Women and Home.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 15, 8 October 1929, Page 2

Women and Home.

NEW FROCECS FOR THE BUSY WOMAN.

By Barbara Winslow

jpOll certain hours of the day, every woman is a businesswoman. Fashion keeps this fact in mind.

Shopping and marketing may well be classed as business pursuits, and one does these things in a frock that is simple, smart, exquisitely tailored, and yet not without the feminine touch. There is an immediate vogue for black for daytime wear, made lovely with a lingerie touch of real lace and georgette. Ideas on suitable fabrics for business and busy purposes have changed. Crepe satin is the most fashionable material to be so used, and many women who have tried it realise that it is a practical choice. Satins in the modern makes wear well, do not crush easily, and are not likely to suffer from that inevitable ailment of woollen fabric—shininess in worn parts! Providing the material is carefully chosen in a good quality, a frock of satin or crepe de chine will last as long as one of woollen fabric, and yet look smart at all times. Both fabrics are also suitable to the season and though the colour selected will have to be dark in order that it shall be practical, the modish touches of lace and other lingerie fabrics ensure that such a frock chosen for business will look always dainty and fresh. . n . After black, dark brown tones have a fashionable prominence that interests the business woman. ' Those who do not agree about the practicality of satin for business hours, or who prefer to have two frocks of cheaper material instead of one of more expensive fabric, will like to hear about the vogue for alpaca. Alpaca is a pleasant summer fabric for busy people, and it comes and goes in the mode- At the moment, it has come ! Brighter shades of it are liked as well as blacks, browns and navy blues. Silver grey, currant wine, Volga blue, and parrot green are some shades in which it is sold. Woollen fabrics of today are not to be sneered at as mediums for practical frocks, because they are soft and drapeable. The fine weaves are preferred now, and wool crepe de chine, wool taffeta, and wool Georgette are the names of those being chosen to make up into models for workaday wear. Have a scarf made of the same

fabric as your summer woollen frock. On days when it is warm enough to shed a coat, the scarf gives just that right “street appearance” which the frock with-* out it or a coat has not. A loose, belted style is very practical for the busy woman.. This type of frock is modish, and, while the belt gives shape, the looseness allows for plenty of sitting or moving about without undue strain on the fabric. Wide belts are more in vogue than narrow belts, though individual preference is always the deciding factor. The belt is worn distinctly higher this season. The lingerie touches on a dark utility frock may be given either by means of collar and cuffs, or in more novel forms. Collar and cuffs are seen in ail sizes. Perhaps the most attractive are of lawn or Georgette with pleated edge. Cuffs are quite large, the most popular types being of the turn-back cavalier style, some nearly reaching to the elbow. A new line is got by haying the whole of the front of the frock cut out into a deep G shape like a man’s evening waistcoat. This may be filled in with a frilly vestee, or, as some of the smartest models are, with a rather severe-looking vest of pique or stiff linen. The collar will turn over the frock, and there will be a soft bow of black satinAlternately, the front of the frock may be a perfectly plain vest, and the collar be a wide one of the rever type. One can ring many changes on a dark frock this season by these means. ■ . When one is tired of trimmings of lace or lawn, the printed fab- , rics are equally useful to be used in this way. Given one plain frock of good cut and tailoring, one’s “collar and cuff wardrobe, ’* which will include both plain and printed types, can be used to keep it fresh and new-looking. The printed blouses are interesting to the busy woman, since thev may be worn for a -longer period than plain types without appearing to lose their freshness. Many of these new planted blouses tuck in the skirt. The secret of being able to fvear the new tuck-in blouses is to have your skirt fitted absolutely to the hips. If the skirt is gathered or pleated into a band, the smart effect is lost. There should be a hip yoke on the skirt made to fit, and into this pleats or flares v will be set, so that a neat line round the hips is obtained, above which the blouse tucks snugdy into the skirt. (All Rights Reserved.)