AFTERNOON TEA TALK

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5288, 28 May 1904, Page 13

AFTERNOON TEA TALK

At a fashionable wedding recently the white-clad bridesmaids, instead of carrying bouquets, carried white fur muffs, the gift of the bridegroom. Small hats of twisted straw have flat spots of chenille all over them. Little bunches of spring flowers dotted here and there on the brim around th 6 crown is the chief trimming.

Poplin—tho real Irish, deliciously soft poplin—in all sorts of beautiful shades, is about to occupy a foremost place on fashion’s list. It is produced in many tender greys, pastel blue, and pinks. Its wearing properties are excellent.

For a recent wedding chiffon velvet and crepe de chine aro the ideal fabrics. Plain cloth is too suggestive of the practical side of existence, whereas the materials just named are completely picturesque, ■ and toilettes made of them are useful as gowns of ceremony for ordinary social events. There is no getting away from the fact that all the skirts will bo much fuller. Even a tight-fitting tailormade coat-bodico, knowing no wrinkle and having fulness only in the sleeve, will como stiffly to a point in front over a cloth tailor-cut skirt that is gathered in full at the waist. And with gowns of a more dressy order this skirt fulness is even more pronounced. Once lot a man think you are trying to influence him, and your hope of success is gone. He is a' contrary creature, and doesn’t want'to be managed or improved. A man resents what ho calls interference, but almost at tho same time he will confess that his womenfolk have a tremendous influence upon every man’s life. A woman’s influence is limitless for good, but to be the best it must be unconscious influence.

Women who are susceptible to headaches are only too prone to fly to socalls cures. , The “Lancet” calls attention to the effects upon the public health of the sale of such remedies as headache powders. In New York the deaths from heart failure increased from 4069 in 1900 to 5461 in 1902. Last year it was discovered that articles sold as headache powders were largely adulterated. Chemists were warned against the practice, and there was at once a declim in the death rate from heart failure

So flat is the hair worn on top ’that a whole group of tips, with some upstanding decoration rising from the centre, has recently been one fashionable woman’s headdress. Another has been pleased to carry a small pancake of tiny roses, with a little spray standing alt the left, and all with a certain “chic” that was quite 'fascinating. In too many instances, however, the hair that is brought out far beyond the forehead looks heavy and uncomfortable, and with the flatness on top that is considered so stylish the coiffure seems as if it were a roof covering for the head. Forecasts of the coming spring fashions indicate that there is already one very pronounced fashion in fabrics—indeed, it has never quite left us, but 1904 will see it revived with gathered energy and with all the fervour of 1830, and that is taffeta. Onco again will the silk dress be a necessity in the wardrobe of the women of fashion, and it bears a striking resemblance to the silk dresses worn by our grandmothers. The taffeta, however, is of softer make, and has a brighter effect while it is produced in shadings, both plain and shot, more exquisite than ever before. Many have made a simultaneous" appearance with taffeta, and this will doubtless be a season of striking ornamentation. Bonillinnes, choux, and passementeries must all be pressed into service in the construction of the successful taffeta /rock. The leading Parisian modistes 1 are using taffeta piped with velvet and niched with the same, as well as with frayed out ruches of the like fabric. Then there is a spotted taffeta with a shot- ground, the spot in most cases consisting of one woven in black velvet. This requires to make it a beautiful garment. Here is a woman’s theory that will harmonise with the opinions of some mothers, but we suppose that the majority will have strong objections to it. The neglectful mother, however, will find it an invaluable means of justification. Some women, out of excess of love perhaps, are forebothering their children about trifles. One of the reasons that the average child does not behave better is because children get tired of their mothers, just as mothers sometimes weary of their children. Children who are inattentive, disobedient, and altogether disagreeable with their mother will almost change their character when their father comes in from his business, not necessarily that they love him better than they do their mother, hut because he is fresh and new and interesting; a delightful person because he is a novelty. A very rich women said once that she visited her children in the nursery once a day. Whatever the pressure of her engagements, the hours from five to seven were kept sacred to the children. To her chidren she is, and always will be, a sort of goddess. a wonderful being, who never scolds nor punishes, but reads to them and plays and talks with them, then flits away, to return for the same dear programme to-morrow, and to-morrow, and all the days. She is an event to them, a constant joy. A girl loses little bits of her love every time she stoops to flirt, and removes herself just a step further from *hat ideal woman she would hope to be thought by at least some one nice man. In making clothes for the poor, especially any garment for a working man. have nothing to do with the deceptive cotton stuff called flannelette. The shocking prevalence of disease of the chest, in .this country, is bad enough as it is, remarks the “Irish Homestead,” without that death-haste-ner. ‘

One of the most noticeable novelties at present to be found in the coiffeur's category of charms_ is the Pompadour puffed out at the sides, but so arranged that quite a depression is noticeable in the centre, leaving the head flat at the top. ■ This gives the coiffeur a chance of arranging the bedutiful Juliet cap upon her client’s head.