‘blondes. As one of the most striking mannequins was parading in a Court gown Duchess stopped her to tell her ‘■how much she was enjoying the show. This was the head mannequin. 'Miss Betty McKine, on whom much of (the success of the parades depends. During her tour through miles of 'British fabrics the Duchess made (several purchases for herself and her itwo small daughters. She was presented with handkerchiefs, each of 'which was decorated in the corner ■with a picture of Princess Elizabeth and Princess Magaret. Some of the most striking new furnishing fabrics only cost 1/lld a yard to buy. The Duchess was delighted with this proof of Lancashire’s efforts to capture trade from the foreigner. She also learned how Manchester is now making tablecloths (with coloured -borders that British housewives formerly bought from Czechoslovakia.

The Duchess, who was dressed in nigger.-browh with a fur tie, was Shown around the exhibition by Lord Stanley, who represented Lord Derby, the president.

FIERY SUN RED FOX.

(By a Fashion Expert).

The influx of the silver fox has made the exclusive fur houses turn to other colours and kinds in these becoming pelts. I have just seen a wonderful display of red foxes which the furcraftsman informs me came from Kamchatka. These skins are of fiery sunred colour and have already registered a fashion success. Of Russian origin, the skins are collected by a British company, and are “dressed’ 'and “made-up” in this country.

Canadian natural blue fox has also superseded the silver -fox, but since the price of the finer pelts is rather high they may take a long time to come into vogue.

Natural Greenland sealskin is used for an attractive coat, with the pelts worked to show the silvery sheen and at the same time accentuate the bluegrey speckled marking of these skins This is an all-one-fur model, and being slightly waisted with wide revers, Stand-up collar, and finished in double-breasted style with four metal buttons, gives the new military effect.

Ermine dyed cafe-bleu shade is most attractive but expensive, and one fur-craftsman, in conjunction with an enterprising British firm of dyers, has managed to copy this so accurately in a specially chosen shorthaired squirrel that it is practically indistinguishable from real ermine. This model is -worked in narrow strands diagonally from right shoulder to left hem with a jabot collar of circular strands and a one-sided layon motif at the back of the collar. The cuffs are narrow at the wrist, with ■large flap effect at the elbow, and since this coat is one-third of the price of the original ermine model it says something for the ingenuity of British furcraft.