"Seen in the Shops”

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 4 November 1933, Page 13

"Seen in the Shops”

The builders are getting on well with George and Dougfitvs new building and the firm is looking forward to making an impressive display at the beginning of December. The splendid lighting, will be a great asset. In the meantime their motto is “Business, as usual.” They have a very good stock of new summer shoes, comprising canvas and poplin shoes in all styles and in many colours a.s well as white ones. Their white kid shoes, are specially smart, most of them having Louis or spike heels. Some have brown backs and brown toes, some with a vamp of strong white net look delightfully cool ; many are decorated with a design of punch work and one pair of laced shoes with a medium heel and lines of punching are attractive for those who do not care for high heels for street wear. The firm is also well stocked with all the leading makes, of stockings in the new smoke shades, both greys ana lawns. While earthenware and china teapots may oc, and very often are, very attractive and very inexpensive compared with the cost oi a silver or plated one, they break and chip so easily*, that, in the aggregate, you have probably spent far more in teapots over a period of years than it you had plunged m the first instance and bougnt a plated or a silver teapot that always looks good and lasts l a lifetime. Whether you prefer Queen Anne designs or those of the Georgian period, whether you admire the simplicity of modern silver with its unusual shapes, there is at -Gerralid’s, every ■ style from which to choose. An ultra: modern silver tea set with its dia-mond-shaped teapot, sugar basin and 1 cream ju a is unique. I always like those perfectly plain rather squat tea- 1 pots and the firm has some lovely; little hot water jugs with a. squat bowl," narrow neck and. a handle with such good lines. A tall silver pitcher,! something the shape of a large egg l with its top off, with a beautiful’ handle, all perfectly plain and which] would hold about a quart, would be 1 perfect for some of those delicious fruit drinks or hock, claret or cider cup. A A* V- -» -t* *

According to the latest trade journals, swagger coats will be “la mode” throughout the summer and next winter, so by adding one of these ooats or coats and skirts to your wardrobe you are not likely soon to find that the trend of fashion has left you high and dry with a perfectly good garment out of date. For a swagger coat to be really smart the skirt must be perfectly straight and very narrow—absolutely no flair must appear in the skirt while the coat vs very loose fitting and wide round the bottom. For walking the skirt may be left open for a few inches at the bottom (made to button if you wish) and for sports wear extra fulness is provided with inset pleats, out the silhouette must be nariow. Harrops' have some very new tweeds especially for these c-oats. They are Jignt m weight and are patterned with big unobtrusive shaded plaid effects. One I very much liked was in shades ot grey, beige and brown, but there are other colourings, for instance, red, black and grey and blue, black and putty « * # # »

The rage for checks and plaids, both for day and evening wear, continues unabated. The latest fashion books ax*e still showing many new models and MeGruer Bone have just opened a new shipment of silk crepes patterned in plaids and chevron stripes. The latter are in muiti-coloured stripes on a white, pale green, or blue ground. The former show some charming shades. One of Chinese yellow, a soft amber yellow, has an overplaid in narrow lines of dark brown and coral; another has a coral ground with the overplaid of black and duil green. The colourings vary to suit all tastes, but they are all capable of developing a very smart frock. Tor their very best effect they need to b’e made up with fome portion at least on the cross and many are cut entirely so. A very simply made plaid evening frock has a sheath fitting top as far as the knees, with a perfectly straight box pleated flounce, put on with a. heading and then full gathered graduated frill) of velvet in one of the tones in the plaid is stitched into the deep armholes, wider on top and slightly narrowed underneath. ******

One often sees a line of materials in the shops which can be made use of in many ways beyond the one originally intended. P'ursers’ have just opened a number of cushion squares and lengths of tapestry of Belgian origin. The cushion squares are in combinations of most vivid colours. Besides being used as cushions they would make very useful and good wearing knitting bags, just lined and sewn on to wooden handles. Two to match would be made into a sewing bag that hangs on a wooden folding stand. Some of this tapestry is pictorial, showing figures or scenery. A strip of this, wnieh is very colourful, might be made to cover a fender stool, or again, it might be used as a wall hanging above a shelf, which carries pieces of china, or just simply to brighten a long passage. Small squares of the same tapestry could be used to cover the shabby seats of dining room chairs. It would wear well ana only needs tacking on with a little gimp as a finishing. With plain walls and plain, curtains the renovated I chairs would look quite well. j

So many of the carpets produced' with modern futuristic designs are so crude and flaring in colouring that one | would very easily tire of them, but one 1 showing m S.vme’s window just now’! has a futuristic design all squares and angles in the softest shades on a beige ground, dull blues and wines predominating. It is one of several carpets which have been specially reduced and offer splendid value. Some arc Oft. by 9ft. and some Oft. by 12ft., both m.i I j«.

CBy “Rachael.”)

very got.a, useful sizes. Another o these carpets has a plain lawn boa., with a medallion centre and a bordei in shades of brown and a very prettv green. A most useful dining room carpet has an all-over pattern of Power' in brown hues and another of the same | type has roses ot pinkish mauve am: blue. Plain carpets are a great mistake in a dining room because tne\ show every mark and need such -i great deal of attention. There arc about ten of these special carpets at a very attractive price and if you art needing a carpet, here is an opportunity not to be missed. The siuinv side of the house is rightly reserved for the bedrooms and living rooms, so that the kitchen often has little or no sun. White paint, while very fresh and clean looking, is also very cold in appearance. if warm cream or pale yeilow is used for the walls it is surprising what a much more cheerful effect you would get. A green and white linoleum, patterned curtains m green, yellow and orange, a, line of green round the mantelpiece and cupboard doors and chairs and table legs of green, then all you need are sets of tins for groceries and cakes and your kitchen is a most attractive workroom. Bennett- and Sutton’s have a big supply of tins for all commodities in flat round shapes and tall ones to match. They are painted in quite good colours among them being just the greens and yellows to match this colour scheme. They are quite cheap and, oy buying one or two every now and then, you would soon have an adequate supply. By the way, the firm is expecting to land very shortly a big supply of enamel ware, pots and pans and everything, in yellowy enamel trimmed with a- green line. Just the very thing! **,*•* When one thinks of it, shoes and boots are, of all wearing apparel, the surest indicators of character, of avocations and conditions of life Babies' shoes and young ladies’ shoes, school boys’ boots and fishermen’s boots, tennis shoes and business shoes, elegant' mules and golfing brogues, high heeled, shoes and spike-heeled shoes, running shoes and mountaineers boots, dancing shoes and old ladies’ shoes, town shoes and country boots—they all tell some kind of a story. Take country boots or farm boots—big, heavy, of solid leather, rubber-soled, spiked or nailed, made for rough work in all weathers, over all kinds of country, yet comfortable withal. The very look ot them shouts farmer, with their tremendous solidity. The C.-.R.P. have i big stock of uskidc boots, possessing all these points. They are in all sizes and very reasonable in. price.

Pyrex ware is : bv no means new, but it has proved so popular that ever> season it is being made •in a greater variety of shapes and sizes. Dalgettv’s have opened their new season’s Pyrex. comprising casseroles, pie dishes, bowls, plates for tarts, square deep dishes for calces or loaves and ! noticed such a very useful .measuring cup, showing measurements not only for pints of liquid, but the correct cup measure and also one for ounces. A year’s guarantee against oven breakage accompanies every article—it is no use if you drop it, of course!—-but Pyrex must be properly used. It should never come in contact with direct flame in the oven, the shelf must be adjusted to avoid this; a hot dish should never be stood on a cold marble dab nor should cokl water be poured into a hot dish, nor a damp cloth be used to lift one from the oven. But given commonsense treat men. these dishes last indefinitely. They minimise labour, they are easy to clean, don’t chip, don’t throw off injurious acids, in fact, are the perfect cooking utensils. * •* * * #

If one appears to keep on hammering at the suggestion that mere and more labour saving plant should be added to every household equipment, it is to endeavour to break down the general feeling that such things are luxuries rather than necessities and to encourage the idea that anythings which eases the burden of housekeeping in tnis country is a wise expenditure. If you can buy just one small electrical contrivance it i. at least a beginning. Now that the summer is near it is no longer necessary to keep a fire going in the kitchen all day. Have- you ever thought what a boon an electric kettle or jug would be (I’m speaking principal to country women). Coming home late, fire all out, think how quick,, you could make tea if, instead! of' lighting up the fire and waiting at least half an hour, all you had to do was to plug in ait electric kettle, which boils in a. few minutes. Davy's have both kettles and jugs and many other useful electric things. * * * •

Passing Des Forges’ window one’s attention is immediately attracted by a very smart pyjama, ensemble in black and flame. The suit is of black locknit with bold appliques of flame flowers and leaves up the sides of the wide-legged trousers, which have flame* hems. The coat is almost three-quar-ter length, very handsomely trimmed to match the suit. Inside they showed me a charming pyjama nightdress in pale pink. “What is a. pyjama nightdress,” one might ask. The legs of the pyjamas are cut so wide that' when you stand up if falls like a skirt. It is a delicious shade of pink, with little touches of embroidery on the jumper top. On the counter two sets, one white and one pale lemon, cr.nsisting of nightdress, slip and bloomers in crepe do chine, trimmed with beautiful Chinese embroidery They are very lovely. Another pyjama suit of palest blue locknit had just a. tiny spray of French knot roses on the front of the jumper top and the legs of the trousers and all hems were a narrow fold of cream net.