Fashions and Furbelows

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17192, 8 November 1923, Page 9

Fashions and Furbelows

Notes by Special Contributors

CLASPS FOR THE DRAPED GOWN.

Most of us cherish, at the bottom of our jewel-box, clasps of repousse silver or filagree, left over from the days when cloaks were clasped at. the throat or bolus clasped at the waist- Now is tho time to bring them forth. Ever since the discovery of Tutankhamen inspired dress designers with Egyptian ideas. ingenuity has been hard at work to devise something original for tho all-important drapery clasp. Soipe of Ihe most beautiful clasps of to-day are fashioned from

tortoiseshell. Both light and dark shell? are used, some of the French and Italian clasps being rimmed with a narrow edge of gold; others being cut out in a sort of fretwork pattern, permitting the material of the gown to show through with good effect. For women with a limited dress allowances, there are excellent clasps, simulating closely both tortoiseshell and clouded amber, that are expressed in nothing more costly than the ever useful galalith. One huge oval clasp in imitation rock-amber is finished with three hanging pear-shaped drops ; another. in transparent brown am lier, is carved in scarab form and adorned with a long tassel of honey-coloured silk. Especially gorgeous are the clasps in diamente for use on Egyptian frocks. The clasp usually constitutes the sole ornament allowed on the dress, and the designers' have “ let. themselves go ” in respect of size and elaboration, so that some of the leading clasp designs are of generous proportions and extraordinary richness. The vogue for black onyx in diamond jewellery has its counterpart in tho alliance of jet with brilliant paste, and some of the Liveliest examples have all the beauty of workmanship seen in modern diamondsetting. Clasps in brilliant red lacquer and of coloured crystal clasps expressed in two shades of gold ; clasps that have the appearance of platinum studded with precious stones and clasps that look like beaten bronze—these are just a few examples culled at random from the infinite variety that awaits the woman who is searching for something distinctive wherewith to hold the folds of her evening gown.

DARNING HINTS.

A great help in darning big boles in any garment is to tack a piece of net under tho hole, and darn through the not in the usual way. When darning largo holes in woollen sock* and stockings, use a thread of cotton with every strand of darning wool, and your work will last double the usual time. This double thread makes the wool and cotton mixture that js so excellent for hard wear. A hole at the back of a heel should have special treatment. No not run your darning stitches upright and then straight across the heel, but try darning on the cross, so that the stitches run in the form of an X- The wool will then stretch with the movement of the heel and will not “give” so

MAKING THE BEST OF IT

There are a great many women who cannot—or will not—realise that the mind plays a very important part in their physical health. Christian science. Coue-ism, psychology—each containing a large portion of truth -are labelled “ rubbish,” and common sense is not allowed any say in the matter. Perfect health is ns rare a gift as a perfect voice, or a faultless figure. But hundreds of women get through

life with a. moderate donation of voice i and figure, whereas they worry inces- • santly if their health is not perfect. Once begin to think of your health, to analyse every feeling, to wonder if j such or such symptom comes from the heart or the liver, and the mind will j continue in the same track. It will j create the most tiresome maladies, and prevent you from enjoying life. If you arc really ill, consult a good doctor, and trust him implicitly. If. ; on the other hand, you are one of the large army of women possessing moderate health, then forget it. as you forget | that your face is not ns perfect os the Venus <le Milo’s. Wo are not all made to the same pfivsical standard, but everything can bo

improved by making the host of it. Don’t concentrate on shortcomings; rather rejoice that things are not Do not worry over every ache and pain: change your thoughts; go out 1 and buy a new hat; do anything to j give the mind other ideas on which to work. The mind, like the body, must be well nourished ; therefore, use your judgment and strain neither more than it can hear. If you refuse to think of your ills, they will gradually sink into insignifi- ! canoe. And you will go through life quite happily with the sweet, smile i which is tho outcome of content-

ACHIEVING FOOT BEAUTY.

Has it ever occurred to you that i your summer holiday. especially if spent at the seaside, is an excellent opportunity to beautify and strengthen your feet? There i.s nothing more, beneficial to the beauty of the foot than ! to go hare-foot for an hour or longer j every day, and while at the sea this practice can bo indulged in without any difficulty. After your bathe walk. 1 about on the sands without shoes or stockings. It will strengthen the ■ muscles of tho foot, and if you are inclined to be what i.s termed “ flat- | footed ” and desire the high-arched instep, which adds so much to the [ beauty of the foot, you can practise j this exercise. A SIMPLE EXERCISE. Stand with the hands on the hips, • then rise on the toes, drop on the heels, then rise again on the toes. Repeat from ten to twenty times. Then walk j for about twelve to twenty yards- on 1 the tips of the toes- The arms can j be stretched out on either side to pre-i • serve the balance when the exercise i i is first practised if any difficulty is j experienced in maintaining the posi- i , tion. If the feet are inclined tu be • very tender bathe them every morning . in warm water, to which a dessert- , spoonful of alum and boracic powder [ has been added, mixed in the propor- ; . ttion of one ounce of powdered alum to two of boracic acid, and soak them ; | for ten minutes every night in a si mi- ' i lar bath. This will prevent the possi- , bility of blisters forming should long j . country tramps be taken. I TO STRENGTHEN THE ANKLES. I Bathing and paddling arc excellent > for the feet, not only for hardening 1 the skin, but for strengthening the ! ankles and the muscles of the feet. If the feet are soaked in sea water , before tho exercises recommended are i practised the benefit will be greater. Before starting for a long country ; walk it is a good plan to sponge the 1 » feet with cold water, and. after drying • them. to rub them with a few drops of i methylated spirits. < Sprinkle a little ; boracic powder over the leer and into the stockings, and there will bo very > little feeling of fatigue in the evening- • Sprinkle a small niece of cotton wool with oil of lavender and rub ii over the feet before walking barefoot on 1 the grass. This will prevent mosquito ! i * bites.