CLOTHES FOR GIRLS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2480, 5 June 1915, Page 11

CLOTHES FOR GIRLS

The question of the skirt-length for a girl of 16 or thereabouts is a moot one, and a good deal of individual taste has naturally to bo exercised in tlio matter. Much, too, depends upon the size and tho figure of the girl, states a writer in an. Australian paper. It is probably customary in Australia, to keep girls in short frocks for a longer period than it is anywhere elso in the world. In Franco a girl of 14 has skirts to the ankle, whereas in England at the same ago they merely cover the bend of the knees, and hero girls often wear knee-length garments as lato as 17. Again, our girls of 19 aro sometimes seen with skirts coming oily to their ankles. But with the new abbreviated production that fashion demands, the young girl and her grandmother will shortly be rejoicing in dresses of a similar length. There is unquestionably a dowdy look about a skirt that is neither long nor short, and the trying quality of this was aggravated by the slieath skirt of yesterday, which certainly should never have been worn by juveniles. At present tho manner in which they aro sometimes seen lightly drawn across the hips is a positive eyesore. A good time is coming however, for tho young person, as lier new frocks are all being made with moderately-wide skirts. Since the undoubted tendency of the latest mode is towards an absolute and mcst desirable simplicity, it follows naturally that the new fashions can be adapted very easily to meet the requirements of young girls. It seeius. too, to bo a rule now that whereas the child of from seven to about twelye may he dressed in a way that repeats in miniature her mother's frocks to the daughter in her 'teens simple clothes I must appertain. _ A quickly-growing girl <-*i wear with advantage the kilted skirt of ankle ; length, and grafted on to a hip-voke j it makes a very comfortable as well as a very smart choice. Tho hip-yoke may be of the new "grown-up" type, extending so far above the waist that only a flimsy chemisette with sleeves ivili be needed as a continuation, or it may end just on the waist-line, and be finished by a white silk, voile, or muslin blouse pulled over and supported shove, by harness-bands niada of the skirt material. Above all, a young girl's clothes should bo comfortable, and it is well to remember that they abhor a hot and heavy material of any

kind, even in winter, particularly when it chafes the throat or wrists. Tho new navy serges, however, are delight.fully light, and schoolgirls aro now asking their mothers for costumes that aro known as the "Dreadnoughts." These delightful little dresses for everyday wear are simply made of navy serge, relieved by removable cuffs of white lawn, daintly frilled in the serpentine manner, and a collar and pleated-shirt front to match. For a girl's best wear there is a becoming coat and skirt of fine navy coating serge. The skirt is pleated, and the moderately long coat has a pleated basque, and is finished with a deep waistband fastened with sergecovered buttons. Another model made with a three-quarter-length coat is perfectly plain and semi-fitting. This costume is trimmed,with a broad, black silk military braid. It is noticeable that with regard to cirls' frocks braid is only used when they aro perfectly plain. It should also be iioted that the collars, without being high, are close-fitting and neat. Tliev are undoubtedly smart, and far better style than the very decollete throats worii''*by ( young giris in the spring and summer. Pictorial expression is given to two smart frocks for young girls that could, if necessary, be made quite easily at home. The first is, of navy serge, showing the shirred effects at the waist, while the skirt is knife-pleated, and tho rollover collar and gauntlet cuffs are of white serge, the whole being finished with serge-covered buttons. In tho otbor picture a frock of serge and check material combined is depicted. It shows tho overall or djibbah style of corsage. That and the Jong basque are of the plain material, while tho sleeves and pleated underskirt are of check. AFTERNOON AND EVENING WEAR, No one is more particular than the young girl about her frocks for dressy occasions, when she, perhaps, goes to a function with mother. A charming littlo toilette seen the other day was of Liberty cashmere (a new fabric), in a soft shade of dove groy, made perfectly plain with a moderately-wido skirt, and trimmed with a collar, cuffs, and waist-belt of taffeta silk, patterned with roses in several shades of pink on a grey ground. From the wa.istbelt oamo inserted points of the silk. To bo worn with this was a hat of grey pedal straw trimmed with grey satin ribbon shot with rose pink. Expressed in white Japanese silk was a frock suitable for school concerts or other entertainments. _ Tho skirt was fully pleated and arranged with three flat tucks of graduated size, while the lower part of tho bodice was covered by a broad belt of pale blue caught on one side with a large pink satin rose. White net formed the upper part of tho corsage and the sleeves, which were trimmed with a rucho of tho sumo material. With regard to tho hairdressing of the young girl, bows of ribbon are no longer worn. This is not to be wondered at seeing how ribbon of late has been so abused as a headdress. Often, indcod. there was mere ribbon than hair visible, but all must admit that if i tho hair be well burnished and dressed, I the less the adornment the better, especially when it is considered that hair embellishment first came into vogue to hide defects. Tho most distinguished way just now

for doing a girl's hair in the evening is to turn it back a la Pompadour, the sides iust above the temples (being gently forced forward, while at the back, quito low down, a tortoisesbcll ring or claps gathers the hair together, slightly remiuiscent of a queue. This style, however, does not suit a child with a very high forehead. For her it is better that tho hair should bo parted at tho 6ide or in tho middle, though it may bo finished tho same as tha other at the back. A very littlo soft fringe may also bo worn by tho girl with an exceptionally high forehead. But with children the same as grownups the simpler tho arrangement of the coiffure tho more effective it will bo.