THE FRENCHWOMAN’S CLOTHES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7869, 3 August 1911, Page 11

THE FRENCHWOMAN’S CLOTHES.

Thai it is possible for a woman who has to practise economy to look just as well in point of elegance as her less economical sister in other countries the Frenchwoman has convinced us beyond doubt. Never .to put away clothes unbrushed or unfolded nor forget to place the trees in boots and shoes when taken off; to pull and straighten out gloves; to roll veils carefully j never to sit about in a walking dress indoors; to keep gowns and hats, when not in use, away from strong sunlight, are only a part of the general soheme of economy practised by the Frenchwoman in every walk of life. Sho is nothing if not feminine, and if her clothes should over escape all that is trim and dainty, then her costume falls wide of her intention. Clothes are looked upon as investments, tho interest'of whichwill have to pay as long as possible and tho principal to bo literally turned over and over until thero is absolutely nothing loft. It may bo for that reason that the Frenchwoman lias an entirely different sot of clothes for tho house and for tho street. Her gowns are carefully folded, as soon as the dust is removed, and placed in shelves or boxes in which there aro sachet bags. Tho latter are placed between the layers, the French idea being that the clothes of every woman should emit some delicately swoet odour. Thero is never a mixture of sachets, one particular odour being adopted and used to tho exclusion of all others.

The Frenchwoman has a place for every article of attire, and each item of dress is to bo found thero—box for glov-ea, bags for shoes, and {shelves for petticoats and gowns. - Some Frenchwomen keep their best gowns in separate boxes whore numerous sachet bags are stowed. _ To take off a wot cloth skirt or coat and drop it down or hang it carelessly is something a Frenchwoman never would do. If possible, it should not even bo hung so that it touches anything, and in any cos© a skirt should ho put on a hanger. There aro several different .styles of these, but tho mistake should not he made of using *for a skirt one made for a waist. The supports to slip through sleeves aro too long for a eidrt and, if put insiao, poko out tho materials in two points over tho hips. One style of a skirt hanger is like two wooden clothespins fastening with a spring. These are separated by a short, heavy steel wire and the pins snip the belt, .holding tho skirt smooth ‘ and flat. Another hanger is precisely like that for waists, with shorter arms, blit tho .pins aro better.

A wet skirt should bo shakon, which will take out some, of 'tho dampness, tho hanger put in smoothly, and then hung in .a room, whore it will dry mono quickly by circulation of air than in a closet. If tho hem is muddy do not try to clean it until dry, and then a ■stiff, short scrub brush will remove

all dirt. A wet coat should bo carefully put over a hanger and treated as the skirt. Hats of any kind should be treated more or less alike when wet. turned upside down ami shaken to get rid <n tho dampness, and left in that position instead of resting on the brim, as Ls usually done. Then, instead of wilting, nil trimming will dry standing as it should when in a correct position. It- will be necessary to suspend tho hat by a cord pinned inside tho crown liko clastic.