LADIES' COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12818, 18 March 1905, Page 6 (Supplement)

LADIES' COLUMN.

ARTISTIC BUTTONS.

ENAMEL RIMS AND SILVER CENTRES. Some very charming inspirations are now manifesting themselves in the form of buttons with this particular trait very much emphasised that, though they are exquisite, they are in no way extremely noticeable. It. is worth while examining closely some of the latest, buttons in order that their artistic beauty may be understood to the full.

On a handsome black caracul coat decorated with tan leather tooled with gold and blue a set of tan leather buttons embellished to match the rest of the trimming on the coat makes a very good effect. Such a set seen the other day was rimmed with real gold in the new manner, for it is by their rims that the latest buttons reveal themselves as novelties. A very uncommon trimming of silver buttons was" given to a, dress that goes to Cairo shortly. Each button is engraved by hand, and "is rimmed with rose-coloured enamel, a most lovely and highly decorative touch upon a dress of silver grey cloth, brightened by rose-coloured satin upon the bodice, and completed by means of a very deep ceinture of the same fabric. One dressmaker thought out the scheme, for the buttons of a brown redingote built in the mousquetaire manner, with a bodice ruckled at the seams and down the sleeves both back and front. On the cuffs which appeared just below the elbows were three blue enamel buttons rimmed with leather. The leather touch was repeated upon the collar of the redingote as a piping, and upon the very smart rosettes that gathered the fulness of the drapery in at the waist and terminated in thongs of leather with enamel drops at the ends.

SOME MORE PRE'ITY BLOUSES

The first model is suitable for one of the heavier washable woollens, such as flannel. The ordinary flannels called wash flannels sometimes shrink in ho process of laundering; but there are to be had flannels guaranteed to launder absolutely without shrinkago.

of washable woollex goods. The model is in simple tailored style. with an applied stitched box-plait down each side and on the sleeves. The waistcloses invisibly in the front, and is finished with bias stitched bands. A chemisette is added, which is a pretty little innovation. The idea is to have this of white lawn, tucked or feather-stitched or elaborated in any desirable way. The second model is a lingerie blouse, but one of a very simple and practical order. It may be reproduced in fine handkerchief linen,"or in a nice quality of lawn. The work is all done by hand. There is a boxplait down the middle of the front, and each edge of this box-plait is hem-stitched, the hemstitching going through the two thicknesses"of material. Then on each side

A LINGERIE BLOUSE. of the front there are three tucks, also hemstitched; and between the box-plait and the tucks there are dots, hand-embroidered, which may be done in either cotton or linen thread. The cuffs close at the inside scam with tiny buttons and loops. The closing of the waist is invisible—in fly fashion, under the box -plait. There have been marked changes in blouses recently, the most noticeable being the absence of the pouch effect. Then the sleeves are very different, being cut quite plain from wrist to elbow, while above the elbow there is much fulness and often elaboration. The large puff of material recently found near the wrist has quite gone out and, in remodelling, this superfluous material may be used to good effect. The sleeve may be cut off just below the elbow, but long enough to form a good puff. The upper sleeve so remaining will, in all probability, not be full and wide enough, in which case it. may be cut lengthwise at regular distances, and in the Jits there may be inserted by means of fagot-stitching inverted V-shaped piece? of some suitable material.

THE CARE OF ONE'S CLOTHES. Tlio busiest or most tired women on removing their skirts- should take time to give them a good, vigorous shaking until all the- loose dirt and dust, of the day's travel and work is well out or them;" it only takes a very few minutes, but it helps to preserve the cloth, and also helps to keep away many of the dirt, .spots found on finely-twilled serges and rough cheviots. Many of the spots that look like grease are simply an accumulation of dust. It is an excellent idea to keep in a handy place v. bottle of good benzine or gasoline, with the addition of a lather made of pure white Castile soap, r. soft toothbrush, and a, clean flannel rag, to apply when spots are first discovered. All this is very important, but without the assistance of the hum bio needle and thread one can neither look well nor be neat. Buttons are always falling off, threads are always breaking, and as for hooks and eyes wo all know how perverse they are. It does take a. "pinch of time" to attend to these details, but the result is inward satisfaction and that outward neatness which is a most essential part of being well dressed. Is there anything that makes a woman look more untidy and forlorn than the crooked, pulled edges of a face veil that has been left pinned and mussed on a hat or crumpled up in a bureau drawer'.' Every woman knows there is nothing that completes a street toilette like a fresh and .well-preserved face veil, and this can be easily accomplished with very little care. In the first place, before a veil is put on a hat it should be gathered by a tiny thread across the middle, of the upper edge for about four inches, and when the hat is taken off the veil should also be removed and carefully rolled, beginning at one end and pulling gently but linnlv on both sides.