OF INTEREST TO WOMEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 11 August 1934, Page 9

OF INTEREST TO WOMEN

SEASON’S SPORTS CLOTHES “SHORTS” OR SKIRTS? DIGNITY IN THE DAYTIME The season’s sports clothes? It is a little difficult to decide where to begin in discussing them, for the term “sports” covers a very wide field-. “Sports” and “shorts” have been linked together, as it were by most writers on fashion subjects during the last month or so. find I am afraid some folk have been rather horrified at the idea of girls “appearing in public looking like boy scouts.” But wliy not? On the bathing-beaches, by the swimming-pools, you see women wearing much less than (they wear on the tennis courts or when hiking on the open road —and no one is unduly shocked. Personally I do not care for “shorts ’ for sports. I think they are less comfortable. and certainly l?ss becoming, than a pleated skirt or a “shorts-skirt.” The latter, by the way, is a divided skirt, so cleverly cut with a certain

amount of fullness that it looks like an ordinary abbreviated skirt. Still, if the actual “shorts” are preferred by the keen sportswoman, I see nothing wrong with the preference. A “SHORTS-DRESS” An excellent model, suitable for hiking, cycling, or tennis,' is expressed in .fine flannel —white for tennis; grey for .other sports. The dress is cut in one piece—a neat short-sleeved shirtblouse bodice, and a “shorts-skirt” reaching to the knees. The, bodice is finished with a turn-over collar, and the skirt has two useful pockets—one each side. Another model, specially designed for cruising, is made with a separate pullover top, and expressed in very fine ribbed wool. This little suit is interesting in that the sweater top buttons down on to the skirt at the waistline. The original model was in white wool, but it would look equally well in lemon yellow, soft green, or one of the new blue tones. PLEATED SKIRTS To turn to more- orthodox sports outfits, nearly all the skirts are pleated and nearly all the bodices have at least three inches deep sleeves.

A white uncrushable linen frock, with in front, looked very well with a navy pleated skirt and plain bodice buttoned wool “swagger” jacket—the wool, of course, being better than cotton to put on after a strenuous game. Another outfit, in natural tussore, again with pleated skirt and a shirtblouse bodice stitched with red silk, had a complementary cape of red wool linked at the throat with gilt clips. A little red wool beret completed this ensemble.

• THE PINAFORE FROCK Invaluable for almost any sports occasion is the pinafore froek —length midway between knees and ankles —in linen tweed, fine flecked wool, or flannel. A flat stitched belt of the material joins top and skirt, and the top has adjustable shoulder straps on the “braces” principle. The frock can, of course, be worn with a woolly jumper, or with a linen or plain silk blouse, according to the weather. I heard one authority say it is an ideal item for the cruising wardrobe. DAY DRESSES For ordinary day wear there is a bewildering variety of suits, coatfrocks, and dresses. You want a really smart outfit in which you can feel happy at any afternoon.' gathering? You might choose a navy-blue marocain frock with a three-quarters length coat. The bodice of the frock could be draped up to the throat and there turned back with a very narrow fold of flesh-pink, oyster, or beige satin, aiul the long sleeves would terminate with small

FASH IS, FULLS . md FTOBELOWS

satin folds. Have the skirt cut very gracefully, with fullness towards the hem which must reach to within four or five inches of the ankles. The coat could have big dolman sleeves drawn in at the wrists with shirring, and a stand-up shirred collar with flat tieends lined with satin to match the fold' on the bodice.

Or you could have a navy alpaca suit, with tailored skirt and hip-length pique waistcoat blouse, a. white silk jacket, and wear it with a white silk pique hat stitched all over, and white gloves. Blue and white can never be wrong. PRETTY FROCKS

If dainty frocks be your aim, you need little advice, for the. range of materials and styles is practically endless. Large designs and small arc featured on chiffon, crepe, silk-muslin, organdi, and all the charming linen and cotton fabrics. Also there are some lovelv plain colours. As, for instance, a delicate subdued blue tone that conies up delightfully in a fine silk and wool material which has been made into a long skirt. With the skirt is worn a chiffon bodice in the same blue shade. The bodice comes well down over the skirt top in the fluting basque, is draped right up to the throat im front, and dropped slightly from the nape of the neck at the back where it ties in a dog-ear bow above the fastening of small chiffon-covered buttons. There is a swathe of blue velvet at the waist, and, as a gown, the model could grace any special afternoon party, and would appear equally elegant at dinner-time. A blue silk and wool swagger coat, to match the, skirt, completes the out-of-doors ensemble. One more day-time suit: Neat skirt and short jacket in black and white check taffetas. The jacket is, sleeveless, and is shown with a white or; gandi blouse which has apologies for sleeves in the form of shouldei fiills to match the cascading jabot which falls' outside the jacket. But a longsleeved blouse could quite'well be worn with the suit—a white one sometiines, and a black taffetas one at others. The black blouse with long sleeves would look specially smart.—Diana Dane.

THE HOME PEESSMAKER

DAINTY FROCK FOR SMALL GIRL

Here is a charming little frock for a girl of four to six years of age. It could>easilv be made at home, for the pattern. is simple! to’ follow. / tinci'ushable material in a pretty soft shade of yellow is suggested for it, with white pipings and little white buttons for the front fastenino*. You will need about one and & half yards of material for a child of three or four years, with a quarter of a yard of white pique or linen for the pipings and':two small bows. Foid the material, and (jut out each piece as shown in the diagram —cutting two.pieces for the skirt. The approximate measurements are given, but, to avoid errors, measure the child and cut paper patterns before cutting the material. Tack the papbr patterns together, try on,. make any necessary alterations, then use the corrected patterns for cutting out the material. To make up the frock —first run up seams of bodice and skirt, and join the two together with a fold of the white material let in to form a piping. Cut a small opening in the centre of the skirt’ front, about four inches' long, in line with the bodice fastening. Turn in the edges of bodice and skirt opening, and face with narrow ciossway strips of material. The. bodice can cither .actually fasten with the white buttons, or it can have press fastenings underneath the buttons. Turn up a two inch hem on the right side of the skirt, slipping in a narrow fold of.white material which will form a piping when stitched down. Put in the sleeves, edge the neck with white binding or piping, and finish with a bow at the neck and another at the waist/

TREATMENT FOR BRITTLE HAIR THE OIL SHAMPOO For invigorating the scalp, and for improving the texture of dry and brittle hair, few' treatments can comj arc with the oil shampoo. Your hairdresser will give the treatment, but you can quite well have the shampoo at home .if expense is a consideration. Pour some pure olive oil into a small basin, stand the basin in a pan of water, and heat the water slowly in order to warm the oil. While the oil

is heating, prepare the hair. Brush it thoroughly to remove all dust and dandruff, and also to invigorate the scalp. Then soak a towel in hot water, wring it, and wrap it closely round the head. THE MASSAGE When the oil is warm, remove the towel from the head and, keeping the basin still in the hot water, dip the finger-tips into the oil and rub this into rlie scalp to make it thoroughly greasy. Then, working in small circles, massage well, beginning, at' the forehead and extending down the back of the head to the neck. Now open out the lingers and draw them together again •as though trying to pick up a portion of the scalp. Continue: the massage and “plucking” movements for 20 minutes. Use a liquid shampoo. A good one can be made by .cutting fine shavings from a bar of Castile soap, dissolving them in hot water, and straining through muslin. A coconut oil shampoo is also very good, as it provides an abundance of lather. •Falling hair is often caused bv dryness of the scalp, and the oil shampoo is one of the best ways of stopping this.' It may have to be taken, once a week, for a month or two, but the hair usually shows a wonderful improvement after the second shampoo and massage.

VEAL AND RICE CUTLETS One pint stock, half-pound cooked veal, one ounce butter, one onion, one shallot, quarter-pound rice, half-pint tomato sauce.

Chop the onion and shallot and fry in butter till soft but not brown. Add the rice, and. fry for five or six minutes. Pour in the stock, and boil until soft —add more stock if necessary.

Chop the veal, mix it into the rice, add half a teaspoonful chopped parsley with salt and pepper to taste. Turn the mixture on to a plate to cool. Shape into cutlets, dip in : egg and bread•crumbs, then fry in deep boiling fat till gqlden brown. Drain, and serve with hot tomato sauce.

KITCHEN CORNER TESTED RECIPES Both of the following puddings will be greatly appreciated on cold winter evenings:— . . German Rice Pudding Three ounces rice, one pint and.half milk, 3oz finely- chopped suet, 2oz sugar, 6oz raisins, two eggs. Wash the rice and boil it slowly in the milk until tender. Add the suet, sugar, raisins, and well-beaten eggs. Mix well, put into a greased mould, cover, and boil for three and a half hours. - Orange Roly-Poly One pound flour, Boz finely chopped, suet, three or four oranges, 2oz candied orange peel, 4oz sugar. Make a ljght suet crust, roll it out. rather thin, and spread it thickly with oranges,, peeled and cut into Dun slices, a little candied orange peel chopped finely, and plenty of castor sugar. Roll up, tic in a floured cloth, and boil hard for two hours. Seed Cake This is a splendid recipe for seed cake: Jib butter, lib flour, six eggs, Jib castor sugar, 3oz caraway seeds. Cream butter and sugar, beating thoroughly with the hand. Add eggs one at a time (they should be broken into a cup before putting into mixture) and. | beat in thoroughly, sifting in a little | of the flour at intervals. Finally add I rest of flour with the caraway seeds, j Beat thoroughly for 10 minutes with 1 a wooden spoon after all the ingredients are mixed. Line a tin with two or three layers of greased paper and I pour in the mixture. Bake in a modor- • ate oven for about an hour and a half. • Test after one hour. | Gem Scones This is an excellent recipe: Beat together one. tablcspoonful of butter and two of sugar. Add one egg and threequarter cup of milk. Sift in two cups of self-raising flour, and drop in dcs-> sertspoonfuls into hot greased gem , irons! Bake for eight minutes in a i hot oven. Plain flour may be used if preferred, with one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and two of cream of tartar. Banana Chutney Peel and slice into proserving-pan three dozen bananas, add two bottles of vinegar, 12 chillies, 111) stoncless raisins, 11b onions, 2oz garlic, all passed through mincer, 4oz salt, and 4oz

sugar. Boil slowly, with a bag of spiqes to taste, for two hours. Bottle when cold, and seal absolutely airtight. Irish Tea Cake

Two breakfastcups Hour, one teacup sugar, one tekeup milk, one teaspoon cream of tartar, half teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, two eggs. Sift the dry ingredients. • Beat eggs well, add the milk, and pour into greased sandwich tins, and bake in a quick oven until nicely browned. Split in half, butter, and eat while hot.

Lemon Cheese Ingredients: Two lemons, two eggs, Boz sugar, soz butter. Peel lemon as thinly as possible, and squeeze out juice." Put peel and juice into a saucepan with sugar and butter, and dissolve very slowly. Beat up eggs, stir in the lemon mixture, strain, and return to saucepan. Stir over a low burner until the mixture comes to the boil, olid is thick and creamy. Remove the lemon peel, and put the lemon cheese into jars. Mock Whitebait A tasty aud quickly prepared dish: Two eggs, one tablespoon milk, two large potatoes, grated, pepper and salt. Beat the eggs, add milk, grate in potatoes, and season. Fry in spoonfuls in hot fat. Steak and Kidney Pudding Without question, steak and kidney pudding is one of the most popular of dishes. A savoury crust makes an unusual variation. Cut 21b steak in thin slices, and also two sheep’s kidneys. Dip each in well-seasoned flour, and place a slice of kidney on each slice of steak and roll Tip. Make a crust of half-pound flour, half-pound beef suet, quarter teaspoonful salt, lialf-teaspoon-ful bicarbonate soda, one tablespoonful finely chopped parsley, aud one teaspoonful thyme. Mix all well together, and make info a fairly moist dough with sour milk. Line a well-greased basin, put in the rolls of steak and about half-pint of stock. Cover with a lid of paste, and cover with a scalded cloth before boiling or steaming for two or three hours.

Coffee Nut Cakes Coffee nut cakes only take a quarter of an hour to bake in a good oven. To make them,, cream together 2oz of butter and 2oz of castor sugar. Beat up one egg in two tablespoonfuls of milk and- add loz of flour to the creamed butter mixture, and then stir in the egg and milk. Sift together half a teaspoonful of baking powder and 2oz of flour and add these to the mixture. Stir in two teaspoonfuls of coffee essence. Take loz of Brazil nuts, shell and remove the brown skin, and then chop fji ely These nuts are rich in a nourishing oil which makes them both palatable and wholesome. Add the chopped nuts to the mixture, together with a small pinch of salt. Bake the mixture in small bun tins. When cold, cover each cake with coffee icing and place a shelled and peeled Brazil nut on top of each cake.

HOUSEHOLD HINTS THINGS USEFUL TO KNOW When Threading Curtains A thimble placed on the end of the rod will allow jt to pass through mesh, lace or net curtains with ease, and will prevent the dragging or tearing of the material. . - Cleaning Bedsteads Hot alum-water is a good thing for cleaning iron-bedsteads. Rubbing the laths over with a paraffin cloth is . a good preventive of rust. If a lacquered brass bedstead with knobs is cleaned with brass polish it should be coated over; with varnish afterwards, otherwise it yrill nefed constant attention. Lacquer should- never be cleaned with polish, but if, it is done accidentally, this is the best treatment. Cotk Carpets Cork carpets can be washed, but use as little coap' as possible, and great care should be taken to wash it all off again with clean water. A non-fluffy material, such as canvas, should be used for drying. Cork carpets may also be polished, but this is not recommended, owjpg to their absorbent character. The mottled effect that sometimes appears after carpets have been washed is caused by soap residue, and through jt not being properly dried. Storing Blankets Re sure that the- blankets are thoroughly dry, and that, they are free frpm moths before folding them up in a dress-box lined with newspaper; tuck the paper all round, and seal the lid down with adhesive tape. This will prevent tho entry of any moths. Iyeep the box in a warm, well-venti-lated cupboard.

To Clean White Fur White fur can be cleaned with equal quantities of powdered lump ammonia and dry. powdered whitening mixed together. Leave for, a day. Then shake it out and rub the fur with hot bran. Continue rubbing and shaking until the fur js clean.. To Dye Shoes Prepare shoes for staining by washing them with warm water and soap, allow to dry, then give a coat of methylated spirit. Dissolve twopennyworth of permanganate of potash in a .quarter pint of water, and sufficient bichromato of potash to cover a shilling in an .eggcupful of water. Apply a coating of bichromate, then the stain, using a fine sponge. The purple colour disappears, leaving a rjcli brown fast stain. Finish when dry with a good white slide .cream. . Eggshells should be saved for cleaning bottles. Store them in a box, and when needed crush the shells finely and partly fill the bottles with them. Add hot soapsuds and shake the bottles well. Rinse out with warm' water and they will be bright and clean. Scratches on furniture should be treated with a pad of flannel soaked in linseed oil. Tie the pad tightly over the scratch and leave for some time. Although the scratch will not dis-

appear entirely, the absorption of the the oil by the wood will make it less prominent.

An inexpensive substitute for ground almonds when making almond paste is ground peanuts. These are often used by professional cooks, and few people know the difference. To remove stains from a gabardine frock, sponge with warm water to which a little liquid ammonia has been added. To clean gold jewellery make a paste of sifted- whitening and ammonia. Let this dry on the metal, then rub off with a cloth and polish with a leather.