WINTER CLOTHES IN CHINA.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 16152, 29 November 1924, Page 13 (Supplement)

WINTER CLOTHES IN CHINA.

Grace Thompson Seton, in her fascinating book, "Chinese Lanterns, throws light m many things, hut especially on the winter clothes of the Chinese ladies of high descent and their method of defying the ravages of they cold. She says:—One day I had an opportunity to observe the costume of a Chinese lady with Us series of garments, which for winter are fur-lined and colourful. On the train going to Nanking I was closeted with two of these upper-class women, j aged about 25 and 28, although it is difficult to judge the ages of the Chinese, as no lines crinkle their eyes and cheeks until, at a ripe age. the face goes into a mass of wrinkles suddenly. The lino from mouth to chin is the only one to give accent to most of the faces. These two women were wives of a good-looking young man. The elder of the two appeared first in a long black brocaded silk cape, lined with marmot and collared with mink. When this was shed she stood revealed in another long garment of straight lines from head to heel also of black brocader silk of a geometric and flower design popular this year, i It, too, was lined, this time with white ' moufflon, and bordered very neatly all round with a broad, silk braid of black and blue. it was fastened by frogs upon the left side and on the stiff, upstanding collar. There is every reason to believe that several pairs of trousers were resting bcneatli the obvious one, for this is the custom of the country. Since the typical Chinese home has no fires —other than local ones, such as a. charcoal , brazier of brass, carried in the hand or placed upon the lap or perhaps ! another upon which rest the feet ! as the weather increases in cold, an--1 other layer of wadded, or furred garments is added to the collection.