THE HOUSEWIFE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17780, 31 January 1920, Page 10

THE HOUSEWIFE

AN AFTERNOON FROCK AND HAT. In the fashion world, there is quite a furore for ribbons and frocks of all sorts are lavishly trimmed with plain and fancy ribbons, which even appear as bindings to suits and costumes. For instance, a green cloth one-piece tailor-made is arranged with a plainly-cut skirt trimmed with crossway bands of its own material, each one of which is bound with black corded ribbon. The neck, cut round and slightly decollete. is trilnmed in a similar way. and each sleeve terminates at the elbow with a put-on, 'bell-shaped” piece of cloth bound with’ribbon. The effect is immensely smart. In a wide width, ribbon makes the most beautiful sashes and girdles. When we come to sashes, indeed, that is an old story, but it is told to-day in a new way with new thrills. The sash, or the girdle, is a mighty tool in the hands of the "camoufleur.” With it the simplest frock or hat can be made fascinating, and when one

owns several girdles that are contrasts in cut and colour, it is easily possible to vary a costume without changing to another dress. As a matter of fact, it is really amazing in what a number of ways the sash may be treated. The bebe bow with squared-off sash-ends at the back is one way of treating it; a shirred girdle with narrow sash-ends with tas seis that fall over the hips is another —but whether the girdle be dignified or simple, there is this to keep in mind. It must be soft and light and loose, so that it gives the frock the easy-fitting, straight line effect that is a la mode. One of the most charming frocks wherein the sash is the chief feature is developed in navy-blue charmeuse. It is cut on absolutely the simplest lines—no fastening anywhere, but slipped on over the head. It is in one piece, save that each sleeve has a piece joined on below th shoulder to lengthen it to the elbow. The frock Is narrow, and its only ornament is a very wide sash of its own material, pulled down over the hips, and the ends looped over at the left side and fringed. The neck is prettily rounded but has no trimming whatever. This kimono-like frock is a striking evidence of the beauty of simplicity. Where very thin fabrics, such as voile, muslin, and chiffon, georgette, and ninon are concerned, the frock of the one-piece kind needs to be rather fuller than when made of satin or silk, otherwise the effect is insignificant. Dressmakers recognise this, and the skirts of such frocks are usually inlet at the foot with triangular pieces to admit greater width, and the waists are gathered, while trimming of tucks or bands or fringes are more or less evident. The dainty little summer frock illustrated has been designed for any of the thin materials suggested. The skirt is handsomely trimmed with tucks above a deep hem, and the sleeves repeat the tucked effect at the elbows. The bodice is delightfully sinfple—quite plain, in fact, except that it is split open from the neck to a short distance and laced with tin-sel-ribbon, which is used again over a cord at the waist. A pretty complement to the frock is a gauze scarf with embroidered ends—one of the fashionable accessories that admit of the introduction < f an enlivening colour-touch to a black or dark-coloured dress. The hat illustrated would be delightfully

expressed in Leghorn, with a black or pale blue ribbon sash, the loose end of which is run-.through the straw brim at the back. IN THE STOREROOM. Now and again the store-room needs a thorough going-over and cleaning out, for it is usually rather dark, and jars and tins have a way of hiding themselves in corners and being overlooked. Everything, therefore, should be moved and overhauled, the store-room with all its shelves should be thoroughly well scrubbed, and aired, and then its .tontents should be put back in neat and orderly rows, so that all tins and jars are readily in sight. The housekeeper will find it a help to use glass jars, when possible, instead of tins as receptacles for her stores. Without opening the jars a glance at them is sufficient to tell her what they contain and how much is left in them, and stores, in this way, are not likely to be over looked and forgotten. CHILD’S COTTON JUMPER FOR THE SEASIDE. There is so much that is pretty among children’s fashions, that today there is no excuse for young folks to be dressed in any way but a becoming one. The daughter’s little face and figure should be considered as carefully in the selection of clothes as are her mother’s. "Anything” will not do for the children, and the mother who thinks that it will and acts on the principle, is doing her little daughter a wrong, not only in regard to her appearance, but also as regards her future ability to show good taste in dress. . Trite though it may be, there is truth in the old saying that "As the twig is bent, the tree’s inclined,” and if a child has been led to believe that the sense of dress is a very negligible quality, age is not going to increase its value in her calculations to a great extent. The smartest of the new frocks for children are individual, and thereby represent the highwater mark of the art of the children’s modiste. Unusually winsome are some of the latest summer frocks in muslin and soft Sgured washing silk for little girls of seven or eight years. Many of these are mad, in the popular jumper and pinafore style, and are specially recommended for their cool-wearing and easy-washing qualities. Eyelet embroidery decorates some of these and other summer frocks for the little ones, and is even introduced on cotton frocks for morning wear. A typical pinafore or sleeveless jumper frock for a little girl is illustrated, and, made in fancy cotton, is

just the thing for morning wear during the holidays. The design is specially adapted to washing materials since, when the waistband which proceeds from each side of the waist to the back is unbottoned, the frock opens out wide and is easily laundered. It would be very serviceable in galatea, or some such stout material, the ground dark blue and the stripes and cherries in red and white. The frock fastens at the left side with buttons and button-holes, and is cut low at the neck and with large armholes, and any blousette can be worn with it. The waistband is in two parts, and fastens with a button and buttonhole at the back, holding the fullness in place. Of course, the pattern would cut well also in serge, for very hard wear. One or two such frocks in different colours would be a boon to the seaside wardrobe of a little . girl, whose hats for summer wear should be shady ones and light in weight. Basket-straw is excellent for children’s hats, and the most suitable trimmings are simple ribbon bands or wreaths of tiny flowers.

TO REMOVE SMOKE STAINS FROM WHITE MARBLE. 1. Use a paste composed of washing soda, whiting, and chalk or pum-ice-stone; equal parts of each. Rub it on the marble with a cloth, and leave it to dry for 24 hours; then wash it off with cold water. 2. Sprinkle some good borax on the marble that is disfigured, soiled, or stained by smoke or anything else, and then wash it with hot water in which a little borax soap powder has been added. Apply with a soft flannel.