FANS AND FLOWERS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18894, 8 January 1927, Page 2

FANS AND FLOWERS.

VOGUE IN PARIS. The fan is the most popular evening ornament (says a Paris correspondent). It is made of feathers—sweeping ostrich feathers in gorgeous colours mounted on tortoise-shell, ivory, filigree gold (r silver. Feather fans are large, and the feathers are either full and uncurled, of the typo known as pletireuses, or their lovely plumes are curled at the tips. A straight fan of five or six feathers may have a bunch or two inserted to gush out in .frothy masses, and thus break its straight line. In every shade of pink, .from pale rcse to deepest salmon pink, these leather laiis are temptingly spread before the eyes of shop gazers. In white, green, and amber, they are just as beautiful as in pink. Feather Fans with Bags to Match.

Cocks' leathers are also used for making fans. Some are straightly and tightlv* mounted to make a clear tan shape! They are tipped with gold ur silver, and 'may ha*.c'metal threads worked into lines acro.-s the whole fan at intervals of altout three inches. Or, again, they may be curled round at the top to let Uw gold or silver which tips them form a sweeping line dov;n tho fan when open. Pheasants' feathers aro also favoured, in spiky upright lines, for making fans. Tho natural feathers are used and the mounts are invariably handsome. Small theatre fans are made .of the same kinds of feathers as those used for the big fans, and in the same way, with bags"to match. The painted fan and tho embroidered fan are also being used, and many a lady will search among her mother's and grandtreasures this winter in tho hope of finding among them a fan of the old school. The fan a.s a weapon of coquetry has always been charmingly used. In the old far-away days, when ladies wore frilly petticoats and long skirts, the fan was graciously wielded by pretty hands and delicately shaped wrists. Over a fan many a bright eve has sent a message, a challenge! To-day, the. play of the fan is much tho same as then. Chiffon Flowers with Jewelled Hearts. Decoratively the fan is of high value. On a black or a white dress a coloured fan lifts the whole scheme to beauty and gaiety. A practical little powd6i--box and lip-stick which may he attached to the handle of the fan is made to match the mount. With a tortoise-shell mount thero may be a tortoise-shell 'powder-box; round, oblong, square, with a mirror and a puff iuside. Ffom it run two frhort, slender chains of gold to which is attached, horizontally, a lipstick. This may hang 011 the finger or be caught to the fan. The beauty of flowers for evening wear is almost as varied and enchanting as that of the veal flowers in the garden In silk, kid, chiffon, and feathers, the most lovely blossoms are made, each smelling of its own. perfume. The chiffon flowers are specially Joft'ely. Some aro tipped with silver or gold, others, have a jewel hidden in their heart. They are all full blown, almost ready to fall. Such roses, carnations, poppies as you nerer saw! A real revival of an old and honourable industry has l>een brought about by making it a fashion for ladies to wear flowers in their buttonholes and on their dresses.

ELLESMERE PLUNKET SOCIETY. A very pleasant afternoon party was held in the Wesley Hall, Leeston, in honour of Mrs T. G. Butler, who is leaving tlio district. About fifty members, representing all parts of the district, attended. To Mrs Butler belongs the credit of having founded the. Ellesmere branch, and she has been one of its. keenest enthusiasts and hardest workers, particularly, in connexion with efforts made to raise funds for the. carrying .on of the local work, and for the schemes inaugurated by the Christ-, church executive. The hall was prettily decorated for the occasion. Mrs Ilarte, secretary of the branch, gave some interesting information relative to the branch's formation, in August, 1921. For the first two years, Nurse Wilson had visited Southbridge and Leeston on one day each month, Mr and Mrs Butler usually conveving them from ope centre to the other. At present each place was visited fortnightly. The interest displayed and success achieved at Southbridge were mainly due to Mrs Butler's enthusiasm. Beginning in a very small way, with the examination of only three babies on the occasion of the nurse's first visit, the work had grown rapidlv. until last vear the nurse bad seen 156 babies at Leeston.- and 110 at Southbrid'se. Tn addition, 184 adults had attended meetings at Leeston and 123 at Southbridge. Nurse' Wilson, who was in charge of the'Ellesmere district .for the first two years, attended the functipn. She commented upon the progress made in a period of five years, and spoke of the loyal help she had received during her visits to the district from Mrs Butler, whose hospitality ' she would always remember.

The Hon. Mrs Taliu Jlhodes, president of the branch, in asking the guest of honour to accept a handbag as a parting token from the members, said that Mrs Butler's removal would bo a great loss to the branch. The Ellesmere i branch had a good , name in Christchurch, because of the substantial sums it had raised towards the cost of the Mothers' : Cottage'at Karitane, ■ and for other purposes. These' contributions had been made possible largely through the enthusiastic'work of, Mrs Butler, who would carry with her to her new home the esteem and sincere good wishes of every member of the branch.

In acknowledging the gift and references to her work in th e interests of the Plunket Society, Mrs Butler declared that she. had always enjoyed her connexion with the branch, and would retain pleasant memories of her association with the members. •Afternoon tea'was served, and were contributed by Mesdames G. H. Gilbert, S. Woods, and W. C. Ecrgleton. Misses Grant and J. Gilbert played pianoforte items.

"TRAVELLING LIGHT." The .smart summer hat. that slips in tlie coat pocket, the juniper suit fashioned to the latest dictates of the Pans mode, that is carried in the vanity bag—these are two striking features of holiday dress which will enable the summer girl to break all records in the modern art of "travelling light." b The' hat, a charming creation m cerise crinoline, bound with the grosgrain ribbon that is the ' trimming craze of the hour, crunches up as easily as a pocket-handkerchief, and occupies so small a space that it does not even impair the slender silhouette of the nearer when she slips it into her coat pocket. At the journey's end the pocket hat emerges looking as though it had tra. veiled in the old indulgent way enveloped in tissue paper wrappings'in a muhuer s bat-box. The dressmaker, not to be outdone bv the "milliner, has produced the handbag jumper suit. This is made of fine stockinette, in the favourite shades' of the hour. The _ skirt has inverted pleats, and the jumper, cut on the straight, lines as now worn, has lonz sleeves. The whole suit rolls tip" into such ismall dimensions that' it can be carried in a .woman's ordinary handbag.