The Housewife

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18019, 6 November 1920, Page 10

The Housewife

WHAT WILL BE WORN. Fashion is not always consistent and especially so in connection with neck-wear. Throughout the winter the decollete blouse- has been worn day after day .and it would probably be no exaggeration to say that 99 of these blouses have been worn to one cut with a high neck. Furs, again, have been worn leaving the neck exposed. Now that spring is here, the highneck shirt-blouses, io wear with tailor-mades, is one of the “newest” fashions and has been brought in again as a necessary support to the latest little dress accessory, namely, the high, fussy little ruffle of pleated muslin, georgette, and so on. The new ruffle reaches almost or quite to the top of the ears, but is turned over to stand out from the throat, which rises from it as a bouquet from an old-fashioned paper holder. The pleats are very fine—sometimes accordion - pleating is used—and spotted materials alternate with plain ones in the composition of the new ruffles, which are

tied atthe base with velvet or satin ribbons arranged in a flat bow without ends.

A new form of satin stock is also a feature of spring neckwear. The latest stock is no mere straight band, but is shaped to the throat, cut high to the ears, and is ruffled on to a plain mount and trimmed with a row of tiny buttons in front. Fitting closely to the throat, it is finished at the base with a narrow string of satin-ribbon, tied in a bow with long ends.

Concerning serviceable, tailormade skirts, the most conspicuous are of fancy tweed, in various delicate colours, such as mauve, sandcolour and pale blue. The designs are mostly large-sized checks, often very beautifully rendered in mauve with biscuit-coloured lines. Dark green and blue pla.l skirts are also vaunted for spring wear, and these and other skirts of fancy woollens are repeatedly expressed with twopiece effects —that is, the lower part of the skirt is buttoned on to a separate hip-piece, and in such a way that a large loop, as it were, of material, is formed between every two buttons, the side loops acting as pockets. v

The spring costume illustrated exploits a new-shaped coat of plain cloth worn with a tweed skirt. The colour scheme is saffron, and the coat is bound with black silk braid, and is cut on quite new lines that are very graceful and becoming. The straight lines from shoulders to waist give out below into a gentle fluting, and the right front of the coat is caught up with a tuck effect, and fastened across to the left side. The new ruffle is also pictured. Hats, after the fashion of the one illustrated, with upturned brims covered with brocade of bold pattern, and soft crowns of satin, are shown in great numbers among the new millinery modes, and the latest little handbags reveal lovely things also of satin and brocade. The bag illustrated is an example. ECONOMY CORNER. Here are some suggestions for utilising partly-worn-out pillow-cases, in order to prolong their usefulness in other than their appointed way. Keep the much-worn cases for mending sheets and other pillowcases. They will also prove stout reinforcements for coarser underwear that needs mending. Sound bits may be converted into d’oyleys edged with crochet. Two pillow cases sewn together will serve as an apron, for the home laundress, or if stitched one inside the other they will make a stout “scrap” bag for the workroom, or a laundry-bag, with the necessary running string added. Another suggestion is to cut up old pillow-cases and make covers for sofa pillows, to be used before the gay outer-coverings are put on. Feathers and down wear through the coverings in which they are usually encased for sofa cushions. One pillow case, again, will cover a small ironing board, the size used for sleeves or blouses, while three or four old cases, with plenty of newspaper padding, may be used to cover a large ironing board.

Merchant’s wife (suddenly appearing in her husband’s office): “Ha! 1 thought you said your typewriter girl was an old maid?”

Merchant (much confused): “Um —er, yes, m’dear, of course, of course; but she is ill to-day, and she sent her little granddaughter as a substitute.”

EMBROIDERED FROCKS. Beads and embroidery are playing attractive parts on the more ornate frocks, and women who are clever at fancy work are devoting their leisure moments to beautifying their new season's dresses with hand embroideries. One skilful worker has bordered her new Russian blouse of

sapphire-blue cloth with a wide band of net, thickly worked over with wools in Russian colours, and the same colours are introduced as stole-ends from the shoulders, and appear, also, here and there, at the waist, suggesting a threaded sash. In front the new, straight-across line at the neck is introduced, while at the back the neck outline is round, and. contrary to custom, the neck is lower thereabouts than in front. The blouse fastens on the shoulders, and is quite beautiful.

A rather elaborately embroidered dress is the subject of the sketch, but the design is well worth copying even if in modified form. The material is dark blue supple cloth, worked with deep red and green silks, the pattern being a particularly effective one, but apart from the trimming, the frock in itself has a certain charm, especially in the cut of the sleeves, the shapeliness of which is very artistic. On the outer side each sleeve is embellished with large, round buttons covered with the dress material, and at the waist is a dark green girdle, finished with two large tassels. Tb e length of the frock—very short—is typical of the latest mode in Paris.

The coiffure illustrated should also be noticed, as this, again, reflects the “last word” of fashion.

A similar frock to th e one illustrated is carried out in navy taffetas, embroidered with milk-white beads and blue silks, and is very dainty, and at the same time costly.

MENTAL MOVING. A common form of discontent is dissatisfaction with the place we are living in. We fatuously think that getting on is easier, that people are more friendly and things more “worth while” over yonder than where we are liivng. We yearn for new fields, new experiences—a move to distant lands would solve all our problems; so we think. Why not move mentally instead of bodily—stay where we are but change our thoughts and our outlook on life? Let us get to work and freshen up our ideas, and freshen up our homes, too, just as if we had moved into new quarters and were determined to make all our belongings as bright as possible. Let us avoid the restricting, rut and realise the possibilities of just where we are. shake off the cobwebs, clean and open the windows of our new- mental home, and let in more sunshine. This mental moving has many advantages. It gets rid of discontent and shows us how to shake off troubles that we make for ourselves, but that we honestly believe our neighbours have made for us.