In Milady’s Mirror

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20510, 31 August 1936, Page 10

In Milady’s Mirror

“Lipstick Matches”

If you notice a girl take from her handbag what appears to be some book matches, tear one off and instead of lighting her cigarette with it apply it to her lips, do not think she is suffering from an absent-minded fit. Lipstick matches are the latest thing in handbag beauty equipment. One match is enough to colour the lips and after use is discarded. Grandmother’s “Bodies.” Taffeta is used for jumpers that are reminiscent of the “bodices’’ with little boned basques that were worn by our grandmothers in their young days. The modern version of this style lacks the bones in the small neat basque, but imitates the leg-o’-mutton sleeves, the tiny upstanding collar and the frogged fastenings all down the front. Petticoats. Although most underwear is tailored, trim and carefully fitted, petticoats, even those that boast of frills about the hem, are making a bid for a return to favour. Sometimes they are combined with day and evening frocks. As the petticoat is attached to the dress there is no chance of it slipping too much into view. The idea is that it shall be just long enough to avoid the observer a glimpse of it as the wearer walks or dances. Dark blue day dresses maj have tartanpatterned petticoats, the tartan perhaps appearing also in collar and cuffs, or pocket and belt pipings. Navy blue evening frocks of the picture type may have underskirts of white taffeta or organdie, frilled and edged with lace. F<-_ Day or Night. Boleros are to be used in day outfits in addition to evening ensembles. Waist-length and worn over a tailored frock they are just right for street wear in warm weather. In the evening the bolero takes a more decorative turn and may provide the one touch of bright colour. Sometimes it is made of printed cloque with a glazed surface, and in some cases it is in lace embroidered lavishly with gold thread. A Basque Belt. A belt that imitates a basque is an original notion. It is one of those simple but effective things that one wonders why they have not been thought of before. Wide patent leather belts are just long enough to me£t round the waist and instead of being clasped in the centre are clipped at the top so that the two ends are left free. Popular Pleats. Pleats are very popular in spring clothes and appear in sleeves in various decorative ways. One charming style for a satin ■.- taffeta dress would be a very full puff fitted to the upper arm with a series of pleats. T'm puff, which the pleats release a little above the elbow, is pouched on to a deep, tightlyfitting cuff several inches above the wrist. Sleeves that are finely pleated in horizontal fashion from wrist to shoulder are new. They give a quaint concertina line and sometimes the pleating is continued across a narrow yoke. Weights in Dressmaking. The amateur dressmaker often pays little attention to weighting her garments. She does not know that a small leaden weight attached to a frock in the right place may make all the difference to the appearance. When making a dress with a cowl collar at back or front, you will need three lead weights in the smallest size. Cover these with a piece of the material or with flesh-eoloured silk and sew them down the centre of the collar putting the top one near the edge and the others immediately beneath. They will pull the drapery into soft folds and also keep it in place. If you have a gown with the fashionable “angel” sleeves you will find that by weighting the back corners a far more graceful effect can be obtained. The line from Hie shoulders will be kept straight and slim. An evening dress with a slight train may show a tendency to twine round your feet. Buy a length of weighted tape, in white or black, according to the colour ,>f the material and tack it inside the hem of the skirt. This simple device keeps the edge nicely spread out on the floor. A little evening jacket of the fashionable ‘tail-coat” design will hang better if duly weighted. Basques also “set” better when cleverly kept in place with a few weights. A cape will be pi'evented from flying wide if weighted at the centre back and the front corners. In covering the weight, do not attempt to keep the circular outline. Slip it into a tiny square bag and attach by one corner only. The Symbol of Love. The red rose has been the symbol of passionate love lor many ages in Europe and when, about the year 1763, the chrysanthemum was taken there from China the red variety went with its meaning “I love.” Red flowers are always connected with love, though the chrysanthemum in general means cheerfulness under adversity. The white chrysanthemum, like the white rose and the white lily, means truth and purity. Eor some obscure reason yellow is not generallyliked in flowers, and, excepting the crocus and the daffodil, both marriage flowers, the former meaning mirth and the latter regard, yellow Howers have been used to signify jealousy. The yellow lily is the symbol of falsehood and ' e yellow rose of infidelity. Perhaps tradition has brought this about. In the distant past, yellow was the wedding colour till it was worn by women of ill fame, after which Solon made it a law that they should wear brightly flowered robes to distinguish them from virtuous women. In France the doors of traitors were painted yellow and in ancient pictures Judas is shown wearing the yellow garment.