WOMEN’S NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 152, 29 May 1936, Page 12

WOMEN’S NOTES.

FASHIONS. (By Miss Mary Tallis.) Afternoon frocks.—For afternoon wear there is a new and exciting fabric. It is a thinly woven woollen material along which in rows, set three inches apart, small beautiful feathers, each one less than inch long and perfectly coloured, are sewn on separately mid so carefully that not a strand of tile feather is displaced. They appear just to have been dropped into position. Black and white feathers are sewn oil a black cloth, feathers are sewn on a dark-brown fabric, and peacock green also on brown. As the season advances there is every possibility that the mini her of colour schemes will be considerablv enlarged. Man v other woollen fabrics are inco'-nnrnting feathers. hut in a less exciting manner. These feathers are used for unite moderately priced materials, and thev arc woven in such a wav ns to give a white, hnzv aiinenranee to the surface and to make little other difference. Another curious effect in fabrics is' relieved hv two strands of yarn of j different colours being woven simul-t-''eou.sly, or one lengthwise and tli« ! ether crosswise. Wedgwood hhie and brown, pink with brown, and vellow with grey are the most successful combinations so far. and in every ease the material is given a far more subtle tone than it would have if woven with one shade only. Amongst tile aftevnonn .tresses there is a teudenev for the skirts to be cut, cin the straight of the material and made verv nnr-ow. Ponm of them have a wren-over effect at the back and a concealed s*->Ut fn uive the n-accsscvy wa Iking width. Ribbed ottoman silks a-e used extensively ami the hem lines, likewise the napk lines, have attention drawn in fheni bv a bnrd of blanket stitebin" in a thick "old thread. The cents that go over these dresses are tlnv>n-oiiarter length a"d designed w.'tu, fitting waists and wbfe =k'”ts—definitely an insnirntmn . fiat b"d its —'....'w in the late LondonChinese Exhibition BEAUTY.

Depilatories.—There are many excellent depilatories on the market—pastes, powders, liquids and wax. There lias been an enormous improvement in depilatories in the last few years; they are less offensive in odour and keep the hair off longer than they used to. You are safe in using any of the standard makes and you will find them quite simple to apply. There is a common fallacy that depilatories cause the hail- to return more strongly and abundantly than ever. This is definitely not so. The hair will return again and again, but each time you apply the depilatories, the roots will become a little weaker and you will have to use jhe m much less often. Paste depilatory is spread on with a wooden spatula, which comes with it—spread on, not rubbed in. Let the paste dry for a few minutes, then dampen the surface and rinse off with warm water. Scrape it off lightly first with the wooden spatula, scraping against the direction in which the hair grows. Powder depilatories are moistened with water, made into a paste and then used like a paste depilatory. Liquids are applied with a bit of ahsorY'iit cotton wrapped I round the end of an orange-stick. Allow the liquid to remain on a few minutes—the time varies a little according to. the growth and strength of the hair. Then wash off with luke-warm water. Wax is really a little more than a depilatory, as it removes the hair by the root when applye.l properly. Tt takes longer to applv hut the results are more lasting. The wax is melted in_ a little saucepan in which it is supplied, then spread on with the special brush, also supplied, in neat strips—like flower-beds with paths in between—the paths are made so that you can take

hold of the wax easily when it has hardened enough and pull it off.-Al-ways imt the wax on in the direction the hair grows and take it off in the opposite directipn. It hurts no more than pulling off a strip of adhesive plaster. On the logs the wax need not he separated into “hods.” Smooth it on in one long application about inches wide down the whole length from knee to ankle. Tf you do the tipper lip. begin right under the nose and spread to each corner of the mouth, only spreading it down, not ncoss, because the hair grows that wav. When you take it off. hold the skin stretched with the thumb and forefinger of one hand, then pull it off quickly with the other. Always sprinkle talcum powder over the surface before you apply the wax. And after you have taken the wax off, wash the surface with an antiseptic, such as alcohol, or an antiseptic tonic or astringent. Use absorbent cotton for that. Then apply a soothing cold cream and leave it on for 10 minutes or so. The main point in spreading the wax is not to spread it too thinly and to leave the edges, which you take lin’d of in order to remove it, especially thick, as this makes it easier to pull-off. THE HOME. Comfort in flooring.—A type of flooring that is becoming popular is corktiling. Like rubber, this is very quiet, durable, resilient, dustless and warm to the feet in winter. It is also completely lion-slippery when polished. It is manufactured in light, medium and dark shades of brown, and will harmonise with the appointments of most rooms. These cork tiles can be fitted to any level floor, being laid tile by tile and fixed with invisible nails. They are guaranteed not to shrink, swell or crack, and if it is not desired to keep them polished, can lie washed with ordinary soap and water. It may he used in any room but is particularly adaptable to the kitchen. Tt looks well with rugs laid here find there. In bedrooms it is pleasantly warm to the feet in winter. Hardwood flooring: Hardwood is another very good flooring. Tt looks extremely well in strip, parquet, or block form, which is tongued and grooved for - secret nailing, and so gives a perfectly even surface when laid. It can he brought to a high polish, and wears well, and is guaranteed not to warp or twist. There are, of course, certain cases in which carpets are still to be preferred, especially in blocks of fltits. where they materially deaden the noise of footfalls, or sounds of conversation, or wireless from the flat above or below. Carpets also reduce the vibration of floors when walked upon, and in these days of modern electric carpet cleaners, the objection to carpets lw''lionring dust and dirt is not so vital. Avoid colours that are easily soiled. Self-colours are admittedly more attractive than patterns, hut are liable to show the slightest mant. Obviously, machine-made carpets cannot introduce such choice of co’ouring as those made hv hand on a strong canvas in which worsted, silk, or hair is tied as the weaver proceeds.