THE CHEAPEST WEAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 30, 30 October 1917, Page 2

THE CHEAPEST WEAR

SILK FOB ALL WOMEN'. The French Government has ordered the dressmakers to cut down the amount ot woollen materials used in drewes and 16 urging all women to wear silk. A e-^rVIT f COm ,' n ? in also; e.ery bale of wool is wanted for Iho lanmes of ourselves and of our Allies liien let nS all wear silk a correspondent in tho "Daily I. always wanted to wear silk, not occasionally but all tho time, and wear it unashamed without a hint of unßuitability or of extravagance or "swank." I may.

Silk is good form for all occasions Silk is patriotic. help us beat the Germans. Silk will help in the revival of tlio French trade.

flio correct wear is beautifully soft silt, comfortable and sympathetic, which obviously has as much pleasure in beirg worn as I have in wearing it. Thick crepe do chine, peau de soie, soft satins, supple taffetas, ninons, Milanese, and any of a htmdred other varieties of the softly woven product of silkworms md mulberry leaves.

I shan't wear heavy satins or corded silks or places and taffetas that "stand alono"—they aro all too arrogant and self-assertive, and cry aloud that their dignity should be admired rather than be gloriously content to add to Iho groco of the wearer. Heavy and costly "brocades of exquisite design and rich colouring may be left alone for a time too— they are for ceremonial occasions, and ceremonies are few and far between r.ow.

Even for a peace ceremony I'd prefer a soft, floating, clinging fabric. It is extraordinary what a psychological effect silk wear has on a woman. It brings out all that is good in her, and here it differs from wool, wiiich brings out ail that is worthy and merely dull. Silk makes her witty and gay and generous; wool, wiso and economical. Bo happy and you'll be good; much of tho unhappiness in tho world is bfecau6e women will wear wool.

The whole thing is illustrated by the fact that the Puritans wore dull'-hued woollen clothes when they wished to show protest against the Cavaliers, and again, later, when the nineteenth century Victorian women smugly set out to show "god examples" and hold up to pious wrath tha wicked ways of their immediate ancestors of tho eighteenth century and Empire days, they wore wool "next to the skin," longoloth of durability, wincey for everyday wear, heavy velveteens and fiercely thick silk for Sunday.

Why, even tou, and I remomber when 6iik underclothing or even very, very line lawn and ribbon wan supposed to be— well, filial! we say French?

If you aro ill wear 6ilk, it is the best medicine. You look wall in it, therefore you aro well. . "I went io see Vera tho other day." a woman said to mo.only yesterday; "she is not nearly so ill as I thought I should find her. She was wearing a beautiful crepe do chin? nightdress and a most becoming bed-cap. and the silk coverlet to her bed was quite a thing to dream of. Oh, I think she is really quite well."

Now, suppose that she had been found wearing a red flannel dressing-jacket over one of those awful calico nightdresses "(rimmed"'' with embroidery and her-ring-bone stitch, and "was further borne

down by the weight of a knitted cotton counterpano and Paisley-patterned ciderdown. Tho poor creature would have been in a dying elate, of course! Old-fashioned peoplo used to like the rustle of silk, they wroto of it as tho "frou-frou" of a. silk petticoat; really this rustle is ail hrilating swish, swish, nwishle, like it. south-westerly wind through poplar trees. The poplar gets cordially disliked, so does tho rustling woman. Silk is comparatively. cheap, therefore economical —tho Army only wants the Japanese variety for some sort of body shields, 60 it is the proper wear, and I'm going to wear it right away through. Besides, that Government Department that is dealing with wasto tells mo that It ie hoped that a splendid fertiliser may bo made from old silk clothing. So there you are!

Badges for soldiers suul jailors mothers can bo obtained (Is. Gd. each) at. the reception given on Wednesday afternoon in the Town Hall by the Hon. Division of the Women's National 'Reserve. The regimental number and in which the 6on is must bo giTen. Tho privilege of the badge is now extended to tho mothers of nurses on actiro service.

Mrs. M'Girr and Mrs. Bradley, of Seatoun, will be in charge of the Bed Cross Shop, Woodward Street, on Wednesday, and will have a good supply of, homomade cftkes, sweets, and flowers.