MAINLY FOR WOMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1933, Page 9

MAINLY FOR WOMEN

ITEMS OF INTEREST

COLOURED TARTAN CHECKS

(By a Paris Fashion Correspondent)

Waistlines begin to take an easier turn, though they are normal, and straighter coat silhouettes are important among the first collections ot spring clothes. Lyolene designs coats in this becoming manner, and makes them flow naturally over the silhouette, with the front line gauged to fall from a one-button neck fastening. This applies to many jackets ot the sac variety. Excellent effects are achieved m full-length coats through the introduction of surah silk tartan linings, whica match belts and muffler ties for neutral coloured ensembles, showing an outer line of beige lainage, rough cotton tweeds or coarse linen crash. Small patterned cotton print is used as linings for full-length coats, but these invariably match blouses, skirts being made on straight lines in the plain coloured lainage. These- are chosen in the deeper colour moth shown in the cotton print. Cotton prints worked up in this capacity for high-necked and shortsleeved blouses emphasise a return to skirt and blouse lines, but the latest trend suggests full-length coats instead of short-jacket suit lines. Cotton mufflers matching a cotton print also apply. Mixing cotton prints with lainage develops an excellent morning trend in spring fashions, and many of the coats disguise the all-in-one intention through being styled on costume lines resembling tailored suits. These new effects are arrived at through seamed or tucked lines spaced at jacket level on the surface of straight line coats. They convey a new departure in coat-frock lines. Broad checks in grey, blue and white cotton prints look interesting for blouses and coat linings next navy blue lainage, while tomato red lainage ensembles silhouette black and white spotted blouses in a new silken fabric resembling velvet.

Butter yellow is one of the neutral shades that vie with beige and greige, and its brings a new character into lainage dress styles through showing a black and white or brown and white spot in the weave. The same idea appears in crepe-de-Chine, with the spots dispersed throughout the surface in a slightly wider circumference to the pin spot variety. Small patterned crepes de Chine denote floral designs massed closely together in subdued tones on dark grounds. They are used in the same spirit as tartans and cotton prints for overcoat linings, but they are an afternoon trend, and blouses do not come into vision.

Wrap-over skirts in these daintily patterned Chines convey a new coatfrock line which wraps over to drape in a graceful fold on one side, or they are frankly set on straight lines, with short box-pleated openings at the hemline outlined by tiny kilted frills.

WIDOW’S FOWL HOUSE

PARIS, January 27

If a humorist were trying to make fun of the methods by which bureaucracies sometimes achieve their ends he would scarcely be able, it is remarked here, to improve on a decree which has just appeared in the “Official Gazette.”

Signed by the President of the Republic and the Minister of Public Works, it authorises the construction, on a site bordering the railway line from Paris to Orleans, of a fowlhouse.

Obviously, in a properly-ordered country, people cannot be allowed, critics duly recognise, to scatter roosts capriciously along railwaylines. Nevertheless, the solemnity of this 400-word preamble and decree takes one’s breath away.

The point at issue was quite simple, Mme. Rispe, a widow, owns a patch of land close to the line near Villeneuve-le-Roi. It lies between what are officially defined as “kilometres 12 and 775.25 and 12 and 778.23,” which is another way of saying on a frontage of three metres. On this little plot, less than ten feet in length, she was anxious to build a lien-house. Regulations made it necessary for her simple request to be considered by the Engineers of the railway company. Service of Administrative Control, Prefect of the Seine-et-Oise Department. Minister of Public Works and President of the Republic. The request has been granted, but with so many conditions that it is considered doubtful that Mme. Rispe will have .the courage to build after all.

more about fashions. Coats are of all lengths. Some artists declare for the full length, yet the extended three-quarter suits a waist and wider shoulder-line best (writes a London “Daily Telegraph” contributor). Skirts for practical day and sports wear are definitely a little shorter, perhaps by one or two inches, but there is no really noticeable change as yet. The fitted way is obvious for day and evening. Lines follow the figure closely, and fulness starts lower. The waist is clearly marked, but it may be high, low, or normal. It is a question of proportion. Much variety extends to hats, or rather to the ways of wearing them. Very chic is the. new direct aspect, of a sporting belt, but it is difficult to poise a rakish shape straight. The tiny plateau is tipped forward, but what of its back view? Curls and trimmings are correct, so hairdressing gets more and more complicated, and hats more and more dressy. Green fruit will decorate dark pome-granite-red straw; the unripe shade is marvellous when allied to darkest maroon. A green and purple grape cluster with a red and pink rosebud can claim 18th-century colours and charm when used as a wreath to a new Liseret straw in the banana shade. It will be a season of colours revised from two centuries past. The corduroy variety in fabrics is reproduced in many attractive shades, and can be in cotton, wool, lace, or velvet. Shaded stripes are very effective, in fact, stripes at the moment are so softly blended that they do not suggest the “suddenness” that is apt to be associated with such patterns. The newest jerseys, knitted or woven, show many overstripes in colours blended on to dark grounds. Charming schemes in graduated shades, such as dark brown with rust, yellow and beige stripes, can be developed, and ■when worn with a yellow sweater, beret and scarf, with brown shoes, hosiery, bag and gloves, the country suit is complete. For town a smart felt hat and scarf -with satin blouse can be substituted.

Light frocks are rendered much smarter by the dark accessories. A beige jersey in two shades stressed shoes of dark brown antelope, also gloves and pochette, topped by a beige Panama, with a dark brown velvet ribbon folded band and belt of the same, with beige, red and brown flowers all made in kid. Pale grey is prettiest when the shoes are mixed with black patent.

Turquoise and black are among the new alliances, and this difficult colour is at its best with the sable hue. Many sports suits in black wool have tops of blue angora of the tone of the Mediterranean Sea. Peach is an easier shade for elder women, and is best with dark brown.

FOWL STUFFED WITH NEEDLES

A variation on the classical reaction of a woman scorned has been occupying a Paris Court. The accused, Mme. Leontine Marceau, admitted that she had tried to make her former lover, M. Joseph Chavagne, and his wife eat gramophone needles. For many years M. and Mme. Chavagne have lived apart. Mme. Leontine consoled M. Chavagne in his solitude, and for six years took a maternal interest in his children. Of late, however, M. Chavagne has wanted to patch up his disagreement with his wife.

It was therefore arranged that he should dine at her house on December 20 with a-view to talking things over. Buying a fowl several hours before leaving his residence, he presented it as a peace offering to Mme. Chavagne.

She roasted the bird, but when the long-estranged couple settled down to dinner they discovered that the fowl was stuffed with giamophone needles. The police soon obtained a full confession from the jealous Leontine. The Court sentenced her to 18 months’ imprisonment but with the benefit of the first offenders’ law. She was therefore set free after paying a fine of 10/-.