NOTES FOR WOMEN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 309, 5 November 1910, Page 6

NOTES FOR WOMEN.

I" Patricia " will be pleased to give advice to readers on all matters concerning dress, house-keeping, etiquette and the toilet. Write, giving pseudonym, care of this office.]

Wellington, Tuesday. -

Dear Isobel,—Nothing very starting has happened this week, my greatest grief being caused by that deplorable garden trio, wind, wet and wandering cats. It is certainly most annoying, after one has ruined one's dress and complexion, to say nothing of hands, to find that a minature Zambesi has been raging through some nice smooth beds, where seeds of many delightful flowers lie buried. I have up til! now positively refused to believe that there was anything "miniature" about my "garden remover," and I was quite prepared to credit some malicious power with moving the whole Zambesi for my special annoyance, but on second thoughts I hardly think even a very malicious spirit would trouble so much about me! However, it is no longer raining and I have roses red, pink, and yellow galore, to -sooth my dampened spirits. Ribbon, which is being used in such enormous quantities on hats just now, lias, by way of compensation I suppose, gone entirely out of fashion on underwear. Of course, frilly white things look very beautiful run with pale tinted ribbons among the filmy lace —when they are not being worn. But it was a trifle annoying to see literally hundreds of pink or blue beribboned cache corsets the first time one went out. Your lace Tnight be real Cluny and the embroidery handdone on the most gausy of cambric but when seen through a transparent blouse who is to notice the difference between it and the dozens of "three and elevenpenny" ones all around? Thin blouses should never be worn except over a properly fitting slip, which should completely cover everything below it. On one memorable occasion I counted no less than five separate tops cf garments showing distinctly through a girl's blouse, each with its arrangement of cheap lace and ribbon-run beading. Another monstrosity is the ribbon run petticoat which we saw so many of last year; I say "saw" in the literal sense, as I have vivid recollections of an extremely stout woman in a thin muslin dress under which was a set of garments run with bright lilac ribbon. Round the knees there was wide ribbon tied in bows at intervals, round the waist there was more, slightly narrower, at the edges of the neck and sleeves there was yet more ribbon. The only wonder was why should she trouble to wear a dress at all. I in no way condemn pretty underwear, but I much prefer the new combined Princess camisolepetticoats, trimmed with lace and insertion, and if one must have ribbon let it be white and of good quality. I have seen some charming slips like this lately, and I expect they will become very popular, as they have a decidedly reducing effect under a thin dress and entirely do away with the "blousey" appearance so many people have in light frocks. The subject of white slips reminds me of a novel way of introducing colour into a thin white washing dress. Many of even the fast dyed embroidery threads run when washed and I never saw a ribbon or other coloured trimming that could be tubbed with impunity. A deep tuck of casing is made at the lower edge of the skirt, about seven inches above the hem is a fashionable height to put it, through which ribbon of any desired colour and pattern .is smoothly run, taking care that it is the exact width of the casing, and that it is absolutely flat and does not draw the muslin up in the least. It is simply finished off invisibly inside the tuck and thus never emerges out of cover at all. This gives the charming veiled effect that is so fashionable (and expensive too) just now and it seems to me that one could easily adapt the clever "cretonne ribbon" idea I told you of some time ago. The blouse of a gown like this could be made in the cross-over style (of which I will write more later) having the ribbon enclosed in the front folds or a collar might be used of the sailor type with a wide hem all round having the ribbon in it to match the skirt. Velvet seems to be on almost everything this summer and I expect we will see quantities of it worn as belts and what the Americans call "fixin's," on our thin frocks. There is a certain charm about a velvet girdle that I can never escape, and I am never really happy unless I have at least one belt or sash of velvet

among my "props.'" I notice that the delightful Empire lines are coining in again and I expect v.e will .see a good dual of this becoming style next winter. Among my favourite frocks is one of plain black net, heavily embroidered with silver braid in a'bold design of waved lines, over which are life-sized swallows of

soft grey chenille and silk embroidery. It is mounted over a Princess slip of soft black satin, the bodice cut square and with braided straps over the shoulders coming down to the Empire waist where they are held in by a black velvet girdle with lone ends at the back, which has a big diamond buckle at the back in place of the usual bow or rosette. The sleeves are of transparent net to the elbow and slightly rucked. A dress such as I have described makes a splendid stand by, and can be worn at almost any time, for dinner or at the theatre, and is of a style that does not do out of fashion quickly. Talking of sleeves reminds me that we have the greatest latitude this year in our choice of shapes and styles that I think we have ever had. Coat sleeves 2re usually three - quarter length and are quite plain, with as little drawing at the top as it is possible to arrange them with. All evening dresses have short sleeves at present, often of kimono shape, and are nearly always transparent; that is to say, if the frock is of satin or silk it.has kimona sleeves cut in one with the bodice over fine ninon or net which may be almost any shape from the tight rucked one to the big loose leg of mutton puff. Afternoon dresses have sleeves either to the elbow or three-quarters, which, of course, portends that this will be an expensive year for gloves, always such a big item in the summer outfit of the woman who wants to earn the name of chic, which is quite impossible with soiled gloves. We can get so many really good imitations of suede in cotton at such very moderate prices and in nearly any shade or colour now-. a-days, that there is no excuse for being seen wearing soiled gloves unless employed in gardening or cleaning silver —two terrible tasks for spoiling and roughening pretty lianas. Last week I mentioned that 1 had some receipts for bath sachets which are quite within the means of any girl however ignorant she may be of drugs, and which sre both refreshing and strengthening in their effect on the body. Oatmeal, orris root powder, and" almond meal put in small muslin bags and soaked in the bath will both soften the water and improve the skin. For any one who cannot use soap these sachets will be found a splendid substitute, j

Lavender, 'thyme, balm, and mint infused like tea with warm water and strained off into the bath makes a fragrant addition to the water, and will also be found to be very refreshing after a hot or tiring day. Almost any herbs can be used in this way: mint, rue rosemary, sage and verbena being amongst the best for ordinary use. These may be combined and varied to any desired perfume or strength at pleasure, and they have the great advantage of being absolutely harmless in the hands of the veriest amateur. Benzoin and plain rose water well shaken up together make a delightfully soothing addition to the bath or face water, and have great whitening properties on a skin that is burnt by the sun or wind. Another excellent lotion for severe cases of sun - burn is the old - fashioned "Carron oil" composed of equal parts of pure linseed oil an lime water. If this is gently dabbed on with a soft cloth or piece of cotton wool and left on the face or neck for some time it will be found that the worst of the burn has been avoided.

With ordinary care, plenty of pure water both externally and internally, very little meat or other heating foods in the hot weather and a good skin food to apply at nights no one should have a muddy skin. Massage is excellent in some cases, but I believe far more harm has been done by people attempting to massage their own faces from "charts" and other miscellaneous and probably inaccurate information, than was ever done by the sun-burn of which we hear so many complaints. No two faces require exactly the same treatment and unless one 13 an expert, or has had lessons from a professional, the only result likely to be occained is a general drooping and sagging of most of the muscles in—shall I say "the afflicted part?" I have some further receipts for face creams, etc., but I will have to write about them some other time, as I have no space here. —Yours faithfully, PATRICIA.