WOMEN’S NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 307, 24 November 1934, Page 11

WOMEN’S NOTES.

FASHIONS. (By Miss Mary Tallis.) The old returns:—Petticoats are here again, or rather they are waiting round the corner to slip in upon us if, in a frivolous or unguarded moment, we give them the slightest encouragement. Paris dressmakers have been making them to wear with evening dresses. American and English women have taken kindly to the fashion, and you will soon be able to buy ready-made, long, dainty petticoats of taffeta, organdie, or other sheer fabrics, with frills and ruffles at the flaring hemline. But you cannot say that petticoats are part of the mode of 1934 so long as they are worn only with formal evening dress by a very small minority of womankind. There really will be a petticoat revival worth talking about when, and if, we wear them under the usual sort of afternoon and evening dresses, when gay young girls in their teens consider a ruffled petticoat as quite indispensable to a party costume, and when taffeta petticoats are worn as they once were under the tailored street suit or a street dress. Rustling taffeta petticoats actually . have been seen and heard under tailored suits in Paris. The suit is of a dark or neutral tone, navy blue, beige, grey, or black, and the petticoat with pink ruffles at the hemline is of a bright colour to match the scarf and other accessories. A rose pink or hyacinth blue taffeta petticoat can give new glamour to a simply made black satin dress.

BEAUTY. ’Ware wrinkles.—Wrinkles come chiefly about the eyes, between nose and mouth, in a downward direction, and over the throatline. On the brow, too, but the brow can smooth itself out miraculously while the lines about eyes and mouth and throat settle in comfortably to enjoy the marching years. Yet there is no reason why you should allow them to settle. You can erase them. At twenty-five you can prevent their more disastrous possibilities by using a good massage cream, with nourishing possibilities, and so keep the skin unlined. But as you massage be certain always to work upwards with the fingertips, from the base of the throat, at beauty’s hollow, to the chin-line, and upward again from the point of the chin, moving outwards. For lines which have tightened about the eyes on account of dry skin, or from exposure to too much sunshine, a good muscle oil will solve the problem. Applied at night, gently, and remembering to massage from the outer corners, beneath the lower lashes, and over the lids outwards again, the muscle oil sinks into the skin surface and smooths out the skin to its normal condition. If your lines threaten to be of a deeper variety, try a wrinkle-erasing cream. THE HOME.

Basket lampshades.—One of the most up-to-date innovations that has come forward for some time is the basket lampshade. These are made of real basket work and the light that filters through the intersections gives a lovely glow to the room; while, if the interior of the basket-work is painted some light-reflecting colour, the usefulness of the lamp is intensified. Mainly these new lampshades are only ordinary baskets, painted and with a spot of fringe edged round them. Think of the wonderful array of shapes, sizes, and qualities you have in, this line on which to practise your ingenuity. Don’t choose a too finelywoven basketry if you can help it, although in all cases you’ll find enough light comes through the shade to give a soft, subdued atmosphere in the room. Some of the old fruit baskets are ideal, and with a small tin of some lacquer or paint, the job is nearly completed. Some people may prefer the basket unpainted—the natural colour is always charming, but a coat of paint gives the impression of a more “tricky” business. Again, it is a matter of choice as to whether you have a fringe, beading or even nothing at all. The usual lamp bracket is bought for a few. coppers. One would hardly believe that a wonderful and cosy shade could .be obtained for only a few pence. NEELDEWORK.

A little beach or garden frock.—

Materials: 1£ yards crash 22in wide, 3yds red cotton binding; 1 skein each of red, gold, green, and blue stranded cotton; and 2 small red buttons. Measurements : Length, 20in; round lower edge, 42in; round bodice at waist, 23in; round bodice at armhole, 25in. For the skirt part of the frock, cut out two pieces each measuring 22in —the width of the crash—and llin deep. Place the two pieces together and slope the sides to make the upper edge—the waistline 18in across. This is easily done by marking off 2in along the upper edge on each side and creasing a fold down to the lower edge. Cut along the creases. For the bodice cut two pieces each measuring L3in across and 9in in depth. Place these two pieces together and cut the armholes 4in in depth and cutting away If in from each side of the armhole shaping. This leaves the back lOin wide across the shoulders and the front the same. Slope slightly from the armholes to the waist, taking about half-an-inch off the lower edge of each side. Cut out the neck, about sins wide both back and front) and about 2fins in depth in the centre, i Stitch one shoulder seam, taking _ fin turnings. Open out flat and herringbone down the edges on each side. Sew up the side seams of the skirt in the same way. Sew the side seams of the bodice also in the same way. Bind the neck, armholes, and the open shoulderedges, and also the lower edges of the bodice and skirt. Gather up the edge of the skirt and stitch under the binding of the bodice, then herring-bone down the edges. Cut out two pockets from the spare pieces—each about 4fins wide and 3fins deep. Curve the lower edges of each, then bind the upper edges. Turn under Jin turning on the other edges and tack. Now embroider a group of three flowers on each pocket. Each flower consists of a buttonhole circle with the buttonhole edge forming the outer edges of the flowers, and each one should be a different colour'. Place the flowers close together, finish with a green French knot in the centre of each and two small lazy-daisy leaves between the curves of the flowers. Backstitch the pockets into position on the frock. Now work the same group of flowers on the back and front of the bodice in three positions below

and around the neckline. Make buttonhole loops on the edge of the front shoulder and sew the buttons to the shoulder at the back. Press well on the wrong side with a hot iron over a damp cloth.