PERSONAL UNTIDINESS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1146, 16 September 1913, Page 4

PERSONAL UNTIDINESS.

POINTS THAT WOMEN NEGLECT.

It is astonishing how many women utterly fail to realise the important part played by back views in their appearance, and how often people who are charmed by a view of a woman face to face are disappointed when she turns round ! Often these points are neglected from sheer untidiness, but more frequently the neglect is a simple result of want of thought and carelul attention.

Hats, for example. Many women regularly wear big hats because they ’‘suit” their face. But they are oblivious of the fact that their beloved big hats swamp their neck line and give them a “humped” shoulder appearance at the back. In the same way a small hat which looks smart in front often is in the air at the back —with an ugly gap between hair and bat —unless very special attention is paid to the adjustment. Veils are an important detail with hats, and, incidentally, they are one of the dress details that count. Yet many women never trouble a bit about the back of their veil, so long as it looks all right at the front. Many and otherwise well-dressed woman has her appearance spoilt by veil ends hanging down or sticking up at the back of her hat ; many a veil which hangs perfectly in iront, stretches crookedly behind simply from want of care in adjustment. The importance of well-dressed back hair can hardly be over emphasised. Every high-class hairdresser knows that a woman’s head must be as excellently coiffe behind as before, in order to get a pleasing appearance. It would be well, indeed, if every ordinary sort of women could make herself realise that when she chooses a style ot hair dressing, she must not merely consider the style that suits her face, but a style that also suits the very shape and poise of her bead.

Cynical men have made a sort of proverb about the way in which women neglect the back of their collars and other neckgear. Often enough this point is exaggerated ; nevertheless, it must be confessed that most women are sinners in this respect. Collars, jabots and all such things that women wear round the top of their gowns and blouses should be carefully connected at the back. If possible, they should be joined to the top of the blouse with stitchery and fastened with flat lying patent clips iu such a manner as to prevent any voids between the fastenings. If pins must be used, let them be little gilt lace pins, not great ugly pins that announce their presence to everyone !

In connection with all blouses and dresees that fasten up the back, it is most necessary to prevent the common fault of a succession of little gapes between every pair of fastenings. Nothing is more irritating ; and it is quite easy for any woman to see that her blouse is fastened with the right kind of flat-lying fastenings, and that there are a sufficient number to prevent any ugly dragging “gapes.” Blouses, also, should always be most carefully fitted underneath the skirt in such a manner that there is no ugly hip ridge where the bottom hem of the blouse comes. It is worth while, whenever possible, to have all blouses made with a fitting hip basque. Furthermore, there should be no disconnection between blouse, skirt and belt at the back of the waist. Many women who pride themselves on their "tidy” waists fasten their skirt to their blouse in such a way that the skirt baud comes half an inch of so higher than the top of the belt, and the effect is by no means charming. It is always well for the woman who can afford it to have a mirror in which she can scrutinise the back of her waist.

One more thing. Every woman would do well to practice holding up her dress skirt. Not one woman in ten bolds her dress up gracefully, though every woman who practices the matter can learn how to do so. It would be wise indeed for every woman to give more attention to the “back view” of every point of her toilette and appearance. The result would be a decided lessening of the number of women who at present provide illuminating examples of woman’s neglect in this respect.