WOMAN'S PAGE

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVI, Issue 66, 21 February 1938, Page 4

WOMAN'S PAGE

LONDON GOSSIP. A SEASONABLE CHRISTMAS. LONDON, December 20. So accustomed had we become to mild pre-Christmas days that we are all feeling 1 ill-used now that we are enduring' a spell of “seasonable” weather with snow, icebound roads, fogs, etc. The old-fashioned Christmas with Yule log and hot drinks will be quite in the picture. One hostess brought her cocktail party right up-to-date by serving' hot punch, and believe me, it was very popular and potent! At this party hats were in the limelight. I must admit I did not think that many of the extraordinary models launched early in the season would ever be worn, but I was wrong. Women are courageous: they will still risk the censure of their male relations to wear extraordinary hats, and some almost beeome figures of fun in doing so, and this seems a pity. Height, and still more height, is a feature of many hats, although sometimes by being tilted backwards they do not appear so tall. Another point that is noticeable is the liking for scarves attached to the hats. Sometimes these are draped about the face or tied under the chin, or just float down on to the shoulder. A light crepe scarf on a dark velvet hat, or less conspicuous when both match in color but have the contrast of surface for distinction. Some toques are made entirely of draped fabric rising to a point, and the height further emphasised by a twisted ring of the material thrust through the point to feature-the forward movement. Shaped almost like an hourglass, with a twisted scarf of crepe, is another model. This was in deepest purple, worn with a purple wool suit with silver f'ox collar. Several designers have used the chimney pot as a model, usually trimming the top of the crown with flowers, feathers, or fur. One seen had zinnias in their natural shades of yellow to deep tangerine on the top of the pot crown, a small turnup edge brim, and crepe strings tied under the chin in a “pussy cat” bow. In contrast to this height a hat called “the Sweep” had a shallow foundation shape of black felt with a swirl of osprey (imitation) exactly like a sweep’s brush, entirely covering the top, with two high wired ribbons standing up in the centre, suggestive of the handle to the brush. Vogue for Tulle. With the party season in full swing, tulle has beeome big fashion news. Picturesque styles have helped to create this vogue, and at every ball there are many of these fullskirted frocks made of masses of tulle gathered into the waistline but many yards wide about the hem, almost like a ballerina’s skirt but long to the ground. In brown tulle with scattered bronze sequins and a tight little brassiere bodice covered with sequins the effect was lovely on an auburn-haired girl. Black tulle with gold stars and a pale sky-blue sash suggested a summer night. While a third made of white tulle bordered with silver threads and a square-cut bodice of silver lame completed a trio worn at the same ball. For those who prefer the slim silhouette three deep flounces are attached to a long, slim slip skirt of silver lame or, satin. The flounces may be circular or finely pleated, to soften the effect while preserving the slim line. Many frilled tulle capes are being worn for the evening as part of the dress, to be discarded occasionally when dancing, etc. Tulle scarves tied under the chin, and masses of tulle draped about the shoulders, are other ways of wearing this glamorous fabric. So completely has the wheel of fashion turned full circle that a guest at the Liberal Ball this week wore a Victorian picture frock, fifty years old, that might have been designed this season. It was in tea rose satin brocade, with biscuit-colored net, and was much admired, though no one seemed to believe its age. Another dress was made of parchment tinted satin and had cascades of the material down the back arranged in bustle fashion and might have been copied from a Victorian fashion plate. Coppertone Stockings. While there are still as many shades of beige in stockings as sand on the seashore, one color is fast becoming a general favorite. It. has many names, according to quality and the maker, but “Coppertone” expresses it as well as any and is the name chosen by a very well-known brand. This shade is a warm pinky beige, richer in tone than a summer shade, and yet lighter than ono usually asso-

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elates with winter stockings. But it seems to look well with every colored outfit and gives a touch of gaiety to slim legs which the new shorter and tighter skirts are exposing. This color looks well with black and navy shoes, as well as with London tan or nigger brown—the two popular colors in shoe leather. “London tan,” which has been an exclusive shade for two seasons, is now to be had in standardised makes of shoes, hags, and gloves.

THE HUMBLE CARROT. VALUABLE BEAUTY AID. GOOD FOR HAIR AND SKIN. A humble beauty agent is the carrot, which has a direct action on the skin (states an exchange). Any woman who will eat carrots regularly will soon notice a distinct improvement in her complexion. The leaves can be made into a delightful lotion, which is harmless to even the most sensitive skin. Not only is the carrot rich in vitamins, but it lias a peculiar action on the skin which is hard to explain. It helps for one tiling to bring a natural tint to the skin. To achieve the best results it should he eaten raw; and although you may have to acquire a taste for the vegetable it is worth while. The younger the carrot the better it is, and it should be carefully selected from your garden and thoroughly washed. It ean be cut into strips and eaten in the fingers, or you way slice it in small cubes and eat it with cheese. GRATED CARROT SANDWICHES. If you find that you have no taste for this vegetable try grating it finely and spreading between brown bread and butter. This will make a delightful sandwich for either breakfast or lunch. When you find you enjoy these sandwiches, go a step further in your health and beauty programme and either grate or finely cut a cabbage leaf, and add this to the carrot. This will give a variety which is quite pleasing. Children should be encouraged to eat carrots in their fingers. They are better than sweets and they have a flavor which is pleasing. A child who eats carrots regularly will soon have a flawless complexion, which will be carried into adult life. The yellower the carrot, the better it is. Nature is peculiar and it is often noticeable ath the more yellowish, or sunshiny, the food, the richer it is in vitamin elements. After you have eaten your carrot, do not throw away the tops or leaves. For coarse, blotchy skins or for those which have suffered from too much exposure to the summer sun and sea breezes there is no more soothing lotion than that which ean be made from carrot tops. Select your tops, wash them thoroughly, and then cut them up into small pieces. To each quarter-pound of tops place one pint of water and allow them to boil. After they have boiled, stand them to one side and allow them to cool, then strain the liquid and add half an ounce of spirits of camphor. Bottle and shake well before using. This lotion can be used either as a complexion spray, in which case it is used as a spray after washing, or it can be used in conjunction with your usual face washing, by adding a tablespoonful of the liquid to your usual washbowl of water. RECIPE FOR HAIR WASH. Carrot water is invaluable as a hair wash, and is simple to make. To each quarter of a pound of carrot leaves add one pint of water. Place them in a pan and allow to boil for twenty minutes over a slow gas or fire. Then allow to cool and strain the liquid through fine muslin, afterwards adding 15 drops of pure olive oil and a pinch of borax. Add hall' a cupful of the lotion to your usual rinsing water and use a final rinse after shampooing your hair. Few lotions can equal this homemade product. It is excellent for strengthening and promoting the hair growth, and will also prevent the hair from becoming dry and brittle during the hot summer months. If you desire it, you can add a few drops of your favorite perfume to the liquid. Blondes should not use the above lotion as it has a slightly darkening effect on the hair. A good and inexpensive hand lotion can be made by boiling and straining the tops in the same manner as you would for the face lotion above and by then adding one teaspoonful of eau de Cologne to each half-pint of the liquid. This is massaged into the hands at night, before retiring, and will be found extremely effective.

CLEANING SILVER. HINTS FOR HOUSEWIVES. It is not difficult to keep table silver in good order if a few simple precautions are taken in cleaning and storing it. As soon as possible after use spoons and forks should be washed in hot soapy water. They should be handled separately, for if they are mixed up in the washing bowl they will rub together and their polish will he dulled by small scratches. Silver is soft and is easily spoiled by rough treatment. After washing it should be dried on a soft towel of old linen or damask. If spoons and forks are not kept in a specially fitted canteen they should he laid in a drawer or plate basket lined with baize or wash leather. Leathers, brushes and cloths that are used for cleaning silver should be kept in a special box oi drawer and used only for the one purpose. A small quantity of cleaning powder should be freshly mixed, either with methylated spirits or with water, each time the silver is cleaned, and it should be spread thinly and evenly over the surface. Gloves should be worn, so that no finger-marks are left. Hard rubbing' should not be necessary, and is liable to do damage. Special care should be taken not to wear down the hall-marks on solid silver by over-vigorous polishing. Whatever powder or liquid polish is used, it should be of the best quality, free from any trace of grit. Silver that is carefully washed every day does not usually need cleaning more than once a week, but it is advisable to keep a small leather at hand near the sink, so that eggspoons may be rubbed over before they are put away. Leathers specially impregnated with cleaning material may he bought and are convenient for this purpose. PAPER TOWELS. American housewives have long used paper towels its their kitchens and found them invaluable for a hundred and one jobs. Now these towels are being sold in London, in rolls of 150, which fit into an enamelled holder, to lie had in cream or green. A convenient place to have the towel is near the sink or gas stove, for it is in connection with this part of the kitchen that these towels save most time and money. Being made of very thick absorbent paper they can be used for many of the jobs for which a tea towel is now used, and can altogether supersede a dish towel. Every cook resents using a clean towel for drying fish, for instance, as it ean only be sent to the laundry afterwards. For such things as drying chip potatoes, blanched almonds, and lettuce these towels are excellent. With them you ean rub the grease from gas stove or fry pan, mop up spilt liquids on tables or in the refrigerator, or drain fried foods. Glasses or windows are polished easily with these handy towels, and they have their uses too in workshop or nursery for rubbing grease and dirt from the hands. “CRAZY” CURTAINS. I have heard of some novel ideas for curtains from both London and Paris, writes the London representative of the “Sydney Morning Herald.” In the country house of a newlymarried young English couple, the dining-room has curtains of the cotton print material sold for housemaids ’ morning dresses. They are in red and white stripes. Thick mus-tard-yellow material generally used for footmen’s waistcoats forms the pelmets of the hall curtains, which are of grey and white mattress ticking. AYhite tulle embroidered with silk spots bound with white satin and held in place by blue silk cords is a charming idea from Paris. Grey tulle may be used in the same way. Organdie embroidered with tiny sprigs of flowers looks fresh round small windows, while green felt bound with narrow black braid is bright, and attractive for winter din-ing-room curtains. Peach satin weighted with “sausages” of brown velvet is a suggestion for a drawingroom.