News for Women

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1924, Page 15

News for Women

Latest Paris Fashions

(From Pauline Courlauder.)

Parle, Oct. 23.

With one eye on Biarritz and the other on the coming Riviera season—if I may put it this way without accusing anyone of squinting—the dress authorities are preparing a feast of airy frocks in georgette, mousseline de coie and cobwebby lace. The outline of these frocks, like that of the more substantial ones, is kept very slim, but there is enough fullness concealed in pleatsand kilting to enable the wearen to move with ease and grace when walking or dancing. The “waistline,” if any, is on the hips, and may be marked by a line or a bunch of chiffon and. fiflk flowers; these must, however, be\ept flat so as not to interfere with the necessary slimness of the hips. EMPIRE AND DIRECTOIRE MODES. It is good news for small women that there are several models with Empire or Directoire waist lines; at least, the waist is Empire in length, though it does not fit closely to the figure, but ie kept as loosely fitting as in the longwaisted modern frocks. The extra length that a ehort waist allows for the skirt is much more becoming to short figures. The rounded neck and short puff sleeve® of the original Empire gown remain in its modern edition, and they may be outlined with small crushed silk and chiffon flowers. PASTEL COLOURS FOR DANCE FROCKS. Shrimp pink is a favourite colour for dance and dinner frocks, and is especially dainty in georgette. Here is a sleeveless pink georgette tunic edged with pink georgette and silver flowers, over a silver lace fourreau; the fourreau comes up to the arms, and is revealed beneath the widely cut armholes, which also are outlined with pink and silver flowers. The bordering flowers are just heavy enough to hold the georgette in place and to give it the very desirable neat, straight line. Cobwebby silver lace is used for a tunic over a pink elip, and is edged with , pink fur. All pastel shades are welcomed for wearing with gold or silver lace. SCARVES FOR THE EVENING DRESSES. Nearly all dance frocks have scarves of the same material attached to one shoulder. These can be passed across the front of the bodice, leaving both ends hanging down the back; alternately, they may be. twisted round the frock like a drapery, or a long end may be caught in the waist and left to trail behind as a train. These scarves are edged with siMc flowers or feathers.

“BLACK AND WHITE/’ One of the prettiest frocks in a new collection is of filmy black lace over white georgette. It hangs straight from the shoulders, showing the, lace to its beet advantage. On the left hip it is ' slightly lifted with a bunch of purple and red dahlias, applied quite flatly, and from the right shoulder trails a broad black velvet ribbon (lined with red • and purple shot ailk.A lace scarf ig often turned •into’one ; of these charming floating and adds grace and length to the frock and wearer. NEW MATERIALS AND TRIMMINGS. Some of the beat effects on the more substantial gowne. are obtained fry thq use of dark satin With a pale coloured

or white satin lining woven into it. These frocks apparently are very skimpy, but wide, overlapping panels serve the twofold purpose of giving extra width and allowing glimpses of the gay linings. Broad scarves and scarf-trains generally accompany gowns with woven linings. They are made of the same material,and may be hemmed with narrow hems or edged with tiny tinsel braid. THE CROSS-OVER MODE. Nothing could be more supple and accommodating than satin with a woven lining. The cross-over model is especially suitable for these desirable materials and would need no trimming except, perhaps, buttons, or here and there a touch of embroidery. An inner vest of brocade reflecting the colour of the lining may be an additional charm, and so may a touch of real lace .at the neck and sleeves.

PEARL BUTTON GRAPES.

A quaint trimming, and one that had the unusual advantage of being inexpensive. was made of pearl buttons sewn on to form a bunch of grapes, the stalks being worked in thick silk. In this particular case the ornament was used on a raven blue satin scarf that accompanied a raven blue gown, but it would be equally effective on a pocket or on the front of a jumper, or holding in a sash at the hips. The buttons should be sewn on with thick, grey-blue silk in tone as much like the mother of pearl as possible. A novel embroidery, representing a trail of convolvulus, appeared on the front of a crepe de chine blouse. The trail was made of pearl buttons, each one outlined with a silk stitch, and fastened by five threads of silk from the centre of the button to the edge. The threads were supposed to represent the lines that make the convolvulus easily recognisable by the most amateur botanist. SLEEPING IN COMFORT. Have you ever tried the expedient of putting three large buttons on the top blanket and three large buttonholes on the top end of the upper sheet of a bed? For invalids’ and children’s beds there is no more satisfactory method of preventing rumpled linen. Another good idea is to make three or four blanket shields for baby’s cot. These consist of shallow pockets of fine lawn or linen, as wide as the cot, into which the top of. the little blanket is slipped. The edges of the shield are scalloped or bound with narrow pale pink or 'blue handkerchief linen, and baby’s name might be worked in the centre, surrounded by a tiny wreath of rosebuds. These shields save a groat deal of laundering of blankets and coverlets. A similar shield, in strong' white or coloured linen, would be attractive on an invalid’s bed. It need not be used constantly, but could slipped on over the tops pf -the upper clothes when visitors are allowed. HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS A.B.C. AMBER OIL AND ANISEED. . j J Ji ■ ■ .. Amber oil is distilled amber, pfele yellow in colour, with a disagreeable odour and acrid taste. It is valuable as a constituent of an embrocation used for whooping cough. - The embrocation, a litite of which' ‘‘should be rubbed in the back and, chest night and morning, is made, as follows j.—f, Amber oil .•;.-.. ... i• • H oun efe; : | . /Spirjt of camphor.,.]' oiuiicej -■Spirit; HarMhoi'n -fl 'pujit4i *’ i

Aniseed/ preparations are soothing, and .tpjJajlay cQughe and to act as stomach cordials.’ Remedies containing aniseed are made easily at home.

As a cough remedy, either aniseed drops or aniseed balsam may be used. To make . tljp ArsL. msfee> an sugar -toffee'by water, three pounds of sugar and

twenty grains of cream of tartar until a piece sets hard when dropped into cold water. Add a teaspoonful of aniseed oil, mix thoroughly, and pour the mixture on to an oiled slab. Mark with a knife before cold eo that it may be broken easily.

A liquid cough mixture, the dose being one to two table spoonfuls three or four times a day, is made as follows:

Gum arabic 1 ounce Ipecacuanha wine i ounce Liquorice o 1 ounce Oil of aniseed ... . 20 drops Oxymel of squills .... 4 ounce Treacle 1 pound.

Break the gum arabic and liquorice into small pieces, add half a pint of water and boil; add the treacle and stir well. Allow to cool, mix in the other ingredients, and make up to two pints by adding more water.—J. S. Bainbridge, B.Sc.

ECONOMY IN THE LINEN CHEST. Worn sheets, pillowslips, tablecloths, table napkins, and towels of all kinds and sizes may be put to good use by the economically minded, housewife. Worn sheets may end their days very usefully as sheets for the children’s beds, or as dust sheets. The centre of the sheet wears out first, but it will have a new lease of life if you turn it “sides to middle.” Old pillow slips serve as underslips to protect the ticking, and are useful for storing articles which must be kept dust-proof, such as

feathers and trimmings. Worn and mended table napkins can be utilised for serving boiled fish, potatoes cooked in their jackets, and for cheese. Needlework or knitting Keeps clean during the the making if it is rolled up in an old table napkin. Worn out tablecloths can be cut up into table napkins, and, if the linen is good and fine, useful dinner mats also can be fashioned and edged with narrow lace. Small tray cloths for the early morning cup of tea or 11 o’clock lunch are another suggestion for utilising old tablecloths.

The Turkish towel can re-appear as a bath glove, baby’s feeder, lavatory and household cloths. Several thicknesses sewn together make good polishing cloths.

All scraps from the linen chest will be appreciated in the medicine chest, and the ardent gardener and motorist is grateful for anything that will serve as a "duster.”

Tea cloths, glasscloths and dusters can be made from old face towels when their original purpose has been served.

HOUSEHOLD HINTS. <Tar can be taken out of the most delicate fabrics by. being rubbed ■ with a white .rag sbakeT in oil of eucalyptus. Heat lemons thoroughly before squeezing, and yon -will obtain nearly double the usual quantity of juice. A frying-pan divided in half is being; exhibited in London. It can be used for cooking two kinds of food at once. If . the. skin of beetroot; j s broken, singe (as you would a. chicken) and plupge into boiling water. Cook until tender, and-the beetroot wll] not bleed. •A new sponge should be soaked for several hours in salt and water. ‘This >vill swell the sponge and free it from grit. To skin tomatoes easily, dip them in quite boiling water for just half a minute, and the skin cqm.es. off quite and does not ispoil the look of the tomatoes. < The best thing to banish silverfish is a spray of formalin. Spray the backs of pictures, behind shelves, or wherever the silverfish appear. Formalin will not stain or mark, but be careful not to leave the bottle' about, ag it ; jfe ‘poison. - •»■