WOMEN’S WINDOW

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17032, 17 August 1929, Page 12

WOMEN’S WINDOW

BYSTEMATIO HOPS ElvE Ei’ING A PLAN TO HELP HOUSEWIVES MELBOURNE, July 2.'!. Tito first attempt jn Hi is country to help Hie housewife iti a practical way with hey always difficult problem of budgeting has been undertaken by the Emily McPherson College ’.of Domestic Economy. So far those women who are keen enough to try and work out their home finances at all thoroughly have had no guidance except from .schemes published in American hooks and magazines. As the proportions of expenditure are so entirely different from those prevailing in Australia the schemes and charts'' given in these volumes have been of little help to the Australian housewife. From the Emily McPherson College account sheets and particulars for their use are now available, and with these it should be ft simple matter for a vppman to ofetain an accurate estimate •of her expenditure. The account .sheets included in the booklet, which is entitled “The Econo Hiics of Household Spending’’ have 1,10,01) prepared by Professor Copland and Mr. A. A. Fitzgerald, of the School of Coihmereo of the University of Melbourne. Not only will this scheme be found useful to the housewife who uses it, J»ut housewives af-e also asked to till in the forms during the coining year, and then return them to the college, so that the particulars that are given may help the college authorities to formulate statistics and averages that will give further assistance to housewiveq, and guide them in the planning of future budgets.

Attention is drawn to the statement that, pumes of the families using and returning these sheets need not be stated, but it is of importance that the members and ages of the family should ijo given. ft is also necessary that tjhp total ipepme and other special explanatory should be submitted at, the time that the account sheets are returned.

The plan is quite simple, and ’ usewives >vill find no difficulty in working out and setting down the details of their expenditure. The results of this scheme and its value in the future depend on the support that is given now by housewives, who should see that both they and their friends give their help to the Emily McPherson College by obtaining, faithfully filling in and returning the account sheets.

BATHING MODELS FOB WOMEN TATTOOING AND DAZZLING COLORS PARIS, June 22. Women’s bathing drosses this year are to be of the most extravagant designs and colprs. Wjiile they will all be of the simplest and shortest cut, forming neat twopiece cpstumes, their colors and embroideries will be fantastic. Huge initials, embroidered in white or red, will adorn in some eases the tunic, while other costumes will imitate the tattooing on sailors. There will be arrow-pierced hearts with mottoes. In another series' of bathing suits the tunics are embroidered with different kinds of fish in scarlet and other bright-colored silks. “MY HUSBAND AND I” (By Mrs. Standlfcy Baldwin). An intimate study of Mrs. Stanley Baldwin is given in an interview with that lady by a French newspaper correspondent, Mile. Ay dree Viollis, in the Petit Parisien. “Since the day of my marriage I have always shared the life of my husband,” confided Mrs. Baldwin, “and I have never let hiip .down. We bqth believe firmly in the comradeship of marriage.’’ Mrs. Baldwin said that the happiest day in her youth was when one of her brothers, whom she used to rival in jnany branches of sport, declared that h,e would prefer to play cricket with her in an important seliook match than with many of his comrades. f‘l had m vor thought of speaking in public,” said Mrs. Baldwin, “until circumstances forced me to make the attempt one day. Then my childhood sporting training stood me iu good stead. It was the sporting instinct thut helped me through.”

THE WANDER BIRDS. “Take them out of the cinemas, and send them under the sun,” js Germany’s new slogan for her boys and girls, and Germany has certainly shown the world how children may he persuaded to revel in the joys of the open air. Throughout the length and breadth of the country 25(10 holiday shelters have been established —many of them were once soldiers’ barracks —and in them young pooplo can bo lodged for the night, not luxuriously, but in safety and comfort. Each young guest pays twopence for a bod, which has a straw mattress and pillow, and blankets. There are baths and facilities for cooking. Last year three million German boys and girls took to the road and used these shelters, wandering through the lovely Rhineland and the Black Forest in the certainty of finding shelter and safety each night. They wandered on foot—the i(leal way—welcoming sun and blustery weather. Germany 's scheme might well be imitated in other countries. We all agree that children should be taught to delight in nature, but until we pro vide some workable scheme by which they can explore the out-of-door world they must be content with haphazard glimpses. The guide movement, with its well-organised camping, has done much to show the child the delights of the out-of-doors. But we will approach the ideal state of affairs when we can offer all our boys nrnl girls a holiday tramp, under safe conditions, and at a cost of about one and sixpence per day, as Germany is doing. BOTTLED STOCKINGS ' The juw r a that women mav in future buy their stockings in liquid form and paint them on has filled with apprehension a visitor from the north as vet uinveaned of the sundowner habit. “The men of Adam’s race each day Advantages surrender. To Eve, whom bottled stockings free From carter and suspender. And Adam runs a dreadful risk When home at eve h ; e goes, Of mixing up his little drinks With Eve’s best bottled liosc.”

UIIUGUAYAN COURTSHIP. BEAUTIFUL SOUTH AMERICANS. PARES FASHIONS. “A knowledge of Spanish makes life much pleasanter in South America for the Britisher,” says Mrs Edward Jackson, “particularly knowledge of the imperative mood.” Mrs Jackson, whose husband is an inspector of banks, has spent several years iu Montevideo, Uruguay, timing which time she has developed a warm affection for the people of that country. “You want to know the language and customs of a people before passing opinions,” she says. “The women of Uruguay are the most beautiful in South America. They have the trimmest feet of any women 1 have ever seen, from mistress to maid. Unfortunately they ‘go off’ after they reach 30, and ger fat, because it is a wealthy country, and the womenfolk do not need to work. Spanish immigrants, who are faithful, servants, make the servant problem non-existent. “The customs of the country are .derived from Spain. Women never go alone in the streets. If a girl is seen walking down the street with a man it is safe to .conclude she is a Britisher. It is considered the correct thing for a man to pass remarks about a girl in the street as he passes by, if he considers her attractive. SPAN! >SH TRADITIONS. “Uruguayans keep up the old Spanish traditions of not allowing boys and girls to mix. The boys watch the girls coming out of the cathedral after service, and, seeing a girl who attracts him, a boy will discover her address, and commence a silent courtship, standing devotedly gazing at her window. “If the girl is n.ot interested she ignores him. If shy is she opens her window and sits on her little balcony, resting her arms on a cushion, and providing one of the prettiest scenes in the life of Montevideo.

“Shingled heads and Paris fashions have taken the place of the comb and mantilla. “There is a British chlony of over 1000 in Montevideo. All the big interests are worked by British enterprise. The growing of meat and wool nro the largest industries. Although the smallest of the South Arnerj,can countries, Uruguay is the most stable. ASCOT FASHIQNS. Of the women’s clothes only a woman can speak with authority, but mere map must confess to some disappointment in the fashions which, have made their appearance at Ascot this year. Probably every man welcomed woman’s ep.d,envoi- jt,o return to something Jiiore graceful and ethereal than the fashions to which we have been accustomed during the past year or two, but the male is also disposed to find woman’s present attempt to achieve this standard a little untidy. The men themselves have remained outstandingly conservative. It limy be that they remember previous Ascots when they have left home in brilliant sunshine and been greeted by snow before lunch time, but whatever the explanation the umbrella remains at Ascot as much a part of the .mule uniform as it is on Derby Day. The once essential white shirt is giving place in many directions to shirts discreetly striped in colors. The passing of the spat is also notable. Hardly a man who aspired to be in the iirst flight of fashion retained this once essential adjunct to male attire. AYith the spat there has fluttered into oblivion the winged or butterfly collar. Turned down collars are the order of the day. Only Lord Lonsdale remains faithful io an old tradition. His grey morning suit and white shirt with bold pink lines running across it appeared as much in fashion as ever. HUSBANDS, HOW MANY OF THESE .1.43 ATTRIBUTES HAVE YOU ?

XE.W YORK, July 3. The ideal husband must be a lover, as well as a plumber; he must know all about the cure of children and he must be a St. George in slaying moths and flies; he must combine the ability to provide a good home with astuteness in selling old clothes, must be a solon in maintaining peace in his home, and be able to dispose of garbage in a sanitary manner. These arc only a few of the 143 definitions contained in the “Blueprint of the Domestically Efficient Husband,” made public on Tuesday. This latest scientific work was evolved by Prof. Charles C. Peters, of the sociology department of the Pennsylvania State College, with the aid of 100 graduate students of the University of Kansas. The model husband’s .143 qualities are divided into four groups. The principal item in the first group specifies that ho “should be able to meet the economic, problems of family life.” This includes the ability to repair gas and water pipes,xcaro for sinks, set up and adjust stoves, manage furnaces and “be prepared to sell at a maximum advantage? old clothing and old furniture.” " N - Tho ability to 'sew is specified in the second classification which deals largely with Ihe care of children. The third group provides that ho be versed in principles of sanitation and hygienic and .aesthetic conditions, while tho fourth doals with his rolations with his wife and other members of his family. He must control his temper nrnl tolerate faults of his wife and children. Ho must not make disparaging remarks about his wife’s relatives. He must not argue. A husband batting 1000 on all those counts is the ideal mate.

SPRING FASHIONS. FORECASTS FOR NEW SEASON. Fashion is ever contemptuous of the weather, and rain and cold do not deter the preparations for spring, although chiffons and silks may seem a little inappropriate at the moment. However, tin- warmer weather will be with us in a month or two (says the Sydney Morning Herald), and it is always wise to plan the wardrobe a little ahead. The shops are already showing tho-new spring goods, and the windows make a welcome change with their colorful silks and patterned chiffons, after the somewhat drab materials of winter. Preliminary mannequin parades of the new season’s styles have been held at the large department shops, and in a short time the usual spring showings will be upon us. It is not too early to predict that floral and patterned chiffons will be exceedingly popular in the coming season. Frocks of tlie formal type, for race and garden party wear, will be composed of this material, while it will enjoy a great vogue for evening frocks. Large and small designs will both be used. It is predicted that afternoon gowns will show the uneven hemline, being longer at the back than at the front, but whether this ' fashion will be adopted with enthusiasm remains to be seen. Certainly, the simple type of sports and business frock will retain its straight hem. ■ A more feminine note will bo seen in the new spring frocks, which are trimmed with ruffles, frills, and apron effects. Skirt draperies in the form of handkerchief points and panels will be used. Printed satip is one of the new materials for spring, and printed erepe-de-chino and similar silks wilJ enjoy the same popularity as last summer. For these latter, smaller designs will be used than those which appear on the chiffons, and they will lie mostly in floral and conventional effects. Spots are again promised a vogue, and will be seen in all sizes. Iron) the tiny pin spot to the largo soin spot.

Women who desire the utilitarian kind of frock will be pleased to learn that the ensemble remains as smart as ever. The typo most predominant in the new season’s modes will be of plpin and printed silk and satin combined. A frock of the printed material will have an accompanying c,oat of the plain, which will bp lined with the same material as the frock. All kinds of coats will be to the fpre. Many of the chiffon frocks have an accompanying coat, which fprijm a useful ensemble, for the short-sleeved frock can bp worn as an evening .dress, and with tpe addition of jtlm coat, js suitable, for daytime wear.

Lace is also treated ip this way. Even frocks of voile and rayon will have (heir accompanying coat, which twill be hip-length—that is, they are sleeveless —for, while the sleeveless frock is to be worn again, it must have its matching coat, which is slipped on when the wearer goes out-of-doors.

Printed Upon is also prominent among the new spring shpwings, and is used for motor and dust coats, am! for two-piece suits, which ape composed of a skirt of printed linen, a white blouse, either tucked in pt tho waist or worn in jumper fashion, and a hip-length or three-quarter length coat of the same linen which forms the skirt. These ensembles shopbl be popular with the business girl, for linen is renowned for its washing and wearing qualities. NOVELTIES. FROM THE DRESS SHOWS. LONDON, June 20. The dress shows are full of interest these days. You not only see at them actual frocks and coats and hats, you sec also all kinds of fascinating finishing touches and pretty novelties. For instance, there are the quaint little sleeveless coatees made of sequins, which are so fashionable at the moment, and which immediately bring last year’s evening dress up to date if it is worn under one of them. These coatees are quite plain, they are short, and hang straight from tho shoulders, and are made entirely of sequins.

Evening frocks have interesting necklines this season. Home can hardly be said to have a neckline at all, as they are cut right down to tho waist at the back. But others are not so extreme. They are often cut rather low at the back, and a good deal higher in tho front. Louise Boulanger of Paris sponsors this mode in a good many of her new dinner frocks, which are very low at the back, and are high up to the chin in front.

The majority of this summer’s sleeveless chiffon frocks arc accompanied by long-sleeved jackets of tho same material, but you can only claim smartness for these “suits” if the coat follows the same lines as the frock, dipping down where it dips, and shortening where it shortens. Evening coats do the same thing, and most of the new coats are cut with the fashionable dipping lino at tho back. Gloves are being worn in tho evening; not ordinary gloves, but fanciful, elaborate ones. Shoulder length gloves of black lace upheld by gold bracelets were seen at one .fashiondisplay, and embroidered gloves are also being worn. Wigs make their appearance quite as a matter of course'in the evening. Some of the new ones are carried out in feathers, and one very novel wig, made of white feathers and shaped to give the effect .of a shingle, had upstanding feather plumes at the back by way of a finish.

Some of tho new frocks have bows oji the shoulders, and these bows are cpt with long ends, which fall right down to the floor. The bows take the place of shoulder posies; so, too, do the new bivv jewelled brooch.es. To bo smart, you must either wear real flowers on your shoulder or artificial oner tucked into tho waist of a gown—ordinary shoulder posies aro rather out of favor at the moment. Beige pearls are the very newest thing in the way of “jewels.” You can buy them either in long strings or in chokers made of just a few really enormous stones. Another

very new necklace is composed of many strands of small colored beads, the ordinary kind that you used to buy in a penny packet. But there is nothing of the penny packet about these necklaces. They arc smart and expensive, and .all the strands of beads are gathered together at the back into p jewelled clasp. “BEAUTY PA BLOB" PERILS. PARIS, June 20. The Parisicnne, like her sisters in other countries, shows no tendency to desist f roni the vain attempt to paint the lily or to gild refined gold. The vermilion lip is a blatant evidence of this fact. The “beauty parlor” is on the increase,' and many foolish women with plenty of time and money' at their disposal have cause to regret their patronage of certain types of this kind of establishment. Numerous so-called “institutes dc beautc” are run by people possessing no sort of qualification for the operations that they undertake. Medical men, backed by health societies, are now demanding that the law shall step: in to protect gullible clients. Strong representations have %>een made to the Minister of Health in this sense, and those concerned arc hopeful that, by an application of the existing laws, the beauty parlors carried on by up-, scrupulous and incompetent persons will soon be suppressed. It is stated that some of the lipsticks and other cosmetics on the market are most injurious. CLUB FOB WOMEN". QUEEN LAYS FOUNDATION STONE. LONDON, June 29. This week the Queen laid the foundation stone of the new Y.W.C,A. Central Club, which is being built for the use of business and professional women working in London. We have long needed a club of this kind, and are behind most other big towns in providing one. New York has a huge Y.W.C. A. club, Winnipeg, with a: comparatively' small population, has a • thoroughly modern building, and the Australian towns set a better example than London has hitherto done. But now we are to have a club which we may really be proud of. It is being built in Bloomsbqry, a very practical neighborhood for a club of this kind, since it is near the centre of things, and y r et is, itself, a. peaceful backwater, diverted from tne main rush qf traffic.

When the club is opened it will cater for 5000 women a day, and, besides providing a social centre, where members may meet each other and entertain their men and women friends, it will fulfil many other requirements. It is estimated that a million women and girls come intp London every day to work. The majority of these women do not have homes of their own. They have probably come up from the country pr from provincial towns, and all the hotpe life tbpy can claim is provided by boardinghouses or by “rooms.” it is for women such as these that the club is intended.

For several years now plans have been going forward for this duty. The authorities were determined not to build until they had enough money in hand, and it has taken some time to collect the necessary £250,000. When the first appeal was made the Quceu and the Prince of Wales at once headed thp list of those who had sent contributions. The Duchess pi York also sent a contribution, and became the honorary president of the movement. The committee was composed of well-known women, who were not content with lending their patronage, but who really worked hard to make the duty a success. ' Mrs Stanley- Baldwin is one of the chief organisers of the scheme.

The club will open its (lours to glj working women in irrespective of class or creed. Good character is the only qualification otherwise the mere fact that a woman is a genuine worker will entitle her to the membership of the club, which, it is confidently hoped, will make the greatest difference in the daily lives of, perhaps, a million women —an ideal which lias been worth striving for-