Fashions and Furbelows.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18991, 10 February 1930, Page 13

Fashions and Furbelows.

__smasxsm Notes by Special Contributors ,

MUFFLERS IN A NEW ROLE.

As applied to the handsome squares aad scarfs of silk, satin, and crepe, now in vogue, the word “ mufflers ” is distinctly misleading, and fashionable haberdashers are endeavouring to find a substitute, claiming that mufflers no longer “ muffle ” but serve an ornamental and protective purpose. From the time a topcoat appears in the early fall until it is discarded in the late spring the muffler is an impe/rtant detail of a man’s street outfit, not only protecting necklinen from contact with the topcoat’s collar, but introducing a dressy feature, that, if well chosen, may prove decorative and becoming. Never before has this outdoor accessory been offered in so wide a range of fabrics, shapes and colourings, nor have its methods or adjustment been so varied. For the most formal dress, fashion dictates a white silk or French crepe square, sufficiently ample to protect immaculate evening apparel. This may bear an embroidered monogram or initial in black or white. A degree less formal and for wear with the convenient tuxedo is the black-and-white, gray-and-white, or silver-gray square or scarf. Some of these give the effect of two tones because of a stripe or figure in both satin and dull silk. The border may also introduce another finish to a solid-colour muffler, such as a flat silk edge on a crepe square or a satin border on a muffler of dull silk. The scarf is also used for informal dress, die colourings remaining the same as for the square muffler, but the ends being finished with hand-knotted short fringe in self-colour or mixed with black. Mufflers for business and general daytime wear are now chosen with regard to the colour of one’s suits and ties. Matching of muffler and necktie is not popular, according to the best authorities, though the muffler should be chosen to harmonise with the tie any may repeat one of the shades in the stripe or figure. Checks, stripes, figures, Paisley designs and combinations of colour with contrasting borders are much in vogue and are easily chosen to harmonise with the general colour scheme of one’s outfit.

One rule in the successful choice of a muffler is to have it several shades lighter than the colour of the overcoat or suit with which it will be most frequently worn. It is also well to remember that if the outfit includes stripes, checks or rough-surfaced mixtures, the muffler should be of solid colour. An excellent ensemble, for instance, with a gray top-coat is a graybine suit, tie of dark blue with small gray design and muffler of silver-gray. For sports wear dotted foulard mufflers with contrasting borders of stripes or dots in reversed colourings are among the smart novelties. These are often worn folded and in “throwover” style. The lightweight cashmere and jersey mufflers in bright sports colours are being featured for country wear. Long, narrow and of light-weight, this type of muffler is worn “Ascot fashion,'’ giving an entirely different effect and bringing the colour in loose folds, close under the chin.

BEAUTY PROGRAMME.

Cleanse the skin, using a good cold cream. Apply an astringent on a pad of cotton wool. Pat in a foundation cream, working away from the nose and using a oneway (not circular) stroke. Apply rouge. Shade the colour downwards, blending the edges so that no sharp lines of colour remain. If necessary, lengthen the eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil. Pat in face powder with a flat puff. (Do not rub it in.) Chin first, then the cheeks, the nose and the neck.

Apply water-black to the eyelashes if wanted. Otherwise, brush lashes with a brush dipped in warm water to give them a sheen. Brush upper lashes upwards, and lower lashes downwards. Lipstick the lips. Remove any surplus powder with a swansdown puff.

EMBROIDERED GLOVES.

Gloves> with coloured embroidered backs (which should, of course, match your hat ornaments, your scarf, or some other accessory), are still fashionable, but a friend told me the other day that she had trouble over washing them, until she discovered that by stuffing them with tissue paper while drying she was able ,to prevent colourcrocking. A useful wrinkle this, for good gloves are no mean item among us poor ones of the earth, are they?