FASHION’S COLOUR HARMONY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 11 February 1933, Page 9

FASHION’S COLOUR HARMONY

BECOMING EVENING LINES FLOWERS AND FEATHERS It is amusing to find colour carefully hidden away in an apparently dark ensemble, and there are now somo clever ways of introducing this colour note. The most usual is the bright frock under the light, semi-transparent coat. One of the most favoured is the plaid dress in which the lines are small and the colours subdued. Dull blues mix

■with soft reds, greens melt into yellowbrowns, red and toast-colours mingle, and the effect is very smart, when the frock is made in a simple tailored style., .It should-be worn with a wide belt of . patent, leather in a shade which leads up to the coat colour. Thus, if dark blue in the dress indicates that the coat is to be dark blue, the waistbelt will be the same. If brown is featured in the frock, and the coat is to be brown, the belt also is brown. Black is a law to itself, and a black belt can be put on any frock. I like a black coat over a coloured dress.

Then there are striped frocks which look well under dark coats. Sometimes —and this is a more extravagant idea • —the dress is made of plain crepe in a colour to match the coat, and the coat is half-lined with plaid or striped silk. The effect is charming, but the coat can only be worn with one, or pe'rhaps, two, frocks. A pretty lining is the one of coloured material which reaches to the waist and hangs separately. When the coat is opened, this lining looks like a little bolero, and no one can tell whether it belongs to the frock or to the coat. A NEW EVENING LINE Every week there are new evening lines. One I like particularly, and find most becoming for the woman who has not such a flat diaphram as she would wish, has the apron front. The bodice is short-waisted and has broad shoulder pieces which continue at the back a,s straps straight down to the waist-line. There is an oval front neck-line, and the front of the bodice is moulded to the figure, then merged into a high corselet, which is really a diamond-shaped yoke. One point of the yoke is smoothed up on the bodice, one point down on the skirt like a tiny apron, and the side points Are drawn tightly round to the back of the waist, where they are tied with long panel ends which fall to the hem of the , slim, fitted skirt. The model is ex- j tremely becoming, I saw it made up in j wine red silk crepe, and in softest black j chiffon velvet. FESTIVE FROCKS I ! The fashion of wearing white flowers on black gowns is back again, and one i designer uses lovely white satin water lilies on black satin. The idea seems to be to put shiny owers on dull fabrics and dull ones on shiny fabrics. Thus we see matt satin or angel-skin flowers on cire or brilliant satin, and shiny satin on velvet, bagheera or crinkled crepe. The flowers nearly always go on the front of the corsage, but occasionally a half cape over one shoulder is held in place by a lovely trail of contrasting flowers. I think a flower-trimmed dress looks more “festive” than one which has no ornament except perhaps a jewelled clip. Severity is all very well, but it has been carried to excess in some directions. There is no thrill in putting on a “best” evening gown, unless there is something to distinguish it from a sleeveless cinema frock. So use flowers whenever possible. Feather trimmings, too, give the subtly “different” touch to the party toilette.

If you have a two-toned cape—and these are very popular at the moment —see that the tones are not 100 different. Two shades that softly blend together create a charming effect, but a very sharp contrast is not at all pretty, except, of course, black and white. When trying on the cape, insist upon standing very far back from the mirror. If you see only the light half, and seem to lose the dark part in the shadows, the contrast in shades is too sharp.—Colline Rouff.

JANUARY LEGENDS AND SUPERSTITIONS The ancients believed that the months of the year were influenced by the stars, therefore each month was governed by one of the Signs of the Zodiac, and people born during that month were, in their turn, influenced by it. January, dedicated by the Romans to Janus, the two-faced god, comes under the sign of Aquarius the water-bearer, so called because he appeared before the Nile began to overflow and bring fertility to the parched land of Egypt. Aquarius gives to the people born in January the power to think deeply, fidelity, strong will and therefore strong passions, also mysticism, prudence, and the ability to work hard. Probably January was dedicated to Janus because he could look behind him and before him. So people born in January are supposed to be able to look back over the past year and apply what they have learnt during those 12 months to cope with the next twelve. But, in case the people of January become too powerful, Aquarius gives them a little weakness in the legs and shoulders, sometimes rheumatism and cramp, and he does not protect them when they travel by water. Now Aquarius in his turn is governed by Saturn, therefore his day is Saturday, a dangerous day, in which fraud and deceit run riot. But the Garnet is the stone of January and it protects those born during this month if they 'wear it—even from the evils of Saturday!

The garnet is the emblem of health, constancy, and success. In common with other birth stones, it warns the wearer of danger by darkening, and only regains its brightness when the danger has gone by. In Egypt it was the symbol of life, and gave power and victory to those who wore it by right of birth, but refused protection to those who wore it without that right. The Anglo-Saxons called January Wulfmonath, because the wolves were very hungry and troublesome at this time of the year. In the French republican calendar it was Nivose, or Snow month.

THE HOME THAT ISN’T! It isn’t a home if it’s tidy, For twenty-four hours of the day. It’s seldom a home without children, To mess up the place with their play. It can’t be a home if the cushions May never be crumpled or creased, And a head cannot rest in comfort Should the hair by a chance be greased! No house is a home if the larder Hasn’t always a home-made pie, Or something quite fresh from the oven, To brighten a hungry man’s eye. It isn’t a home if it’s polished, And rubbed, and then polished again, "For such is the home of the houseproud, The selfish, the jealous, the vain! TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRE Almost every day fire accidents occur, through carelessness or lack of knowledge, and frequently children are concerned in these accidents. Here arc some suggestions for the prevention of fire which all mothers should note. Add one ounce of alum to the water used to rinse the children’s dresses,

and they will be rendered practically non-inflammable. All household linen may be treated in the same way. Should a lire break out, close all windows and doors to avoid draught, and immediately notify the nearest fire brigade or police station. Meantime, fill buckets with water, carry them as near to the fire as possible, dip mops in the water and throw showers over the flames until assistance arrives. Should curtains catch fire, pick up any rug, blanket or woollen garment that may be handy, and beat it on the flames until they are extinguished. A fire may break out in the kitchen chimney, in which case a wet blanket should be nailed to the upper ends of the mantelpiece to cover the opening entirely. The fire will then go out. To extinguish fire in the chimney of an open grate, throw on the fire some salt or a handful of flour of sulphur, as well as water. Keep doors and windows closed, and hold before the fireplace a. blanket or some woollen article to exclude air. Fire extinguishers should be in every house. They can be made by dissolving ten pounds of common salt and five pounds of nitrate of s6da in three and a half gallons of water. Pour the mix ture into thin quart bottles, cork and seal; In case of fire, break a bottle over the flames. —C.R.J. HEALTH HINTS Should your skin be particularly sensitive prepare a toilet lotion, thus: Dissolve four ounces sea-salt, one ounce carbonate of ammonia, one ounce glycerine and one ounce of borax, in three pints of hot water. Then dissolve one 'ounce of camphor in three ounces methylated spirit. Mix the two solutions together, bottle, shake well, and leave for twenty-four hours before using. Add one tablespoonful of the mixture to the water in your washing-bowl. You will find it most soothing. HERBS, SPICES AND VEGETABLES FOR HEALTH You will be wise to take notice of the various uses of herbs, spices, and vegetables in preparing dishes for your family. They do much towards securing good health. Thyme, marjoram and sage are digestive tonics. Sage is slightly astringent, and an infusion of thirty leaves in half a pint of boiling water is an excellent drink for the victim of the common cold. Aniseed is carminative and tonic. Vanilla, and spices such as pepper, ginger and the like, are. good digestive stimulants. Ginger has diaphoretic properties. Cloves and cinnamon are astringent and antispasmodic, relieving nausea and flatulence in cases of dyspepsia. Celery, watercress and chicory are tonic in effect, and useful remedies also in rheumatism and nervous disorders. Beets arc nourishing and laxative. Potatoes are nourishing and slightly sedative. Tomatoes are healthy and refreshing when taken raw, but they contain mineral salts and volatile oil which arc lost in cooking.