"Seen in the Shops”

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 30 September 1933, Page 13

"Seen in the Shops”

In Mr Masters’ address at Stratford on Monday night I notice he says that if the policy of self-sufficiency so apparent m Europe be not broken down, countries like our own were in for a difficult time and that' possibly a development of our local secondary industries might have to he considered. ! This suggestion raises a very vexed question, but taken in conjunction with the proposed limitation of our exports, it is certainly a very .pertinent one. The less we export the more we must I consume locally and the more we develop our secondary industries, thfe more money and the more people we shall have to swell our home market. It is often surprising to find what we do alreadv manufacture in New Zealand. For instance, I found some wonderful new cast iron frying pans, girdles and hot plates at Bennett and Sutton’s the other day. They are not a bit dear. Once hot they need very little firing, they would never tip over or go out of shape and they are just- perfect for .such things as pikelets or girdle scones.

In the latest magazines which deal with houses and furniture, the kitchen, the work-ishop of the house, is presented with almost a sterilized appearance. It may be colourful, bright and attractive, but all the same the use of a hard surfaced enamel for all paint work, the enamelled stoves, the use of glass for table tops, the cupboards for all utensils and supplies, does mean that your kitchen can be kept almost as free from dust and germs a.s an operating theatre. The ideal garment for kitchen wear js a cotton overall or house frock, sleeveless, for preference., in some bifightj but washable print that will stand repeated washups. The C.R.P. have just opened a line of these frocks, some with sleeves some with tiny puff sleeves and some sleeveless. They are simply made, of very pretty prints with collars and revers and 'Belt, and are quite inexpensive.

I saw some such attractive frocks for older women at Mrs Des Forges to-day. Of course, there are some very thin elderly women, but for some reason or another with most people as years increase, so does one’s measurements. These frocks are specially for women with large figures. One is a brown cTepe very well cut with nice long lines and a cross-over front, giving length. It has a 54 inch hip. Another not so large is a dull black crepe being full in the skirt but with the fulnesis low down and smooth fitting with diagonal lines, above the knees. It is made with a cross-over bodice and a vest and cuffs of folded cream georgette. Most attractive. Another is also of dull black crepe, well cut, with a cross-over bodice and a little cross-over vest of real magenta. It is such a lovely little bit of colour and somehow surprising, but it iust, makes the frock

The new coloured shoes in a mixture of canvas and kid, some with semi-spike heels, some with Cuban heels, some with straps and some court shoes are so inexpensive and so pretty-. Pale blue with white kid toe cans and trim, pale green ditto, pale beige with brown kid design on one side, they would be most attractive with flowered print or voile frocks. For. more formal wear the new kid shoes in white, brown or black, the uppers decorated with punching, or, in the case of the dark shoes, with trimmings of suede, offer endless variety. George and Doughty’s new stock is on show and is characterised by moderation in price.

* «► * * * We have been hearing a great deal lately of the influx into this country of large quantities of cheap Japanese goods. Some of them are very hard to detect, they imitate so well the better quality goods they- ape. The price is low, the appearance quite attractive. so that it is difficult for people to take the long view and buy British that costs more.. British manufacturers have been feeling this competition so keenly that manv of them have made a special effort to supply

CBy “Rachael”)

the market with am article British made, combining quality with a low price. A case in point is a line of woven silk bloomers made by the Celanese people just opened at Harrops'. They are well cut and in various verypretty shades, they are British, their price is low and their value unsurpassed • * * * •

The popularity of white linen, white pique or any other white cotton materials will never be superseded by colours, however attractive, lor tennis wear. But many girls are wearing bright pullovers or coats when not actually playing. The pullovers are a nuisance and the most useful garment is a loose light-weight coat. McGruer Bone’s have lots of these long unlined woollen coats, swagger style or with bolts, in vivid shades, bright greens and blues, tsulphur, goldfish, tomato or cherry. They would be ideal for the purpose. One coat for the older women was most beautifully cut in black Bedford cord with no belt and a narrow collar of black and white stripes, having one long end. Another was a long coat of black and white check with scarlet collar and cuffs, chromium buttons with a hint of scarlet This coat had a skirt with it or the same stuff, so it would serve for manv occasions.

Though all-over carpets showing no floor are popular and are much more easily cared for now that vacuum cleaners are so effective, squares that may be turned round- S(0 that the wear conies in a different place really have a longer life. Purser’s have a big stock of seamless carpet squares in all kinds of delightful colours and designs and they are available at sale prices. The discount on a carpet worth several pounds means a very considerable concession. Some of them are flowered and many of them show the modern conventional patterns. One roll of carpet, to be made up, is a most uncommon colouring. A beige ground, patterned closely all over with a small design of mole leaves and small flowers of plum and delphinium blue. It could form the basis of a perfeotlv lovely room.

There seems to be a marked tendency towards more colour on the outsides of our houses and on our roofs. People seem to be getting tired of what was once, almost a uniform dark red for roofs. Looking round nawera one finds many green roofs (but be careful you get a good 1 make, because inferior green paints fade badly) and there are several almost orange. Seen against a background of trees this is quite good, but it needs the greens of the trees to tone it down. One finds cherry coloured front doors or bright blue. One big house I saw in Wellington has cream walls, orange roof, bright blue shutters to the windows and bright blue front door. It was verygood. When you are having your house painted, try one of these new colourings and help brighten up the town. Rasmussen can show you all shades of paints. It doesn’t cost anymore to be gay. *****

There is no reason why even the expenditure of a small-sum of money should not produce a charming effect in renovating a room provided some care and thought are used. With plenty of money, materials are so lovely there is no excuse for unattractive or dull room®. With little money, so long, as you are satisfied with simple materials and are careful as to colour combinations, just as good an effect may be obtained as with a more lavish expenditure. An inexpensive cretonne in your favourite colours, for new curtains.and bedspread will work wonders. Be sure to make dressing-table mats or the cretonne bound with bias binding in one of the colours in the cretonne. Symes’ have lovely cretonnes at all prices and they have, too, a very- good choice of bedspreads from simple washing ones to those more sophisticated silks and satins in most lovely colours