WOMAN'S WORLD.

Matamata Record, Volume VI, Issue 432, 30 April 1923, Page 1

WOMAN'S WORLD.

UATINK FROCKS. Tlio tardy summer lias been responsible for an almost complete revolution in the wardrobes of many women who wise ones will, no doubt, chooso their laUvsmnnier frocks with a view to utilizing some of their., at least, when autumn sots in. The perplexing weather conditions at the beginning of the month made it had prepared 'lippant frocks for hot June clays, lint found themselves mora comfortable in furs. Others, who left their preparation* (ill a later dato, arc now busy in putting the finishing touches to their August outfits, nnd tho

very difficult for women to know what to buy at the Kales and brought their dross-plans to a stand-still, for a bargain is no bargain if it is uselss. A practical woman, determined tb take advantage of tho sales in a practical way, that is.' to buy something that would suit all weathers, decided that whatever frock alio purchased should be of ratine, for, as sho truly said, ratine is an all-tho-year-round fabric. This season the ratines are cetrtainly charming. The. most fashionable of all are those that- aro striped and show mixed colours, and among the most prevalent colours aro orange and grey, lioii always in conjunction, but vcrv often allied. Pink'and pale grey, blue and buff aro other popuJar alliances, and orango and (lark blue, mixed, aro also regarded with favour. Moro often than not tlie frock of striped ratine or sponge-cloth is made with jumper top and gathered skirt seamed together, this popular model being varied by tho all-in-one frock with gathered hips. In the former case the stripes run across the figure on the bodice and in an up-and-down direction on the skirt: or tho lie of tho stripes is reversed, according to fancy But more dignified than cither of these styles is tho panel-frock, wherein tho front, from neck to hem, is actually an inlet panel or assumes a panel effect. Invariably tho stripes on the panel run in a different direction io those, on the major portion of tho dress. An original design for a dress of striped' ratine is shown in the sketch. Hero wo have a jumper-like top that develops into a panel-front, the sides of tho skirt showing iho stripes running crosswise io the hips. A sash of ciro ribbon gives a blouse-effect to tho waist and is the only thing in the nature of trimming that is allowed on a frock which would be charming copied in navy-blue ami bull' ratine, pink and white, or orange and brown, the first and last colour-suggestions applying as well to autumn ;.s to immediate wear. The woman of method and forethought always has the right dress ft.r the right occasion, no matter how few frocks her wardrobe may contain, and never descends to borrowing from her friends. On tho other hand, there is tho woman who scorns method, delights in borrowing, to save ' herself tiouble and expense, and forgets to return. 1 am reminded of a woman who was recently wearing her shabbiest cloak for weeks, because she had lent liev best ono to a friend who borrowed it for a day and wore it for a month. When the owner asked for it again she was rudely answered, and the friendship was broken. Another woman lent her beautilul cream silk jun pur-frock to n- friend, who bad it damped and stretched to tit hor, with the result that when the owner slipped :t on again she found, in disgust, hor waist within a lew inches of hor knees. Moral: Never lend your frocks to a friend. LAOE-TRIMMED BLUUSE&. Tho return of lace is a thing to rejoice at, for nothing in tho way of trimming is .so becoming as lino Ince. Once more bloiws are bearing delicate additions of lace, and lace collars are

adorning coal* mul eo.sLuiin.-s. Tlio lace fiohu, oveii,«li;is Hindu its rc-H»|)euriinc3, and voilo frockfl iiru relieved with lace insertions.

The revival of laco trimmings wao heralded by the coining into fashion recently of glazed lace of wide width for frocks, the sequel to which pretty fancy was easy to guess. A "simple- but romurkablv effective way of beautifying a. blouse with tin? magic touch of lace, is demonstrated by the blouse dlustrated. the chief )'<atiiro of which is tho wide lace-iusertit n run with velvet-ribbon that trims the neck and sleeves. Tlk- blouse is of the slip-on kind, the bead-opening being large and tho hem run with an elastic. It is cut very iong. so that the waist inn be as shown in the sketch or dr.iwn up higher and '' blouscd" over at an even or irregular level, for some women prefer a blouse, pulled well down in front and short at the sides. The model sketched is intended for satin or crepe do chine. The sleeves are put-in ones and are wide at the ends, and on the shoulders the blouse is tucked.

Although intended for an independent blouse, tho design is equally suitable, of course for the top of a dress, and would work mil well in tine cloth or cashmere. Charming would be the appearance of the Mouse dovclope.l in grey, China-blue or cerise cloth, trimmed with ecru (or grey, wore the material grey) lace threaded with black vol vet-ribbon.

AN ECONOMY 11 KYI

Very often part of the contents oi a, bottle of gum is wasted because what lemains has bubonic dry and solid and is regarded as untenable Vinegar put into the. bottle and stirred around with a brush, will dissolve the hardened gum and make it usable again. Care should bo taken to pour in only enough vinegar to render tho gum liquid fe'hako the bottle well and mix water and gum together with the brush.

LACK CURTAINS

"When laco curtains have been washed, hang them on a. line in the air to dry, and if they are fringed (or tassellcl) beat tho fringes with a thin stick — u bamboo is excellent for the purpose—to disintangle thorn. Continue beating till the fringe is fresh-looking. If Lhoio is a lawn available, it is a good plan to lay tho curtains. Hat on the grass to dry, putting Btonos in the corners to keep them stretched. If the curtains must bo dried indoors hang them on a line in the scullery to drip, then, while they are still wot, stretch a dusting-sheet on the fioor of ono of the rooms and pin the curtains to it.

SOUR MILK

The economical housewife does not throw away sour milk,, but uses it in tho making of tea-cakes or plum-cakes or cream-cheese. When quite set, sour milk may take the place of junket, to be served w.th stewed fruit. It is recommended as a complexion wash, but the. odour is against it for this purpose, and girls prefer buttermilk, which is veallv one of the best of complexion washes.

SUMMER STEP- SAVERS

Domestic service ; s too costly lev evory housewife to be able to keep a parlour-maid, and at this season of the year many housewives find the task of serving meals very irksome ami fatiguing. They may be counselled to consider some of tho many good mechanical substitutes for the human woiker that are to bo met with and that will save countless steps. Many are the types of wheel-trays, for instance, that will help to servo and clear away an entire meal with a single round trip between kitchen and diningroom. The most convenient of these mechanical waiters or "silent servants" aro oblong, with trays about 2ift. by 18in., and have three tiers 01 trays, ono above tho other, allowing one shelf for each service or course.

USE CORKS FOR CLEANING.

Cork has wonderfui cleansing properties. Snots ami blemishes on win-dow-glass that ;nav have defied ordinary cleaning will nearly always disappear if rubbed vigorously with a dry cork. Corks moistened with turpentine will remove marks from hearth tiles or wdiite glazed bricks, and rust spots on metal will yield speedily to like treatment with corks dipped in paraffin. Substitute petrol for paraffin, and spots on linoleum'can be removed with equal ease and celerity. Brisk rubbing is, of course, necessary in a!i cases. Burnt marks on pie-dishes and plates will vanish 'ike magic if treated with a cork dipped in wet salt. For scouring- the insides of gbiss decanters and other narrow-necked vessels, there nothing to beat finely-divided cork well, shaken with warm soapy water. A dry cork will remove strains from plate or silver moie quickly than anything else, and. of course, it never scratches,. If the cork is cut to a point