WOMEN'S INTERESTS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1934, Page 3

WOMEN'S INTERESTS

CUTTONS GROW IMPORTANT TO FASTEN AS WELL AS TO TRIM A very noticeable feature of the new models now being shown in London is The way the dressmakers are using buttons. These may decorate or fasten : the dress but in either case they are usually supplied with button holes to .give a semblance of utility. A simple dress will button from the chin to the hem-line, and this type dress with demure turn-down _ white collar, and perhaps two little white tabs under the chin has a unique distinction seldom achieved % a more fussy frock, gome of the newest skirts are buttoned down the side, with three or four buttons left unfastened at the hem to give ease in walking, because tailored skirts have suddenly become very narrow. Close buttoning down the front of a blouse gives a quaint old-world look to a satin blouse that has a small basque at the waist line, slightly full at the back and with rounded points in front. A good many dresses are fastened down the back with four or live large buttons that reach from the neck to just below the shoulder blades. One very pretty model was made of brown crepe open all the way down the back and the front showing a white slip beneath. This was buttoned at the top and bottom of the bodice, back and front, and held dose at the waist by a brown crepe belt tied in the front with a small loose bow..

Another dark dress had a large white collar that draped a little in the front of the throat and was buttoned down the back between the shoulders. This had sleeves ihat opened from the front of the elbow and fell away from the arm. to show a white facing. Another white- touch was a- large three-corner piece of white organdie edged with three little frills. This was stretched across the front of the bodice with a la-rge black button fastening a point- at each shoulder, and the third (point buttoned at the waist. One other lovely black crepe afternoon gown had small -crepe covered buttons running all the way down the ■sleeveh from the shoulders to the wrists, and a similar close row of buttons down the entire front of the dress, which was ankle-length, with a slightly lower cowled neckline at the back. For ( the evening I liaye seen ’buttons used just as freely one model in pale blue and gold crepe having gold buttons running down the entire .-length of..the back the button-holes’ being bound with gold lacquered satin, and gold gloves rucked to the elbow. A high-necked sleeveless black evening gown was buttoned in a similar fashion with cut steel buttons,, and a white satin frock cut square at the ' neck was buttoned down the front to about five inches below- the \\*,aist, where it opened to show a panel of finely pleated satin that, gave it the desired fullness.

Already the manufacturers have catered for this fashion by producing literally hundreds of new types of buttons. fine shop I went into this week 'to buy a few metal buttons has even divided its huge department into one entire counter for each colour! There are buttons of glass, woed, leather ; every sort of metal, gold, silver and bronze; pearl buttons in every colour; composition buttons in quaint shapes; diamond; and those covered .with tweed, wool a.nd crepe. Sometimes a double row of button holes is fastened together with a set of quaint-shaped metal clips. The whole idea is that if your dress design calls for buttons, you should choose something new and distinctive eitbei in colour, shape, or the material of which they are made. personality shops AN AID TO BUYERS “Do Vour hats dramatise you?” This startling question, to be seen on a number of smart New York millinery salons, has many brothers and sisters such as. “Do your clothes suit your personality?” and so on. The object of such shops is to start a train of thought in the mind of the wavering customer, who, overcome by curiosity, is lured into the jaws, or more literally, hands, of a psychologically trained personality expert, and the rest i? easy.

It is not the business of the attendants to sell at all costs. They must see to it that the customer is suitably and attractively clothed. These girls do not receive their training haphazardly, but attend classes in psychology and every other branch of their work. As personality exports, they ca,n inform you if your are a Mary Pickford, Greta Garbo, or a Spanish princess. It is rather terrifying to think of an ■efficient young person looking you up and down, and labelling you for life, the while you tremble in fearful anticipation. Put it is helpful for women with no flair for clothes, and what a relief to their friends! A certain amount of freedom is allowed if one is not too definitely “a type.” This is comforting, and allows one more scope for originality. But strict are the laws governing skin, hair and nails, which must be perfectly groomed, or the attendant will frankly inform you that it is impossible for your frock to look becoming. This personality business has already laid siege to us, and presently our defences will weaken and we will com-

Mints from Jiortje and Mhrcad.

mence to study seriously our clothes and hitherto unsuspected personality. But, whoever will decorate the ballroom walls, .when we all become mortal Venuses? WOMEN AMBASSADORS. ' A POSSIBLE INNOVATION. If that day does arrive when women will be, representing Britain as ambassadors in foreign -capitals, then it may be fchlat there will he cases of heart failure at some of the clubs where olde>ty dipfoniatistl, gather. But the prospect hr.s certainly come within reasonable distance now that the Government has set up a special committee to “review the question of the admission of women to the Diplomatic , and Consular Services,” says a London correspondent. Of course, a woman ambassador .would be a tremendous -innovation 'in Britain, but such posts have already been filled by women of the United (States, Russia 'and Colombia- Mrs Ruth Owen, daughter of William Jennings Bryan, is United States ambassador fn -Copenhagen, where she has been a distinct, if unorthodox, success; Mrs Piz-arfo has been a n attache at the Colombian legation :at Madrid ; and Mine. Kollontry has represented the Soviet Gurerrment- in Stockholm. Inevitably, the old’argument will be put forward that women are unlable to keep secrets,, but.,„surely this fantastic idea has keen exploded in these days of , “big business” women aud confiden ia secretaries. Possibly the old school oi diplomacy believes that wok CI * s c 1 might be-unfairly successful in s’ tua ' lions where‘men have failed. But th<k e | .is no valid reason why a cultivated | clever woman should not make .a worthy representative of -he-r country in a foreign capital. One problem dues present itself, however. What would be the status of the husband of a woman (ambassador? .At -present the wife -of an ambassador . is usually., bis most serviceable -and vifc--l .pd-’unct to success. Success Pr failur-e frequently depends on her skill and adroitness. But what would the position of * the -i husband V e ? He could scarcely act merely. as the host when the wom-aji-ambassador g'ive her great social. entertainments ? . A NATURAL SKIN TONIC. The modern wonr-n wastes the finest aid to beauty there is. She allows gurgle down driains or soak away into the,-ground, thinking that becouse, itcosts nothing it i s not worth having. Have, you ever wondered why our sTPat-graod-mothers had such deJcate -pirik- and white complexions, and su;h glossy masses Qf Rain ? Ccsin?tics and shampoo powders were not in general use in those days, so grmt-gr.mdmpthet relied on simpler aids to beauty, and (her Igreatest stand-by was rainwater. Perfectly pure, and the softest, of a],} waters,, it was collected in large butts and used in. preference to well 9 r water. The country-women- of,; to-day -ctill use rainwater, .for they can collect !it easily, but the town or subiyvban dweller Ims long given it up in favour of tapwater, which, alas, is often extremely bard and qnite unsuitable for personal wlashing. Wherever she lives, the wise ;Woimn who wishes for a smooth skin and beautiful hair will make up -her mind to co - lect- -as much rain water as she 'can. •It is -not so very difficult. A baby’s enamel bath-tub -placed in a yard or ■gv’den or on a flat piece of room coring a shower, .will collect quite a lot. WOOL REMNANTS Hand-knitted garments, such as jumpers, scarves;- and berets .have been so much worn of late that there must be many people with a collection of oddlv assorted balls of wool. It is not alwavs easy to find a use for them, but they" might' well be made into a chequered covering for a, baby’s cot. Knit the wool into squares; changes of colour in the squares will not matter, as the finished covering will be, all the more attractive if designed in the crazy colour scheme of the old-fashioned patchwork quilt. Squares of suitable size can be marie by casting on fifty | stitches ,ud knitting fifty rows. The | number of such squares will depend on i the size of the covering, the average I size of a cot being about three and a 'half feet by two feet. The covering ’ should be a little wider than the cot, but, of course, not so long. Press out the knitted squares under, a damn doth and sew them together, arranging the cola-urs effectively. Two "or three rows of double crochet round .the edges of .the covering will keep it firm and provide a good finuish.