From Milady's Boudoir

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 34, 3 November 1937, Page 11

From Milady's Boudoir

Lace Back Jn High FaVour Again

T ACE ;marquisette net, and embroidered Swiss muslin, dominate the fashion ' picture at a Sydney spring show, which opened recently. i " " A stfongly-patterned and vividly-col-oiired paisley design featured a gay evening frock, with a fully-flared skirt over a rustflng taffeta slip. Lace applique was another feature of the new evening gowns and dinner frocks. One gown, in black marquisette net, had* a yoke and sleeves of fine lace, and three separate. appliques on one side of the full skirt. Lace was also an important daytime detail, and was. seen in many unusual gui?es. Paisley and Indian prints looked . well worn under a dark lace redingote. Sports frocks of linen had accompanying coiats of linen lace of the same shade. Almost without exception, the evening gowns had full skirts. Many of them were tiered and all made over taffeta. A white embroidered Swiss muslin was shown over black taffeta, the cut edge of the embroidery forming patterned ' edges at the hem-line. . The most talked-of Parisian style of the season was 'Maggie Rouffs "Capri," a rich sea-blue chiffon frock, with a widely-flaring hemline, trimmed with ■'huge scarlet poppies, interspersed with cornflowers. ' A single poppy was poised on one shoulder, and the bodice was closely shirred. This was one of the outstanding modes of the show. The two-colour combination was carried mjt in a striking model' of deep blue, with the beautifully-cut skirt flared into extreme fullness with deep godets of green. • Perfect for wearing with the elaborate .evening frocks were little capes of rows and rows of "gathered ribbon in varied shadies. There were also fluffy capes of "ostrich feathers and maribou in pastel shades. ' Navy' and wine coloured silks spotted ih white were made into severely-tail-ored frocks and were worn either with jackets in a plain mafching shade faced with the spotted materials, or ' with smart little jackets of white - sharkskin.

No Transfers. Spotted Swiss muslin makes an excellent basis for "no transfer" embroideries. You can obtain exquisite results with the addition of a little hand-work in gaily-coloured embroidery threads, the polka dots woven into the mpSlin being used as guides for the stitches. Thread the needle with coloured stranded cotton (four threads) and work eight lazy daisy loops round each spot, whiph becomes the centre of the flower, witn a fly-stitch in- green, slightly to one side, to suggest the leaf . Do not0 embroider " round every spot. Alternate ones will- look well, ' or, for very dainty effects, work the flowers roimd everyp third or fourth spot. Little girls' party dresses of , Swiss muslin, spotted in white,. red, blue, or green, are 'delightfull with the daisyflowers embroidered in the same or a contrasting colour. A ribbon sash to match completes the garment. Set of place and glass mats for the luncheon or dinner table are very fresh and inviting with the edgep bound with bias-binding to match the spots . on the muslin. Duchess sets, cake mats, and even casement -curtains can be ' fashioned in the same. way. The work can easily be done at odd moments as there are .no tiresorrie preparations to be made. Chintz 011 Crash. Chintz-applique on crash is a happy choice for holiday or "leisure hour" needlework. .The materials are inexpensive. the work is eaisily carried out and looks most attractive, so there are three . important points in its favour. Choose flower patterned chintz with fairly large blossoms. Snip out some individual flowers, and gome sprays of two or three, pin them on to the crash background, tack all found, then blan-ket-stitch them down with black stranded cotton, "using- three strands ■ in - ,the needle. .^The diagram shows the work in progress. When the applique is finished, embroider here and there some little curling tendrils in blac^c stemstitch, using two threads in the needle. Remove the tacking threads when the stitchery is finished. Cushion-covers, dressing-table mats, tea-cosy covers, and tray cloths can be made in. this. way. A delightful Set of table-mats was made of oatmeal crash, dotted with chjntz flowers in red, robin'segj blue, and green, the mats bound with cherry coloured cotton bias binding. Linen table napkins and napkin rings were made in the same way. Another idea is to work individual crash square with the chintz appliques, and combine them with plain squares the same size, inserted alternately between the embroidered ones, for a cottage bedsprcad. Old "Receipts." Modern. beauty experts do not scorn to do a little research work now and then in collections of ancient "receipts." At present they are re-discovering the possibilities of strawberries as skin improvers. These are crushed in buttermilk and are being used as facial packs. They have an astringent action. Wedding Present. Dressing-table sets back with glass are new and one of the choicest presents you can give a summer bride. The glass is not the tinted mirror glass with which we have become so familiar in the home, but carved crystal wliich sparkles and gleams like silver without the rubbing and polishing that silver needs to keep it bright. It "gocs" with any eolouP

scheme, too, which gives it an advantage over the enamelled brushes, combs and hand-mirrors. Spun Glass. Spun-glass, so . delicate and fairy-like in appearance, is now being made by a process that renders it : riot nearly so fragile as it* looks. It is even practicable for curtains and very delightful they are .to see in the palest of pastel , colours. Very pale green spun glass suggests coolness and airiness and there are amber-tinted glass curtains that give a sunshiny- glow -to the light through the windows that is pleasant on dull days. Weather Precautions. Weather that may change from brilliaiit sunshine to a heavy downpour of rain in less than an hour has led to some ingenious compromises in , dress this summer.' At one fashionable gathering, a picture hat in red American cloth looked appropriate with a red and white printed frock when the sun was out, y'et when the, rain started it was a good shower-proof ; covering. Incidentally, this cautious woman • had also with her one of those transparent proofedvsilk capes that roll up into such small space for carrying.. • •.