Ladies' Colume.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 411, 24 March 1904, Page 2

Ladies' Colume.

?ASHION AND THINGS FEMININE^

By MISS ABA MELLEB

[Am Sights Bkbibvkd,'

HOME DBESS OF FANCY FLANNEL. there is no falling off SfflS) in appreciation for the flannel «CM blouse differing from the skirt, yet there is also a fancy for entire costumes of decorative flannel, blouse and skirt agreeing. Of such a kind is the costume sketched, whioh depicts a homedress of fancy flannel, made with a few tucks on the skirt and bodioe, and finished with a vest and tight-fitting cuffs of guipure lace and a fringed scarf of orepe de chine or soft silk, knotted beneath the

collar in front and falling down the left side of the bodies. For serviceable wear the dark bine flannels, spotted or flowered with white, are to be recommended, while for daintier appearance, the lightgrounded flannels powdered with bouquets or large ring-spots are to be preferred. From motives of economy the creamgrounded flannel‘should be reserved for blouses, while, for a dress entire, choice should rest upon a fancy flannel with a fairly deeply ground. A TRAVELLING CAPE. There is no wrap more comfortable than the golf cape for travelling purposes, , and none, possibly, that is more popular. I The golf cape is shown to ua this season in plain and fancy tweed, reversible, of course, the outside being sometimes plain with a plaid reverse, or vice versa. A long strawberry-coloured steamer cape of frieze, strapped with silk to matoh and reversed with strawberry and white plaid,

Ib in excellent taste | while another new golf cape is of deep green plaid reversed with red. The cape illustrated is of myrtle green plaid with triple capes piped ' with bright crimson. These small capes, cut in one with a high storm collar, are removable, so that the oapeoan be worn without them, if desired, and is complete in itself. A grey plaid cape piped with deep red or scarlet is also very smart, HAJB-DRESSING MODES. There are no very striking changes in coiffure to be recorded. Present fashions in hair-dressing admit of a good deal of license, and individual. tastes axe permitted to run their own way in the matter of high and low dressing. Breadth remains a feature of all styles of coiffure, and to obtain the requisite fulness at the eides of the head the usual little helps, in the way of light frames and pads, are employed. The loop of hair tied with a big black bow and falling on to the nape of the neck, is chill affected by girls, but appears to be less adopted than formerly by young married women. To leave the hair free from hairpins tor a time is undoubtedly beneficial, but remember that tight Btnng3 and ribbons bound round the hair can be just as harmful as hairpins. Many combs and ornamental pins are used in evening head-dresess, to say nothing of tnlle and ribbon aigrettes and spangled lizards and other ornaments with which women's heads are sometimes too abundantly bedecked. White combs, powdered with cut steel and silver and with tiny stars of gold,or turquoises, are pretty against blonde hair, and pa'o amber combs decora-fed with turquoises or a design in gilt-work are- fashionable and becoming additions to the coiffure,

HOW TO iUKE CLOTHES ENDURE. ' There is a great difference in the way girls wear clothes—some have the l&ptft' knack of making their frocks endure fo* -~ a surprising length of time, and their clothes look well to the end. Others wear out their wardrobes quickly and their frocks soon look shabby. One great secret of lengthening the life of an out* dress is never to wear it as a heme drsss. Change it directly the walk is over and brush it and shake it before hanging it in tli o warbrobe; or ohould it be wet and stained with damp mud, hang it over a towel-horse or the back of a chair in the kitehea at a fair distance front the fixe, and wait until it is dry before brushing it. The braid or velvet binding when worn through should be at once repaired, so that the hem of the dress rdoiss not suffer moie than necessary* i ,',.'!"