NINE LIVES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 25, 6 March 1942, Page 2

NINE LIVES

GIVING THEM TO YOUR SUIT Hoav to effect the war-time dress economy of giving one suit nine lives —by choosing it .wisely and keeping it with care is told by "Prudence" in the Melbourne Sun. Quite the soundest investment for wartime smartness is a,suit. I'f you take care in the buying and making and afterwards in the valeting of your suit, you will be able to give it a long life and a smart one. Materials —In the past Ave've fallen for those fancy Avoollens such as loose hapsacks, bright friezes, knobby surfaces. But these loose fabrics simply are rfot practical, they do not Avear Avell, as any tailor Avill tell you, they lose shape, and they don't respond to A-aleting. The very best material you can use is a "suiting," and a man's suiting for preference. Saxonies, cheviots, Harris tAveeds, flannels, Avorsteds, these avool fabrics arc the best of their kind in the Avorld. They Avon't seat or shine or fray for a long time, they are in good colour mixtures, and when they do get a little shabby they can be restored as neAV by steaming, shrinking, press ing or turning. Lining—To make a suit last, both jacket and skirt should be lined with a good, strong rayon silk. If yon don't Avant the whole skirt lined do at least line the back and prevent that sagging, seated look Avhich soon spoils the nicest suit. Trimming—A good suit is kept as plain as possible, but buttons and pockets Avell chosen and avcll placed can lift it out of the ordinary. I advise perfectly plain, round buttons, such as a man has on his jacket, because they can me, more easi-

ly matched. Here are the best tricks for renewing a suit's good looks: Pressing—by choosing a man's suiting you will be able to have your suit pressed and steamed AviieneA'er it begins to look tired, and it Avill come up fresh as a daisy. Steaming—Another advantage of close-woven material is that, as soon as the suit begins to groAv a little loose Avith Avear, the cloth can be shrung back to its original shape with a hot iron over a damp cloth. De-shining—This is quite an inexpensivc process to have done bv a valeting sen r ice, but you can accomplish it quite successfully yourself at home Avith a hot iron and a damp cloth. Any remedies are only temporary, I'm afraid. Turning—Again the material Avill repay you here. With a good firm cloth a turned suit avill look eA r ery bit as good as new. A tailor Avill do this for yon, or (Avith patience) you can do the job yourself as you have the old stitch marks to guide you. Cuffs —If the edges begin to fray bind them with- braid or velvet and match this up Avith binding on the rcA^eres. Shoulders—After a bit of Avear the pads arc apt to slip and this spoils the clean line of the shoulders. Unpick the shoulder seam and insert a fresh pad. Wearing—Brush your suit when yen come in as well as Avhcn you go out. Look it regularly for small tears and take it to the invisible menders if theres' a tear. Tf you get caught in the rain, catch doAvn the nleats and hang it on a hangar to dry. AlAvays keep both skirt and jacket hung up and do see that the shoulder of the hanger is wide enough to support the shoulders of your jacket—but not AA'ide enough to stretch beyond.