OUR PARIw I.ETTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17835, 1 May 1926, Page 18 (Supplement)

OUR PARIw I.ETTER.

By Pauline C'ourlander. A rather alarming fashion is the perfectly plain white satin evening frock, quite untj-immed at that. The only relief is-.afforded by ropes of pearls or some coloured jewellery. I do not think that it is a happy fashion. White is difficult to wear at any time, and white satin even more' so. a< the hard, shiny surface is trying to the best and youngest complexion. Those who are

This is one of the popular black an*-! white creations described by our Paris corresponden t.

well advised will doubtless avail themselves of the. renewed vogue’ for black and; whiter'-and will veil their white s&ftn with Titeck chiffon, or have a black frgck and a black coat lined with white satin.

SIMPLE SPLENDOUR. Many of the new frocks are extreme-

Iv plainly made. There was, at a recent Paris Exhibition. a sleeveless princess gown with a round decol•etage and an almost close-fitting bodice. a at the sides only. 1 here was an entire absence of trimming, as the gown was designed to be worn with jewellery- such as a diamond and sapphire pendant, long earrings and a whole battery of braceLes? resplendent but vounger are the chiffon frocks with slightly shaped flounces put cn almost perpendicularly from waist to hem. The whole skirt looks rather like a huge flower. Sometimes the flounces are edged with a tiny line ot crystal beads or a gold or silver ccrd which makes the petals glisten as with dew dropr. ' APE EFFECTS. Many frocks have a cape effect down the back only of lace or chiffon, either hanging straight down or draped into one shoulder. Long cascades, like frills, arc. worn cither down one side of the back, or the side of the front. Some capes are devised so that they are detachable, according to the occasion upon which the dress is worn. These, of course, are very handy, and have the additional advantage of making it appear that one has an extra gown. For instance, the cape is not an ideal ornament under a coat, and is liable to emerge in a crushed condition; whereas for transforming an ordinary little frock into a graceful and important looking gown, it surpasses any other device of the moment. STILL THE “TWO-PIECE." The “two-piece" is still as popular as ever, and some charming colour combinations can be introduced. As for materials, georgette and silk reps are much favoured. A georgette gown with a contrasting colour down the entire front, in strips of silk reps, about two inches wide, also down the back if desired, worn with a silk reps coat, lined with georgette, cn suite, looks delightful. SHOES AND STOCKINGS. Beige stockings are worn in the day’ time and evening with black patent leather or satin shoes. Black walking shoes are strapped or piped with bits of coloured leather to match the frock with which they are worn. All the best shoes are decorative without being gaudy. They are beautifully made, and any ornament on them is carefully designed to go with the particular shape. Buckles are still very much worn, and these, too, are of beautiful workmanship. Fan-shaped bits of lace arc put on evening slippers, fastened with a narrow paste buckle. Larger buckles of enamel, beaten metal, or the lesser precious stones are worn on black patent leather shoes. SPORTS SUITS. The straight silhouette exacted by the pleated skirt ensemble is almost universal in the realm of sporting attire. The predominance of pale shades over orthodox pure white is revealed by some of the latest models, although, white is seen in two-colour harmon-ies-—yellow and white or orange and white being a chic ensemble. A delightful garment seen at a recent dress show was a white gabardine Skirt, worn with a trim blue serge coat, fastening at the waist-line with two linked buttons. The coat was just hip-line length, and had a very nattv small stand-up collar. The chic garment was cut on those exquisitely simple lines that only the artist can achieve.

t usual way with plate polish. If of wood, rub well with a little linseed oil. Co\*er the back and handle with a cloth, then strike the brush on the surface of a bowl of warm soapy water to which has been added one teaspoonful of ammonia per quart of water. Continue to strike the brush up and down until clean, then rinse in warm water to remove all traces of soap. Rinse again iii cold water, adding borax previously dissolved in boiling water in the proportion of one teaspoonful of borax to each quart of rinsing water. Remove the cloth protecting the back, and strike the brush on it to get rid of as much water as possible. Hang the brush up by a string to dry in a current of air away from anv heat or strong sun. and polish the back when dry.

Banister and furniture brushes of horsehair should be freed from all trace of fluff before being hung up. When soiled, scrub the handle, unless it is polished or painted, in which case cover it with a cloth before the brush is washed. In the case of a long broom, do no.t crush the bristles, but have the head just over the edge of a table. With a soapy swab, clean between the bristles; then prepare a bath of soapy soda water and strike the surface with the brush until clean. Rinse first in warm water to remove the soap; then in cold, to which a little common salt may be added if the bristles need stiffen*Shake well and hang out to dry. Fibre brushes used for sweeping carpets should be cleaned and washed in the same manner, except that warm salt water should be used without soap, as the latter rots the bristles. Add one tablespoonful of salt to each gallon of water. It is advisable, after washing and rinsing, to leave the brush in salt water over night if it is required to be really stiff. Bass brooms may be washed in the same way, but using neither soap nor salt. Instead, add disinfectant and a little soda to the water. The. same treatment holds good for scrubbing brushes, which can be stiffened by steeping in cold water. Clean black]ead brushes with the aid of turpentine.