Penelope Goes Shopping

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 25 November 1938, Page 2

Penelope Goes Shopping

Oh dear, this has been such a busy week that I just wasn't able to get round all the shops yesterday as usual. But I think you’ll forgive me when I tell you about all the exciting things I found on my travels. ** * * To begin with, there was the quaintest afternoon tea cloth and six napkins to match, in blue with a narrow border of a deeper shade. What I thought particularly unusual was the pretty design of daisies appiiqued in the corners and padded so that they stood out very effectively. A similar set in deep cream looked equally attractive and out of the ordinary. ** * * One striking model frock seen this morning was reminiscent of the days of i Osiris and the Pharaoh dynasty, with its, unusual tunic in printed Egyptian de- 1 sign embodying tonings of clover and green. This was worn over a skirt of plain navy with the new double inverted box pleat which revealed an inset of the Egyptian design. The whole model was j in pure crepe-de-chine and featured I short sleeves with the broad shoulder j line, which shows no sign of waning popularity. ** * * A friend of mine who has travelled all over the world many times told me some time ago that the only way to pack clothes satisfactorily was to wrap them in cellophane, and so I was delighted when I came across the very thing—cellophane travelling sets, bound in pink, blue or green as you desire. Each set contains cellopahne envelopes of varying sizes, and you can pack all your blouses, undies, hankies, scarves, and things like that, so neatly into their respective cases, and you can see at a glance what is in each. What is more, in turning things over in your case, you don't have to handle whatever happens to be in the way; you know yourself how grubby and creased things can get just through being turned over in a frantic search for something at the very bottom of your suitcase. ** * * Wouldn’t one of these sets make an ideal gift for a friend who travels a good deal, or who is planning a holiday after Christmas? And here’s another idea, these sets would be ideal for the girl with a glory box. She could use them for her trousseau undies and odds and ends, and for her linen, too. You know how it is when someone says imploringly “Oh, do show me your things” and you have to haul them all out for the umpteenth time! With linen and clothes packed in these cellophane envelopes so that their colours and designs show plainly, there’s no need to unwrap every single thing for a friend to sigh over. I wonder no-one ever thought of it before! ** * * Such a delightful navy taffeta coat I saw in one window to-day. Made on lines of youthful sophistication, it had a gored skirt and a wide belt outlining the waist. The short gathered sleeves were finished with perky bows—such a feminine touch—but the chief note of distinction was the finely quilted collar. Quilting for coats was introduced by Parisian designers recently, but this is the first time I’ve seen it featured on a Nelson model. ** * * “All is not gold that glitters” is perfectly true just now, because the smart woman scintillates with sequins these days. And they’re not confined to evening wear, either! If you’ve a dark frock that’s looking drab because you know it so well, give it new life and sparkle with a collar of sequins. I saw such a good range of them this week. Really, they are fascinating, don’t you think? And what’s more, you can buy some very effective designs by the yard, too. One yard would just about be right for a belt, but the more popular girdle would take about two yards,

! I should say. Just imagine the effect on a dull frock of a sash of vivid sequins stitched to a background of velvet ribbon! ** * * You can't go away for a holiday without taking one new evening frock, because—well—you never know, do you? But you don’t want anything expensive in the middle of the summer season, so might I suggest tartan net as a solution to the problem? Yes, tartan net. I discovered it this morning and feel very pleased with myself. It’s inexpensive and such dainty material — you ’know, the kind that offers lots of possibilities. For a gown in early Victorian style it would be exactly right, or if you want something frothy with frills, well, you couldn’t choose anything more suitable. I thought* the black; and white particularly smart, and the navy and white, too, but there were many dainty designs in all the pastel shades if you want to look sweet and appealing. ** * * One window display that caught my attention featured satin-backed matelasse in all London's newest shades. Mermaid, the newest shade of green | w f as most distinctive, and beauty pink I thought very lovely. English green j w'ill be popular too, I consider, because I so many women find a dark shade of green very flattering to their complexions. This matelasse offers a dull surface for ensembles and afternoon frocks, but I’m told the satin back is often J favoured for evening wear. In any case j the material would be effective used in reverse for contrast. ** # * Now I’m sure you’ll agree with that this frock is one of the smartest to be seen in town. It’s a fine navy georgette over a stiff taffeta slip which has a pleated frill at the hem to make the overskirt stand away with such a pretty effect. Long full sleeves make this a desirable model just now, when chilly winds whip round bare arms, but the most striking note is the belted waistline in vivid Roman stripes, tying at the back. ** * * One very youthful-looking frock I admired was a Woman’s X in a printed oral delustred silk with high shirred waistline. This was worn under a coat of navy sheer which fastened at the waist with a plain belt and featured a long turned-back collar of the sheer over the floral silk. This is a new idea to me, but extremely chic! ** * * I stood for quite a while looking at some pieces of genuine old English china. I don t know much about it, it’s true, but it fires my imagination. These pieces are all over one hundred years old. and you can’t help wondering who owned them first; if perhaps they were treasured once as wedding presents by a young laughing bride in a hooped skirt; or perhaps one piece may have been bought by an erring husband as a peace-offering to a forgiving wife. Any one of these lovely old fragments may have graced a dinner table spread in honour of England’s victory at the Nile or at Waterloo. But there, I’m letting my imagination run away with me again. I do feel, though, that these pieces of English china would make wonderful Christmas gifts, particularly as each one is unique.