LONDON FASHION NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 17476, 3 April 1915, Page 7

LONDON FASHION NOTES

BLOUSES WITHOUT TEARS. FLOUNCED SKIRTS RE-APPEAR. (From Our Lady Correspondent.) ' LONDON, January 5. ‘‘Business as Usual” has tuned the British shop-keeping public up to far beyond its ordinary attitude towards the buying 1 public. Having watched the conscientious customer spending what she could, lest the Christmas season fall short of its sparkle for others, the idea •seems to hslve come that she cun be induced, under the shadow of spending time, to continue buying for her household. For no sooner are notices about desirable Christmas gifts down than those declaring a sale are up. And no whisper this year, it will he noted, of the imperious ‘'one week only”! Sales that, it must surely he acknowledged, are on the whole hail, must this year ho a godsend to greatly overstocked shopkeepers. FUR HATS are not much seen tin's winter, rather strangely, since furs are a good deal cheaper than usual, though a good many toques and hats are fur trimmed. A few white fur toques, trimmed with black velvet leaves or petals sewn into the fur, are smart looking. SHOT SILK BRIMS, narrow and sharply upturned, distinguish some of the newest toques, the crowns of which are of panne velvet, black or dark coloured. Few of these have much trimming. FEATHER WHEELS made by curling actual ostrich feathers round and round into wheels about six inches across are novel embellishments tjuit, so far. appear on black velvet toques. THREE BEEP FLOUNCES, not very full ('though full and be-frilled gowns are being predicted by some firstclass designers) and starting from a bodice plain over the bust and swathed loosely round the waist and over the hips—called ‘the cuirass'—are the latest ideas for girlish figures. PINK CHIEECN in a very pale shade is again returning to favour for lining lace yokes, vests, sleeves and chemisettes. WOOI, BACKED SATIN. ■which lias the advantage when good of being almost uncrushable and the disadvantage, when not sit good, of not wearing very well, is an excel lent medium for the simple picturesque afternoon styles that have now come in for newly grown-ups. PLASTRONS OF LACE in various designs are again being used both on lingerie and indoor dresses. Motifs of ratine are popular, too. ETON O') ATS with deep pleated basques attached are in fashion in America. These have hands four inches deep attached, which hate llio appearance ‘of loose belts and which come slightly below the normal waist-line, the front of the coat being rather loose. HOBBLE SKIRT PATENT. Amongst the many novel patents of the year is one in connection with the hobble skirt (surely a little la.te in the day!), which, it is said, enables the wearer to walk without hobbling. The lower part of the skirt, is accordion ideated, the upper part fits closely round the hips, and is gathered lower down and attached to the accordion ideated section by means of elastic concealed in a fold passing round the garment, BLOUSES. Now is the time for the nervous amateur to set her hand and mind to the making of blouses and so save a considerable amount of ber dress-allowance, create a new interest in life and lie able to afford better material than of old. For there axe few of the styles of to-day that, can't bo copied by anyone with intelligence. The most satisfactory scheme is to find a not to complicated pattern, ascertain that it. is ihe right measurement round the bust, and cut from tliis a cotton blouse —on which to make experiments! All blouses are now loose, mainly all have long yokes and Raglan sleeves, not nearly as difficult lo lit as (lie old styles, not many fasteners and open necks.

"Lot the new chum not be dismayed by the magazine fashion writers’ notions of the amount of material required since, when the fundamentals are satisfied, the odd parts, cuffs, collars, vests, etc., can often be cut out of odd bits in a way that would seem complicated if set down in directions. Also a slender person can do with less fulling than a bigger one, and very" often odd pieces of fancy material left over from other essays come in capitally for finishings. The toy of acquiring a remnant, seemingly a little too skiinpv. should never bo spoiled for lack of a little enterprise or dress-mak-ing courage! , . „ It is well, if smartness be the object, to trv and have the blouse exactly the same colour as the skirl, oven when it is of fluitc a different material. Contrasts arc. for the moment, out of favour. USEFUL HINT*. The white silk shirt blouse that has turned yellow from washing should be treated as follows: —Dtp it in a. solution of one ( ablespoontnl ot ammonia to a quart <>f warm water. Snooze out this solution and rinse in bli f. u.i.Ui until tulle restored. Hang in the shade to drv and while damn press between dry cloth's on the wrong side. To wash a woollen sports coat ; Fold coat with sleeves at back, place on them a towel, fasten buttons and tack coat evenly on the towel. Wash in Lux, rinse well, squeeze without wringing, and hang on line in open air if possible. When nearly dry tae.Uings mav he removed and coat put on a dry cloth It will not stretch or get out ot shape' at all if moved several tunes while drying. White woollen caps may be washed in the same way.

As we have often stated, we do not attach as much importance to racing successes as some firms are prone to do, but the records of the Triumph motorcycle in New Zealand are such tliat their wonderful consistency forces itself upon the public. Again on Saturday. 20th inst.. wo had convincing proof of’the marvellous reliability and speed powers of the “Triumph." In the Pioneer Club's beach races at New Brighton the star performances of the day were those of the "Triumph.” Among twelve starters, representing all makes, including 7-9 twin cylinder machines, Gt B. Brown on his invincible Triumph secured fastest time in both races. In the 50 miles handicap he covered the complete distance in 55min 56secs, and secured third place, the second place being awarded to G. Moffatt, also mounted on a "Triumph.” In the 10-mile race for committeemen, A. J. Harper on a 4-h.p. three-speed roadster “Triumph”, secured first place, while the fastest time was gain made by G. B. Brown. Such records week after week need no further comment. The “Triumph" demonstrates its own capabilities. Hundreds of similar proofs can be advanced to prove conclusively the Triumph’s undoubted superiority.—WlLSON and ERASED, Sole Aageuts, Dee street, Invercargill- , x